Find a Duty Lawyer Service

Legal Aid WA provides duty lawyers in courts throughout Western Australia. 

They may be able to help with criminal charges, Family Violence Restraining Order applications, urgent family law hearings, and protection and care applications.

  • If you are appearing in a metropolitan court, select your court location to see the duty lawyer services provided by our Perth office.
  • If you are appearing in a regional court, select your regional area to see the duty lawyer services provided by our nearest office.

If you are in custody or prison, you need to tell the officers if you want to speak to the duty lawyer.

Perth
Regional WA
 

Perth Magistrates Court

Criminal matters
  • Duty lawyers are available from Monday to Friday for criminal matters, including cases in START Court, IDD Program, Family Violence List and Drug Court.
  • Duty lawyers are not available for matters in traffic lists.
  • Enquiries - Court Welfare office on Level 4 of the Perth Magistrates Court building before 11 am.
Family Violence Restraining Orders
  • A DVLU duty lawyer is available from Monday to Friday, from 9 am – 1 pm, to assist with applications.
  • Enquiries on Level 5 of the Perth Magistrates Court building.

Perth Children’s Court

Criminal matters
  • A duty lawyers is available from Monday to Friday for criminal matters, including cases in the Children’s Court Drug Court.
  • Enquiries about assistance from our Youth Law Team can be made by calling the Infoline.
Protection and care matters
  • A duty lawyer is available from Monday to Friday.
  • Enquiries - Children's Court (Protection) Services - (08) 9218 0160 between 8.30 am - 4.30 pm.

Family Court of WA

  • Duty lawyers are available from Monday to Friday.
  • Enquiries - Family Court Services on Level 1 of the Family Court building, open from 9 am – 4 pm.

Armadale Courthouse

Magistrates Court matters
  • Duty lawyers are available on Tuesdays and Fridays for criminal matters, including the Family Violence list.
  • Duty lawyers are not available for matters in traffic lists.
  • Enquiries - Court Welfare open until 11 am.
Children’s Court matters
  • A duty lawyer is available on Mondays (sits fortnightly) for criminal matters.
  • Enquiries - Court Welfare office or ask for the Legal Aid WA duty lawyer at the courthouse.

Banksia Hill Detention Centre

  • A duty lawyer is available on Saturdays and some public holidays for criminal matters.

Fremantle Courthouse

Magistrates Court matters
  • Duty lawyers are available on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays for criminal matters, including the Family Violence list.
  • Duty lawyers are not available for matters in traffic lists.
  • Enquiries - Court Welfare office open until 11 am.
Children’s Court matters
  • A duty lawyer is available on Thursdays (sits fortnightly) for criminal matters.
  • Enquiries - Court Welfare office or ask for the Legal Aid WA duty lawyer at the courthouse.

Joondalup Courthouse

Magistrates Court matters
  • Duty lawyers are available on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays for criminal matters, and fortnightly on Tuesdays for the Family Violence list.
  • Duty lawyers are not available for matters in traffic lists.
  • Enquiries - Court Welfare office open until 11 am.
Family Violence Restraining Orders
  • A DVLU duty lawyer is available on Tuesdays to assist applicants in the FVRO callover list.
Children’s Court matters
  • A duty lawyer is available on Tuesdays (sits fortnightly) for criminal matters.
  • Enquiries - Court Welfare office or ask for the Legal Aid WA duty lawyer at the courthouse.

Mandurah Courthouse

Magistrates Court matters
  • Duty lawyers are available on Tuesdays and Fridays for criminal matters.
  • Duty lawyers are not available for matters in traffic lists.
  • Enquiries - Court Welfare office open until 11 am.
Children’s Court matters
  • A duty lawyer is available on Mondays (sits monthly) for criminal matters.
  • Enquiries - Court Welfare office or ask for the Legal Aid WA duty lawyer at the courthouse.

Midland Courthouse

Magistrates Court matters
  • Duty lawyers are available on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Friday for criminal matters, including the Family Violence list.
  • Duty lawyers are not available for matters in traffic lists.
  • Enquiries - Court Welfare office open until 11 am.
Children’s Court matters
  • A duty lawyer is available on Wednesdays (sits fortnightly) for criminal matters.
  • Enquiries - Court Welfare office or ask for the Legal Aid WA duty lawyer at the courthouse.

Northbridge Magistrates Court

  • Duty lawyers are available on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays (except Good Friday and Christmas Day) for arrest matters.

Rockingham Courthouse

Magistrates Court matters
  • Duty lawyers are available on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays for criminal matters, including the Family Violence list.
  • Duty lawyers are not available for matters in traffic lists.
  • Enquiries - Court Welfare office open until 11 am.
Children’s Court matters
  • A duty lawyer is available on Wednesdays (sits fortnightly) for criminal matters.
  • Enquiries - Court Welfare office or ask for the Legal Aid WA duty lawyer at the courthouse.

Stirling Gardens Magistrates Court 

  • A duty lawyer is available on Wednesdays for criminal matters.

Great Southern

Albany Courthouse

Magistrates Court matters
  • Duty lawyers are available on Thursdays for criminal matters.
  • Duty lawyers may be available on other weekdays for arrest matters where the person is still in custody.
Family Violence Restraining Orders
  • Duty lawyers may be able to assist with FVRO applications (subject to demand). Priority for representation in court will be given to clients who have already contacted the Great Southern Regional Office and received legal advice about the application.
Children’s Court matters
  • Duty lawyers are available on Fridays for criminal matters and protection and care matters. 
  • Duty lawyers may be available on other weekdays for arrest matters where the person is still in custody.

