Legal assistance service providers
The Department of Justice does not provide legal advice or services.
The Government funds organisations throughout the state to provide free or low-cost legal help to Western Australians who cannot afford a private lawyer.
Legal help can include advice, representation, document drafting and mediation, with some providers also offering a duty lawyer service in the state’s courts.
If you need legal help, contact your nearest legal assistance service provider using the links below, to learn more about their services.
- Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia is an Aboriginal community controlled not-for-profit organisation which provides state-wide culturally safe legal assistance services in the areas of criminal, civil and family law to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
- Community Legal Centres are independent, not-for profit organisations which provide free or low-cost legal assistance services to people who are experiencing vulnerability and disadvantage including financial disadvantage. Community Legal Centres usually provide support in civil and family law, but they also respond to the legal and related needs of the communities they serve.
- Family Violence Prevention and Legal Services are specialist Aboriginal community controlled, not-for-profit organisations which provide legal and other holistic, culturally safe and trauma informed services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who have experienced, or are at risk of, family violence or sexual assault.
- Legal Aid WA is a statutory agency which provides free or low-cost legal assistance in the areas of civil law, criminal law and family law. The level of assistance differs depending on the type of law, a person’s financial position and available resources at the time.
If you are not eligible to receive no cost or low-cost legal services from the above legal assistance service providers, Law Access may be able to link you with a private lawyer who will help you without charging their usual fees (pro bono). Law Access also has eligibility criteria you must meet before they try to find a lawyer to help you.
Working together for a sustainable sector
Show moreThe Department of Justice chairs a Collaborative Services Planning Forum for both local and jurisdictional service planning in Western Australia as a requirement of the National Access to Justice Partnership 2025-2030.
The Collaborative Service Planning Forum brings together representatives from the WA Government, Commonwealth and leaders of the legal assistance sector to work together to target services to areas of greatest need, within available resources. They will be supported by specialist advisory groups focusing on workforce, legal needs data and regional and remote service delivery.
Legal Assistance Services Commissioning
Show moreThe Legal Assistance Services Commissioning Strategy and Implementation Plan 2024-2030 (Commissioning Strategy) sets a blueprint for future commissioning of legal assistance services by the Department of Justice.
The Commissioning Strategy aims to:
- ensure the legal assistance services funded by governments are working to achieve desired outcomes across the system
- communicate a unified future direction and goals for the system, including service priorities and consistent expectations around minimum levels and standards of service
- provide guidance to inform service provider roles going forward
- recognise the unique and distinct role that Aboriginal community organisations have in the legal assistance system in delivering culturally safe, appropriate and accessible services to individuals and communities.
Legal Assistance Services Commissioning Strategy and Implementation Plan 2024-2030 (PDF, 1.607KB)
Workforce planning and development
Show moreThe Legal Assistance Workforce Planning and Development Strategy and Implementation Plan 2024-2030 has been developed in response to acute workforce pressures that have been reported by the legal assistance sector. Implementation of the Workforce Strategy will complement the long-term reforms under the National Access to Justice Partnership 2025-2030
A number of data collection processes were undertaken in 2023 to form a clearer picture of the workforce pressures experienced by the legal assistance sector. Comparisons were also drawn to the legal profession overall, as well as other workforces and other jurisdictions.
The resulting analysis identified two priorities:
- Grow and sustain the regional and remote workforce
- Sustain and support Aboriginal-led legal assistance service providers.
Additional focus areas have also been identified.
Workforce Planning and Development Strategy and Implementation Plan (PDF, 453KB)
The National Access to Justice Partnership
Show moreThe National Access to Justice Partnership 2025-2030 (NAJP) is an agreement across Commonwealth, State, and Territory governments for delivering Commonwealth-funded legal assistance services. The NAJP strives for integrated, effective service delivery aimed at improving access to justice.
The NAJP maintains quarantined funding for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services, Community Legal Centres, and Legal Aid Commissions, while adding new streams for Women’s Legal Services and Family Violence Prevention and Legal Services. Funding is secured beyond the five-year agreement, providing stability for critical services.
The NAJP also commits to long-term reforms focused on expanding access to justice. Priorities include:
- Updating the National Legal Assistance Data Strategy
- Establishing an outcomes-based framework
- Developing a National Legal Assistance Workforce Strategy
- Implementing a Closing the Gap Schedule.
The NAJP is supported by the National Strategic Framework for Legal Assistance 2020-2025, which guides funding, service delivery, and planning. The National Legal Assistance Data Strategy and Data Standards Manual help providers collect consistent data for evidence-based policy and resource allocation.
The NAJP was informed by the Independent Review of the NLAP, undertaken by Dr Warren Mundy.
Funding the legal assistance sector
Show moreThe State and Commonwealth Governments are committed to helping vulnerable and disadvantaged Australians access justice, no matter where they live.
Legal assistance providers receive funding to offer essential help for people navigating the justice system, including legal advice, representation, mediation, domestic violence support, and community legal education.
In 2025-2026, the Department of Justice will distribute more than $189 million to legal assistance services in Western Australia. The Commonwealth will contribute approximately $97.2 million through the National Access to Justice Partnership 2025-30 (NAJP). Recipients include the Aboriginal Legal Service WA, Legal Aid WA, Community Legal Centres, Women’s Legal Services, and Family Violence Prevention and Legal Services.
