Civil law

Legal Aid WA provides assistance in a range of civil law matters. There are many different areas of civil law, some of which overlap with criminal or family law matters.

Find out about our services for people:

needing legal advice or representation on a broad range of civil matters, including elder abuse and mortgage hardship
having difficulties with unpaid fines and infringements
appealing to the Administrative Review Tribunal, or
representing themselves in the Federal Court or Federal Circuit Court.

Mortgage Hardship Service

We provide free legal advice and step by step practical information and assistance if you:

are having problems meeting repayments
are behind in repayments
have received a default notice, or
have received a Supreme Court writ for property repossession.

Quick Answers Video: Mortgage Hardship Service

Download the fact sheet for this video

Health Justice Partnership

Legal Aid WA has partnered with the East Metropolitan Health Service, North Metropolitan Health Service, South Metropolitan Health Service and Child and Adolescent Health Service to deliver legal services to vulnerable patients within public hospital premises.

Currently, Legal Aid WA lawyers provide services to patients at Royal Perth Hospital, Bentley Health Service, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Perth Children’s Hospital, Fiona Stanley Hospital and Armadale Hospital.

The Health Justice Partnership won an award for Best Practice in Collaboration Across Government Agencies at the Institute of Public Administration Australia awards in December 2024.

Work and Development Permit Service

Legal Aid WA’s Work and Development Permit Service matches disadvantaged people (or people experiencing hardship) with community sponsors to cut out court fines under a Work and Development Permit.

The Service provides:

legal advice and practical information for people with unpaid fines who are experiencing hardship
information, advice and referrals for clients who may have other legal issues that impact on their ability to pay their court fines – including domestic violence, unemployment, disability, debt and mortgage stress, guardianship and administration, and tenancy
information sessions and community legal education about the Work and Development Permit Scheme
information for organisations interested in becoming approved sponsors under the Work and Development Permit Scheme, and
assistance for approved sponsors providing unpaid work or other therapeutic activities for clients engaged with their organisation.

If you are a community not-for-profit organisation or agency; a medical or allied health professional or service; or an education, training or life-skills course provider, you may be interested in this service for your clients.

If you want to know more about the service, please refer to the factsheets below. You can call our WDP Hotline on 08 9261 6353 or email wdpservice@legalaid.wa.gov.au

Federal Courts Self-Represented Litigants Service

This service assists unrepresented litigants appearing in the Federal Court of Australia and Federal Circuit Court of Australia. Legal advice and legal help is provided in a range of matters including bankruptcy, employment and immigration appeals. Legal Aid WA may be able to investigate the merits of applying for judicial review if a person's application for a protection visa has been refused.

Administrative Review Tribunal service

Our lawyers provide legal advice to people who have some types of cases listed in the Administrative Review Tribunal. The focus of the service is to investigate and advise on the legal merit of the appeal in cases dealing with social security, migration, veterans matters and child support. Referrals for legal advice are made by contacting the ART Registry in Perth on (08) 9327 7200.

We may be able to provide some advice about visa matters in cases involving family violence or visa cancellation on character grounds.

The service does not provide duty lawyer representation in the tribunal hearing itself. If the lawyer believes that an appeal has suitable merit, a grant of aid for representation may be available.

Respect@Work

Elders Rights WA

We provide:

free legal advice and assistance to older people who have experienced elder abuse or who are at risk of experiencing elder abuse
representation in certain guardianship and administration matters in the State Administrative Tribunal
mediation or dispute resolution of suitable matters, and
information sessions and community legal education.

Download the fact sheet

National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) Appeals

This service provides legal advice, assistance, and representation for eligible NDIS Appeals. This may include assistance for individuals who have been declined access to the NDIS, or for NDIS participants who disagree with a decision made by the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA), such as the funded supports in their plan. Legal Aid WA may assist with NDIS external appeals to the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART). Referrals are welcome from any source.

Legal advice and assistance

Daily appointments for legal advice on a range of civil law matters are available in person and by telephone with lawyers from the Civil Law Division of our Perth office.

Our regional offices may also be able to offer legal advice about some civil law matters. If you live in a regional area, you can contact your nearest Legal Aid WA office to see what help they can give with your problem.

Representation for civil matters

Grants of aid may be available to have a lawyer advise and represent clients about limited civil matters.

Defence and Veterans Legal Service

The Defence and Veterans Legal Service supported current and former Defence Force members to tell their stories to the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide. Following the Final Report being published, this service closed in October 2024. Other Defence support services can be found here.

Your Story – Disability Legal Support Service

Your Story was set up to support people tell their story to the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability. This service closed on 28 June 2024.

Get help

To find out what help we can give with civil law matters, call the Infoline or contact your nearest Legal Aid WA office.

Enquiries about the Federal Courts Self-Represented Litigants Service can also be made through the Infoline.

Reviewed: 28 August 2025

Need help?

The Infoline can give information about the law and our services to help with your legal problem.