The Law Society connects members of the public with the local legal profession and provides access to useful legal resources for the community.
Where to find legal assistance
If you require legal advice there are a range of service providers in both the private and public sphere. Depending on your financial situation and the nature of your matter, you may be able to find assistance either from a private lawyer or law firm, a public legal service or a pro bono assistance scheme.
Private Law Firms
The Law Society maintains a register of private legal practices and their areas of expertise that can be accessed on the Find a Lawyer service to help you identify law firms that may be able to assist you on a fee paying basis.
Free or Low Cost Legal Services
- Legal Aid – information in Western Australia, including any available duty lawyer and minor assistance services for criminal, family and civil matters
- Community Legal Centres Association (WA) – community legal centres throughout Western Australia and assistance with a range of legal issues
- National Association of Community Legal Centres – information about community legal centres in other states and territories
- Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia
- Aboriginal Family Law Services – legal and counselling service for victims of family violence and/or sexual assault who are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander peoples, or whose partner or children are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander peoples
- Native Titles Representative Bodies and Service Providers
Pro Bono Schemes
Pro bono services seek to provide assistance to members of the community that cannot afford the private services of a lawyer and who do not qualify for assistance from a public service provider.
Other states and territories
For people who have experienced institutional child sexual abuse
The National Redress Scheme for people who have experienced institutional child sexual abuse began on 1 July 2018. The Scheme provides free access to independent legal support through the ‘knowmore’ legal service.
Legal Information
Many resources are available online which allow members of the public to access State and Commonwealth legislation and some reported cases. Some sites also provide information about the law by legal topic.
Courts and Tribunals
For information about the Western Australian justice system, including courts and tribunals, the following sites may be of assistance.
Unrepresented Litigants
Useful information on procedural information for litigants who will not be represented by a lawyer and appearing before Western Australian courts.
- Family Court WA Handbooks: Children’s Cases / Property
- District Court of Western Australia
Legal Dictionaries
Other Legal Resources
The Legal Practice Board of Western Australia has statutory responsibility for the admission, supervision and discipline (through the Legal Profession Complaints Committee) of all legal practitioners in Western Australia. To find out if a practitioner currently holds a practising certificate, enquire with the Legal Practice Board. The Law Society has also produced this Fact Sheet on unlawfully engaging in legal work.
Members of the public who wish to make a complaint against a practitioner may contact the Legal Profession Complaints Committee.
More Information
The information on this website is provided as general information and is no substitute for legal advice. If you need advice about a specific legal problem contact a legal practice, Legal Aid WA on 1300 650 579 or your local community legal centre.