Legal Aid for Non Australian Citizens

Where legal aid is granted, legal aid shall ensure that one of its registered in-house lawyers or a private lawyer represents the person. If legal aid has a “legal dispute” (for example, if they can`t represent you because they are already representing the other party in your case), they can often provide legal help to a private lawyer to help you. We provide free independent advice on most family, refugee and humanitarian visas; temporary visas, including bridging visas and visitor visas; Re-entry visas for residents; and Australian citizenship. U.S. embassies and consulates are unable to provide legal advice to U.S. citizens abroad. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs provides information on the detention of a foreign lawyer. The commissions ensure access to justice by providing the following types of legal aid: There are eight legal aid commissions in Australia, one in each state and territory. The aim of the legal aid commissions is to provide access to justice for vulnerable and disadvantaged Australians. The NLA website contains data on legal aid grants and other benefits, as well as the NLA`s strategic plan, submissions for government investigations, and a set of best practice standards in legal aid. Criteria for granting legal aid The directors of the eight legal aid commissions join forces at national level to form the National Legal Aid (NLA).

If you live in Australia and have a legal case overseas, you will usually need to seek legal assistance in that country. Here are some places you can try: Legal aid boards may grant legal aid to a person if their legal matter falls under the Board`s guidelines and they live in the same state or territory. Legal aid may be granted for family law, criminal law and certain civil cases. Our society invests in a necessarily complex judicial system, a system of institutions – courts, tribunals and other related bodies – to protect rights, guarantee civil liberties and uphold civic duties. If access to these institutions were restricted only to wealthy citizens, the confidence of the entire community in our justice system would be undermined. Without a strong justice system, the rule of law would be threatened, and without the rule of law, we would not have the rights and freedoms we all enjoy. There are nearly 200 Community Legal Centres (CLCs) in Australia that provide legal aid to those who cannot afford a private lawyer, but also cannot get legal aid. Immigration is a specialist service provided by Legal Aid NSW. We provide free legal advice, assistance and representation on refugee law and other immigration matters. There are many legal services in each Australian state and territory that offer free or discounted legal assistance. However, most can only help you if you are an Australian citizen or live in Australia. Some may be able to provide you with limited legal advice or refer you to another organization that can help you.

These include: Legal aid in Australia is legal aid provided by the government. Each State and Territory has its own Legal Aid Commission, which is responsible for administering legal aid. There are legal aid offices in cities, suburbs and towns across Australia. In many cases, they can only help those who live in their state or territory and/or have a legal case. For more information, see Pro Bono Referral Schemes & Organizations. In accordance with section 10(1)(c) of the Legal Services Commission Act 1977 (`the Act`), the Commission has laid down the criteria according to which mutual legal assistance is to be provided. However, many can only offer limited legal advice. For more information, see Legal Aid in Australia. Legal aid offers a range of free legal services available to all members of the community. This includes legal advice and mediation services and, in some cases, minor assistance (e.g. telephone advice). In many cases, legal aid also provides mandatory legal aid before some courts.

To assist U.S. citizens abroad, the U.S. Embassy maintains lists of lawyers who have come to our office. Please see the links below for lists of lawyers in Australia. We can represent you before the courts if you are entitled to legal aid. Our democratic society is therefore based on the premise that all Australians are equal before the law, a premise that must be understood in relation to the issue of access. Legal aid boards play a crucial role in achieving equality before the law by ensuring that all citizens, including those who cannot afford to pay, have access to the legal services they need to obtain justice. However, we know what legal assistance (including pro bono support) is available in Australia.

For a list of the major pro bono organisations outside Australia, see International pro bono organisations. Keep in mind, however, that only some of these organizations operate as pro bono referral organizations, and some only associate “nonprofit” organizations, rather than individuals, with pro bono advocates. We give lectures to community groups and community workers on topics such as: We cannot give advice on: economic migration, retirement visas, withdrawal of sponsorships or insurance of support or student visas. We also advise you on detention, deportation, cancellation procedures and exclusion periods. Legal aid may not be able to help you in some cases because you need support for something that legal aid does not have or because you are not eligible for legal aid. In certain circumstances, legal aid lawyers can help a person apply for a visa if they are disadvantaged. We can participate in your interview with the Ministry of the Interior. If you can`t afford a lawyer, National Legal Aid may be able to help. If your lawyer`s services are unsatisfactory, contact the complaints line for contact information for the relevant government agencies.

There is a wide range of free information about Australian law available online and through telephone counselling services – see Self-Help Legal Information. WE DO NOT AND CANNOT PROVIDE LEGAL ADVICE OR RECOMMENDATIONS OURSELVES In defining the criteria, the Commission also took into account the principles set out in section 11 of the Act. In most cases, they can only help those who live in their catchment area or condition. For more information, visit the Community Legal Centres page. Moonah Place Yarralumla, ACT 2600 Phone: (02) 6214-5600 For another list of lawyers, see: Please note that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs accepts no responsibility for the professional competence or reputation or quality of services provided by the companies or individuals listed below. Inclusion on this list does not constitute an endorsement by the Department or the U.S. Government. The names are arranged alphabetically, and the order in which they appear has no other meaning. The information on the list is provided directly by local service providers; the Department is not in a position to vouch for this information. The NLA acts as a one-stop shop and advocates for matters of interest to all commissions.

Also: For advice by phone, call us every day between 9am and 1pm on 02 9219 5790. You can also make an appointment to see a legal aid immigration lawyer at the following locations: We can help people who want a visa to stay in Australia or if they have questions about their immigration status in Australia. We can also advise people who wish to sponsor family members to live in Australia. To obtain legal aid, a person must meet a means test and other criteria. The services provided by legal aid and the guidelines for authorisation vary by country/territory. Contact your state or territory legal aid for more information.