 

Our Great Southern Regional Office provides duty lawyers for Magistrates Court and Children's Court circuits to the following towns:

  • Katanning
  • Narrogin

Southwest

Bunbury Courthouse

Magistrates Court matters
  • Duty lawyers are available on Mondays and Thursdays for criminal matters.
  • Duty lawyers may be available on other weekdays for arrest matters where the person is still in custody.
Children’s Court matters
  • Duty lawyers are available on Fridays for criminal matters.

 

Our Southwest Regional Office provides duty lawyers for Magistrates Court and Children's Court circuits to the following towns:

  • Busselton
  • Collie
  • Harvey
  • Manjimup
  • Margaret River

Goldfields

Kalgoorlie Courthouse

Magistrates Court matters
  • Duty lawyers are available Mondays and Thursdays for criminal matters.
  • Duty lawyers may be available on other weekdays for arrest matters where the person is still in custody.
Children’s Court matters
  • Duty lawyers are available Tuesdays for criminal matters.

 

Our Goldfields Regional Office provides duty lawyers for Magistrates Court and Children's Court circuits to the following towns:

  • Esperance
  • Leonora
  • Norseman

Duty lawyers sometimes attend circuits to the Aboriginal Communities of Blackstone, Warakurna and Warburton.

Wheatbelt

Legal Aid WA provides a duty lawyer for Magistrates Court and Children's Court circuits to the following towns:

  • Lancelin
  • Merredin
  • Moora
  • Northam
  • Southern Cross

Midwest

Geraldton Courthouse

Magistrates Court matters
  • Duty lawyers are available on Mondays and Thursdays for criminal matters. 
  • Duty lawyers may be available on other weekdays for arrest matters where the person is still in custody.
Children’s Court matters
  • Duty lawyers are available on Tuesdays for arrest/remand matters.
Family Court of WA regional circuit
  • A duty lawyer service is currently available for cases listed in Geraldton in the Family Court of WA.

 

Our Midwest and Gascoyne Regional Office provides duty lawyers for Magistrates Court and Children's Court circuits to the following towns:

  • Cue/Mt Magnet
  • Dongara
  • Kalbarri
  • Leeman
  • Meekatharra
  • Northampton
  • Three Springs

Gascoyne

Carnarvon Courthouse

Magistrates Court matters
  • A duty lawyer is available for criminal matters.
Children’s Court matters
  • A duty lawyer is available for criminal matters.

 

Our Midwest and Gascoyne Regional Office provides a duty lawyer for Magistrates Court and Children's Court circuits to the following towns:

  • Exmouth
  • Onslow
  • Shark Bay
  • Tom Price

Pilbara

South Hedland Courthouse

Magistrates Court matters
  • Duty lawyers are available on Mondays and Fridays for criminal matters.
  • Duty lawyers may be available on other weekdays for arrest matters where the person is still in custody. 
Children’s Court matters
  • Duty lawyers are available for criminal matters and protection and care matters.

Karratha Courthouse

Magistrates Court matters
  • Duty lawyers are available fortnightly on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays for criminal matters.
  • Duty lawyers may be available on other weekdays for arrest matters where the person is still in custody.
Children’s Court matters
  • Duty lawyers are available for criminal matters and protection and care matters.

 

Our Pilbara Regional Office provides duty lawyers for Magistrates Court and Children's Court circuits to the following towns:

  • Jigalong
  • Marble Bar
  • Newman
  • Nullagine

West Kimberley

Broome Courthouse

Magistrates Court matters
  • Duty lawyers are available on Mondays and fortnightly on Thursdays for criminal matters.
  • Duty lawyers may be available on other weekdays for arrest matters where the person is still in custody.
Children’s Court matters
  • Duty lawyers are available on Fridays for criminal matters and protection and care matters.

 

Our West Kimberley Regional Office provides duty lawyers for Magistrates Court and Children's Court circuits to the following towns:

  • Bidyadanga
  • Dampier Peninsula
  • Derby
  • Fitzroy Crossing
  • Looma

East Kimberley

Kununurra Courthouse

Magistrates Court matters
  • Duty lawyers are available on Mondays and Fridays for criminal matters.
  • Duty lawyers may be available on other weekdays for arrest matters where the person is still in custody.
Family Violence Restraining Orders
  • Duty lawyers may be able to assist with FVRO applications (subject to demand). Priority for representation in court will be given to clients who have already contacted the East Kimberley Regional Office and received legal advice about the application.
Children’s Court matters
  • Duty lawyers are available for criminal matters and protection and care matters.

 

Our East Kimberley Regional Office provides duty lawyers for Magistrates Court and Children's Court circuits to the following towns:

  • Balgo
  • Halls Creek
  • Kalumburu
  • Warmun
  • Wyndham

Indian Ocean

Our Indian Ocean Office provides a duty lawyer for Magistrates Court and Children's Court circuits on Christmas Island and the Cocos Islands.

Disclaimer

The information displayed on this page is provided for information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. If you have a legal problem, you should see a lawyer. Legal Aid Western Australia aims to provide information that is accurate, however does not accept responsibility for any errors or omissions in the information provided on this page or incorporated into it by reference.