Community legal centres are located throughout Australia, with 25 generalist and 16 specialist centres in Victoria. In most cases, these services are free. Most centres provide legal advice at drop-in sessions or by appointment. You should contact your nearest centre to check on their appointment or session times. To find the centre nearest to you see the listing in Chapter 15, Quick Guide, or contact:

Initial consultation will be free, however if you are working and have assets you may have to pay for part or all of the cost of your court case. Appointments are required unless your case is an emergency; waiting periods may be as long as three weeks.

There are 10 VLA offices in Victoria. To find the nearest office to you contact:

At most Magistrates' and Children's Courts in Victoria, VLA provides a lawyer, known as a 'duty lawyer', at no cost. It is important to note that:

VLA may be willing to pay for the lawyer to help you. The lawyer should be able to advise on whether you will be eligible for legal aid.

The amount of money the lawyer will ask for will depend on how serious the charges are, what court the case will be heard in and how long the case will take. Most lawyers will request payment or part-payment prior to your case being heard (with the exception of no win/no fee arrangements) and their rates may vary.