When to seek legal help
Many people suffer more than they need to as the result of legal problems that could have been avoided if a lawyer had been consulted at the first sign of trouble.
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 Service’s Commission has a free legal advice line for help for all South Australians – phone 1300 366 424.
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.
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, but it may also cover services such as the drafting of documents or legal negotiations. Often services are given 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 Help Line: 1300 366 424
ABORIGINAL LEGAL SERVICES:
Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement
Adelaide (Head Office)
321-325 King William Street ADELAIDE 5000
Telephone: 8113 3777
or 1800 643 222 (toll free)
Port Augusta
12 Church Street PORT AUGUSTA 5700
Telephone: 8113 3788
Ceduna
Cnr East Tce and Merghiny Drive CEDUNA 5690
Telephone: 8113 3790
Family Violence Legal Service Aboriginal Corporation (FVLSAC)
Port Augusta (Head Office)
26 Jervois Street PORT AUGUSTA SA 5700
Phone: 08 8641 2195 or 1800 111 052
Port Lincoln
Level 1, Jobomi House, 50 Liverpool Street PORT LINCOLN SA 5606
Phone: 08 8683 1896 or 1800 309 912
Ceduna
17 McKenzie Street CEDUNA SA 5690
Phone: 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 the National Association of Community Legal Centres
Metropolitan:
Uniting Communities Law Centre
General advice, mediation, social security
43 Franklin Street ADELAIDE SA 5000
Telephone: 8202 5960
Uniting Communities Mediation Service
Neighbourhood disputes, mediation
Telephone: 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
Telephone: 8202 5960
Northern Community Legal Service
General legal advice, child support, financial counselling & employment law
26 John Street SALISBURY 5108
Telephone: 8281 6911
Christies Beach (Head Office)
General legal advice, InDIGO project (specialist domestic violence service), regional outreach
40 Beach Road CHRISTIES BEACH 5165
Telephone: 8384 5222
Mount Gambier
8A Commercial Road West MOUNT GAMBIER 5290
Telephone: 8723 1396
Berri
9 Kay Avenue, BERRI 5343
Hindmarsh (Head Office)
General legal advice
171 Commercial Road PORT ADELAIDE 5015
Telephone: 8340 9009
Port Pirie
72 Ellen Street PORT PIRIE 5540
Telephone: 8633 3600
Outreach: Clare, Kadina, Maitland, Peterborough & Port Augusta
FOR WOMEN:
Level 7, 45 Grenfell Street ADELAIDE 5000
Telephone: 1800 816 349
Telephone: 8221 5553 or 1800 655 037 (Advice)
Telephone: 8231 8929 (Admin)
TTY 1800 670 864
Rural Women's Outreach and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women's Programs
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
Telephone: 8410 6499
UNIVERSITY LEGAL CLINICS:
Adelaide University Law School Legal Clinics
Adelaide Magistrates Court (Mondays and Tuesdays)
Telephone: 8204 2444
Administrative Appeals Tribunal (Thursdays)
Telephone: 1800 228 333
Adelaide Legal Outreach Clinic (Tuesdays)
Adelaide Law School
Telephone: 8313 7496
Equal Opportunity Legal Advice Service (Wednesdays)
Email: eolas@adelaide.edu.au
Entrepreneur and Venture Legal Advice (Wednesdays)
Email: evac@adelaide.edu.au
University of South Australia Legal Advice Clinics
City West campus, by appointment
Magistrates Courts Drop In
Port Adelaide (Wednesdays)
Elizabeth (Tuesdays)
Telephone: 8302 7436
Bedford Park Campus (Wednesdays)
Cooinda Neighbourhood Centre, Sturt (Thursdays)
Flinders at Tonsley, Clovelly Park (Tuesdays)
Telephone: 7421 9985