What happens if you cannot afford a lawyer in Australia, you have several options for free or low-cost legal help, because Australia has legal aid system and community legal centres. If you cannot afford a lawyer for criminal matter where you face jail, Legal Aid Commission in each state, such as Legal Aid NSW, Victoria Legal Aid, Legal Aid Queensland, will provide a free lawyer if you pass means test and merits test, with income threshold around $40,000 to $60,000 for single and higher for families. For family law matters like divorce, parenting and property, Legal Aid provides free advice and may provide lawyer for mediation and court if you have low income and domestic violence. For civil matters, community legal centres offer free legal advice, with over 170 centres nationally, offering free 30-minute advice, help with forms and sometimes representation for tenants, employment and debt. Justice Connect connects pro bono lawyers who work free for eligible clients. Many law firms offer no win no fee for personal injury and workers compensation, so you pay nothing upfront. For minor matters, you can self-represent in Local Court, NCAT, VCAT, QCAT and Federal Circuit Court with help from court self-help services and LawAccess NSW 1300 888 529. Courts also have duty lawyer scheme in Local Court for criminal and family violence. If you are on Centrelink, you may get fee waiver for court filing. So you will not be left without help, you can get free legal aid, community legal centre or pro bono lawyer.
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