Family law assistance across NSW agencies
| Agency | Info | Advice | Assistance with forms | FDR (Family Dispute Resolution) | Drafting Affidavits | Representation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Local Courts (Chamber Registrars) |  | | ||||
| LawAccess | | callers may be referred to an in-house lawyer if they are priority customers, or in other cases if there is capacity | only limited telephone assistance — which form to use, terminology, verbal advice about how to word applications for orders | |||
| Legal Aid NSW | | no means test | can give general assistance with forms as part of minor assistance | can grant aid for FDR subject to eligibility, i.e. means, merit and availability of funds tests | as part of grant of aid for representation | subject to eligibility, i.e. means, merit and availability of funds tests. Family law duty solicitor schemes operate at all registries of the Family Court to assist unrepresented litigants — they are not subject to eligibility tests |
| CLCs | | most CLCs can provide one-off advice. Womens Legal Services offer statewide phone advice in family law for women | some CLCs provide assistance with forms — check with LawAccess (or refer to attached list) | only a limited number of CLCs — check with LawAccess (or refer to attached list) | very limited family law representation only available at a limited number of CLCs — check with LawAccess (or refer to attached list) | |
| ALS (Family law practice closed from 1 July 08) | | |||||
| (still considering) | ||||||
| Law Society Pro Bono | need to meet eligibility require- ments | need to meet eligibility requirements | not property, and need to meet eligibility requirements eg have been refused legal aid, has reasonable prospects, means | |||
| Bar Legal Assistance Referral Scheme | need to meet guidelines | need to meet guidelines ie have been refused legal aid and means test | ||||
| Family Court | through website, telephone, email, and at Registries | limited to telephone and email assistance | Legal Aid family law duty solicitor schemes operate at all registries of the Family Court to assist unrepresented litigants — they are not subject to eligibility tests. |
Last updated January 2009 — please email updates to nlaf@lawfoundation.net.au
