On this page
On this page, you can find out about legal support by state or territory for immigration and citizenship cases, and for refugee (protection) cases.
We can help you understand the review process, but we can’t give you advice about your case.
This information is from other organisations that may be able to help. We try to keep it current, but details may change. Please contact the relevant organisation to ask about their services if you have any questions.
Free or subsidised legal help
Legal Aid Commissions and Community Legal Centres (CLCs) may be able to provide you with independent help to support your review. There are Legal Aid Commissions and CLCs in each state and territory.
There are Legal Aid Commissions in each state and territory:
Australian Capital Territory – Legal Aid ACT
Phone: 1300 654 314
New South Wales – Legal Aid NSW
Legal Aid NSW also has an Immigration Service, which is free legal support about refugee law and other immigration matters.
Phone: 1300 888 529
Northern Territory – Legal Aid NT
Phone: 1800 019 343
Queensland – Legal Aid Queensland
Phone: 1300 651 188
Indigenous information line: 1300 65 01 43
South Australia – Legal Services Commission South Australia
Phone: 1300 366 424 or (08) 8111 5539
Tasmania – Tasmania Legal Aid
Phone: 1300 366 611
Victoria – Victoria Legal Aid
Phone: 1300 792 387
Western Australia – Legal Aid WA
Phone: 1300 650 579
There are CLCs in each state and territory:
Australian Capital Territory – ACT CLC directory
New South Wales – NSW CLC directory.
You can also call LawAccess NSW on 1300 888 529 for help finding a CLC.
Northern Territory – NT CLC directory.
There are also women’s legal services that may be able to help.
Queensland – Qld CLC directory
South Australia – SA CLC directory
Tasmania – Tas CLC directory
Victoria – Vic CLC directory
Western Australia – WA CLC directory
Help from a registered migration agent
You might be able to get help from a registered migration agent. The Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority has information about how they can help.
The Register of Migration Agents has contact details for registered migration agents.
Help from a lawyer
If you need to find a lawyer, you can contact your local law society. Some may be able to connect you with a lawyer who can help on a pro bono (free or reduced fee) basis.
ACT Law Society
The ACT Law Society can help you find a private lawyer.
The Pro Bono Clearing House is a service that may be able to help you find pro bono (free or reduced fee) support.
Phone: (02) 6274 0300
Law Society of NSW
The Law Society of NSW can help you find a private lawyer.
The Law Society has a Pro Bono Scheme. It can connect you with law firms willing to help on a pro bono (free or reduced fee) basis.
Phone: (02) 9926 0333
Multicultural Council of the Northern Territory
The Multicultural Council of the Northern Territory runs a migration advice service. They do this in partnership with the Migration Institute of Australia. Volunteer registered migration agents provide free advice sessions.
You must have a booking for this service.
Phone: (08) 8945 9122
Email: admin@mcnt.org.au
Law Society NT
The Law Society NT can help you find a private lawyer.
Phone: (08) 8981 5104
Queensland Law Society
The Queensland Law Society can help you find a private lawyer.
Phone: 1300 367 757
JusticeNet
Pro Bono Connect may be able to connect you with a lawyer who can help on a pro bono (free or reduced fee) basis.
The Law Society of South Australia
The Law Society of South Australia can help you find a private lawyer.
Phone: (08) 8229 0200
Women's Legal Service Tas (WLST)
The Women's Legal Service Tas has migration lawyers based in Hobart and Launceston.
Phone: 1800 682 468
The Law Society of Tasmania
The Law Society of Tasmania can help you find a private lawyer.
Their Pro Bono Referral Service may be able to help you find pro bono (free or reduced fee) legal support.
Phone: (03) 6234 4133
Law Institute Victoria
The Law Institute Victoria can help you find a private lawyer.
Phone: (03) 9607 9550
The Law Society of Western Australia
The Law Society of Western Australia can help you find a private lawyer.
Phone: (08) 9324 8600
Law Access
Law Access is a not-for-profit organisation that may be able to help you find pro bono (free or reduced fee) legal support.
Phone: (08) 6488 8725
Legal support for refugee review applicants
Free legal support
You may be able to get free legal help from a refugee and immigration service if you are applying for review of:
- a decision made under the Migration Act 1958 to refuse or cancel protection visas.
- a decision made under section 197D of the Migration Act that a protection finding would no longer be made about a person.
List of legal support providers in your state or territory
| State or Territory | Provider |
|---|---|
| Australian Capital Territory | Legal Aid ACT |
| New South Wales | |
| Northern Territory | NT Legal Aid Commission |
| Queensland | |
| South Australia | Legal Services Commission of South Australia |
| Tasmania | Tasmanian Refugee Legal Service |
| Victoria | |
| Western Australia | Circle Green Community Legal |