When to seek legal help
Legal help should be sought as soon as possible when a legal problem has been identified.
Often legal issues can be avoided or minimised with simple legal advice or an appointment with a lawyer.
In the case of relationship breakdown where property or children are involved, legal advice should be sought at an early stage to ensure that rights are protected. A person who is injured at work, in a car accident or even walking along the street should seek legal advice immediately after the injury becomes apparent, as prompt action is required for workers compensation and personal injury claims. Advice about the terms of a lease or contract after it has been signed will probably be too late to be useful.
It is important to see a lawyer or apply for legal aid as soon as possible after being charged with a criminal offence.
The Legal Services Commission has a free legal advice line for help for all South Australians. Call 1300 366 424 Monday to Friday between 9:00 am and 4:30 pm.
Legal Aid
Legal aid services can be broadly divided into legal advice and legal representation. Most legal aid agencies also take an active role in community legal education and law reform.
Information and advice about legal rights and problems is given by a variety of agencies. For example, it is provided free of charge by agencies such as the Legal Services Commission, community legal centres, the Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement and Consumer and Business Services. Sometimes there are restrictions on the areas of law covered or the geographical area. Further assistance, and referrals to other agencies, are given where appropriate.
Legal representation usually involves attendance in court or before a tribunal, but it may also cover services such as the drafting of documents or legal negotiations. Often services are subject to means tests and guidelines, which set the priorities for the use of an agency's funds.
Legal Services Commission
159 Gawler Place, Adelaide 5000
Legal Helpline: 1300 366 424
Aboriginal Legal Services
Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement
Adelaide (Head Office)
321-325 King William Street, Adelaide 5000
Call 8113 3777 or 1800 643 222 (toll free)
Port Augusta
12 Church Street, Port Augusta 5700
Call 8113 3788
Ceduna
Shop 8/35 Poynton Street, Ceduna 5690
Call 8113 3799
Family Violence Legal Service Aboriginal Corporation (FVLSAC)
Freecall 1800 309 912 for all offices
Port Augusta (Head Office)
26 Jervois Street, Port Augusta 5700
Call 08 8641 2195 or 1800 111 052
Port Lincoln
89 Liverpool Street, Port Lincoln 5606
Call 08 8683 1896 or 1800 309 912
Ceduna
17 McKenzie Street, Ceduna 5690
Call 08 8625 3800 or 1800 839 059
Community Legal Services
Community legal centres provide legal advice and assistance to disadvantaged clients and local residents. Their services can also include financial counselling, child support assistance, social security advocacy and mediation. They can sometimes help with legal problems that are outside legal aid guidelines.
For details of community legal centres in other states, see Community Legal Centres Australia.
Metropolitan
Uniting Communities Law Centre
General advice, mediation, social security
43 Franklin Street, Adelaide 5000
Call 8202 5960
Uniting Communities Mediation Service
Neighbourhood disputes, mediation
Call 8202 5960
Consumer Credit Law Centre (Operated by Uniting Communities Law Centre)
Consumer disputes, credit law, bankruptcy, mortgages, debts
Level 3, 43 Franklin Street ADELAIDE SA 5000
Call 8202 5960
Northern Community Legal Service
General legal advice, child support, financial counselling and employment law
26 John Street, Salisbury 5108
Call 8281 6911
Christies Beach (Head Office)
General legal advice, InDIGO project (specialist domestic violence service), regional outreach
40 Beach Road, Christies Beach 5165
Call 8384 5222
Mount Gambier
43B Commercial St West, Mount Gambier 5290
Call 8723 1396
Berri
9 Kay Avenue, Berri 5343
Call 8582 4998
Port Adelaide (Head Office)
General legal advice
171 Commercial Road, Port Adelaide 5015
Call 8340 9009
Port Pirie
72 Ellen Street, Port Pirie 5540
Call 8340 9009
Outreach: Clare, Kadina, Maitland, Peterborough, Port Augusta
For women
Level 7, 45 Grenfell Street, Adelaide 5000
Call 8231 8929 or 1800 655 037
TTY 1800 670 864
Rural Women's Outreach and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women's Programs
Outreach: Port Augusta, Coober Pedy and the APY Lands
InDIGO Project - specialist domestic violence service targeting the Southern suburbs
Other specialist services
Workplace disputes, discrimination, underpayment, sexual harassment, bullying, redundancy, employment contracts
Level 1, Station Arcade, 52 Hindley Street, Adelaide 5000
Call 8410 6499
University Legal Clinics
Adelaide University Law School Legal Clinics
Adelaide Magistrates Court (Mondays and Tuesdays)
Call 8204 2444
Administrative Appeals Tribunal (Thursdays)
Call 1800 228 333
Adelaide Legal Outreach Clinic (Tuesdays)
Adelaide Law School
Call 8313 7496
Equal Opportunity Legal Advice Service (Thursdays)
Email eolas@adelaide.edu.au
Entrepreneur and Venture Legal Advice (Wednesdays)
Email evac@adelaide.edu.au
University of South Australia Legal Advice Clinic
City West campus, by appointment
Call 8302 7436
Bedford Park Campus
Call 7421 9985 and leave a message
We embrace diversity and welcome all people, irrespective of culture, faith, sexual orientation and gender identity.
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Legal Services acknowledges Aboriginal people as the Traditional Owners and ongoing occupants of the lands and waters in South Australia and we respect their spiritual, cultural and heritage beliefs. We recognise their continuing connection to land, water and community and pay our deep respect to Elders past and present.
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