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Legal advice

We have lawyers who can talk to you about how the law applies to your legal problem and what you may be able to do about it. Contact the VLA Legal Information Service to find out if we can help you with your legal problem.

Frequently asked questions

Who can get legal advice?
Do I have to pay for legal advice?
Where and how can I get legal advice?
Do I have to call VLA first or can I just turn up at a VLA office?
Can I get an interpreter or other communication assistance? 
What do I need to do before seeing a lawyer?
How long will I get to spend with the lawyer?
What if I need more help?

Who can get legal advice?

We focus on giving legal advice to people who need it most, including people who:

  • are socially and economically disadvantaged
  • can't get help from a private lawyer
  • don’t have any other way to get legal help.

We give free legal advice on a range of matters but give priority to people who need advice on:

  • criminal matters (especially those in custody or facing serious changes, or when a young person has been charged)
  • family breakdown matters (especially matters involving children)
  • family violence
  • some civil and human rights matters (including social security, debt, mental health, immigration and refugee, guardianship and anti-discrimination matters)
  • serious traffic offences and infringement fines.

We don’t give legal advice about financial or business matters, such as taxation or commercial law, buying property, superannuation law, or intellectual property law.

Contact the VLA Legal Information Service to find out if we can give you free legal advice about your matter. If we are not able to help you, we may be able to refer you to another service that can.

Do I have to pay for legal advice?

No. A one-off legal advice session with a VLA lawyer is free. There is no charge for this service.

Where and how do I get legal advice?

Our lawyers give legal advice at locations across Victoria, including:

  • all VLA offices (see Locate us)
  • at various courts, community centres and other outreach locations
  • at many prisons, correctional facilities, juvenile justice centres, remand centres and detention centres
  • at many hospitals (psychiatric units) where patients have been detained involuntarily.

Our lawyers can give legal advice:

  • in person (face to face)
  • by video conference
  • over the telephone in some circumstances.

VLA does not provide legal advice by email or internet.

Do I have to call VLA first or can I just turn up at a VLA office?

You can always come in to our office, but lawyers are only available to give legal advice on some days. It’s best if you call and talk to us about times when a lawyer will be available to give you advice about your matter. If you call us, we will quickly direct you to the right service.

Can I get an interpreter or other communication assistance?

Yes, and its free. Legal words are sometimes hard to understand. If you would like to have an interpreter to help you, tell us when you call us. We will arrange for an interpreter by phone or in person. Auslan interpreters and assistance via relay services are also available.  

What do I need to do before seeing a lawyer?

Before seeing a lawyer you should:

  • work out what you want help with (remember you only have a short amount of time with the lawyer)
  • collect and bring paperwork (for example your summons, court orders, letters from government agency)
  • let us know if you need an interpreter so we can arrange this for you
  • find out where you need to go, so you turn up on time
  • make sure you have enough time – you may need to wait a bit before seeing a lawyer.

You can bring a person for support, but the lawyer may also want to speak with you alone.

How long will I get to spend with the lawyer?

The amount of time you get to spend with a lawyer will depend on your legal matter. It could be from 10 minutes to up to 60 minutes. Longer sessions are available for people with special circumstances, such as if you need an interpreter. As the time is limited, our lawyers may not be able to read all of your paperwork or help you with a complex legal issues.

What if I need more help?

If you need more legal help, you may be able to apply for a grant of legal assistance for a lawyer to run your case (see Funding cases). We can help you fill in the form. We may also be able to refer you to other services for help.