Funding delivered through separate funding streams or quarantined for specific purposes under the NLAP has been rolled into NAJP Baseline funding from 1 July 2025. This includes legal assistance for vulnerable women, supporting people with mental health conditions to access the justice system, the delivery of enhanced Domestic Violence Units and Health Justice Partnerships, Workplace Sexual Harassment Funding, Coronial Inquiries and Expensive and Complex Cases, Family Law Property Mediation, the Family Advocacy and Support Service and Supporting Increased Child Sexual Abuse Prosecutions. The Commonwealth also funds the Sexual Assault Legal Service WA.
The State Government funds projects and programs including the Youth Engagement Program, Work and Development Permit Scheme Service, Centralised Duty Lawyer Service, Bail Support Service and Prison In-Reach Program, Shuttle Conferencing, Leave Safe, Stay Safe, Dandjoo Bidi-Ak court, In-Roads and Disability Advocacy and Referral Diversion for Young People (DARDY).
The State funds Law Access, in partnership with Community Legal WA, to deliver the WA Pro Bono Model that improves justice access for disadvantaged people. Law Access also receives funding to enhance its capacity to connect financially disadvantaged individuals with legal help.
The table below sets out a breakdown of funding allocations for 2025-2026. Emergency response funding and funding for Legal Aid WA is not included within this table
Legal Assistance Service Provider Funding Table 2025-2026
| Legal Assistance Service Provider | 2025-26 amount |
|---|---|
| Aboriginal Family Legal Services | $11,857,560.47 |
| Aboriginal Legal Service of WA | $31,101,195.96 |
| Circle Green Community Legal | $3,470,862.00 |
| Citizens Advice Bureau | $412,939.00 |
| Community Legal Western Australia | $853,884.00 |
| Consumer Credit Legal Service | $1,343,830.00 |
| Environmental Defenders Office WA | $271,913.00 |
| Encompass Legal and Community Services | $3,083,110.00 |
| Fremantle Community Legal Centre | $915,667.00 |
| Goldfields Community Legal Centre | $816,285.00 |
| Great Southern Community Legal Services | $1,029,357.00 |
| Kimberley Community Legal Services | $2,250,072.00 |
| Law Access | $266,590.00 |
| Marninwarntikura Women's Resource Centre | $2,612,064.00 |
| Midland Information Debt and Legal Advocacy Service | $968,489.00 |
| Peel Community Legal Centre | $1,295,466.00 |
| Pilbara Community Legal Services | $884,510.00 |
| Redgum Justice | $2,177,325.27 |
| Regional Alliance West | $1,147,566.00 |
| Ruah Legal Services | $2,929,553.00 |
| Southern Communities Advocacy Legal & Education Services | $1,813,435.00 |
| South West Community Legal Centre | $1,188,478.00 |
| Southern Aboriginal Corporation | $3,729,368.00 |
| Street Law Centre | $818,815.00 |
| Sussex Street Community Law Service | $1,755,771.00 |
| Welfare Rights and Advocacy Service | $942,730.00 |
| Wheatbelt Community Legal Centre | $951,537.00 |
| Women’s Legal Service | $3,546,488.00 |
| Youth Legal Service | $954,966.00 |
Emergency Response
In December 2022, Ex-Tropical Cyclone Ellie crossed into Western Australia from the Northern Territory as a slow moving tropical low. The low slowly tracked west across the Kimberley region resulting in significant rainfall and flooding across the region.
Following the flooding event, the Department of Justice was successful in obtaining approximately $4.2 million funding under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements 2018, which is jointly funded by the Commonwealth and the State.
The funding is intended to support a collaborative and place-based response that will target the projected increase in legal need in areas of civil law, family law and criminal law. The funding includes provision for the coordination of the legal assistance response, FTE allocations for service providers to deliver services, travel and accommodation costs, and interpreter and translation costs.
The allowable time limit for Kimberley Floods DRFA funding under Category D- Community and Social Recovery has been extended until 30 June 2026.
Reports and publications
Show moreNational Access to Justice Partnership (2025-2030)
National Access to Justice Partnership (PDF 4.8MB)
Legal Assistance Services Commissioning Strategy and Implementation Plan 2024-2030 (PDF, 1.6KB)
Workforce Planning and Development Strategy and Implementation Plan (PDF, 453KB)
National Strategic Framework for Legal Assistance 2020-2025
National Legal Assistance Data Strategy
Archived publications
Show moreLegal Assistance Strategy 2022-2025 (PDF, 368K
Legal Assistance Action Plan 2022-2025 (PDF, 272KB)
Assessment of Legal Need – Social and Demographic Analysis of WA (2017) (PDF, 5.5MB)
Legal Need in Western Australia – a preliminary review (2017) (PDF, 2.1MB)
Legal Assistance Services Mapping in WA (2017) (PDF, 855KB)
WA Community Legal Education Resources Audit (2016) (PDF, 668KB
WA Legal Needs Final Report (2022) (PDF, 9.2MB)
WA Legal Needs Summary Report (2022) (PDF, 5.8MB)
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