Eligibility Criteria

In order to be eligible for assistance, an applicant must demonstrate that:

• The matter is a ‘considered matter type’;
• All appropriate avenues for assistance have been exhausted, for example, the Legal Aid Commission has refused assistance;
• The scope of the work required is beyond the capacity of a Community Legal Centre; and you are unable to afford the services of a solicitor in private practice;
• The matter for which assistance is sought has sufficient legal merit; and
• The application meets a means test.

Considered Matter Types
To be eligible for pro bono referral through the Law Access Pro Bono Referral Scheme, your legal matter must be one of the following: 

• Administrative appeals and tribunals
• Animal welfare
• Banking and finance
• Bankruptcy and insolvency
• Breach of contract
• Commercial law
• Contested deceased estates
• Coronial matters
• Corporate law
• Criminal injuries compensation
• Employment law
• Environmental law
• Human rights and equal opportunity
• Immigration law
• Indictable criminal offences
• Indigenous corporations 
• Intellectual property
• Loans, mortgage agreements
• Not-for-profit associations and clubs
• Property and conveyancing
• Trade practices
• Any other matter as deemed appropriate by the Access to Justice Committee, at any time

Excluded Matter Types
Unfortunately, there are matter types which we do not accept applications for. These include: 

• Disputes going through internal complaints mechanisms 
• Dividing fences disputes 
• Family law – dissolution of marriage, children and property maintenance 
• Intractable disputes between neighbours 
• Matters which are customarily or can adequately be dealt with by the applicant without legal representation or assistance 
• Matters which are not/cannot be brought in a Western Australian court 
• Matters which have been refused by Legal Aid WA on the basis of merit 
• Minor criminal offences 
• Personal injury and negligence 
• Protection and care matters 
• Restraining orders 
• Native title 
• Tenancy 
• Uncontested deceased estates 
• Worker’s compensation 
• Welfare rights and social security (except if at Administrative Appeals Tribunal level) 
• Any other matter as deemed appropriate by the Access to Justice Committee, at any time