Legal Aid NSW

About

Legal Aid NSW is a statewide organisation providing legal services to socially and economically disadvantaged people across NSW. Legal Aid is the largest legal aid commission in Australia and employ over 1,300 staff.

Legal Aid provide legal services across NSW through a statewide network of 25 offices, two satellite offices and 243 regular outreach locations. They offer telephone advice through the free legal helpline LawAccess NSW.

Legal Aid have limited resources and strict eligibilty criteria. Clients must pass four tests to qualify for help: - The Jurisdiction Test looks at whether legal aid is available in that jurisdiction and area of law. - The Means Test looks at your income and assets. - The Merit Test looks at whether it is reasonable in all the circumstances to grant aid taking into account, among other criteria, whether the your matter has a reasonable prospect of success and whether providing legal assistance will benefit you. - The Availability of Funds Test means that aid will only be granted if Legal Aid NSW considers that there are sufficient funds available.

What kind of work?

Legal Aid deliver legal services in most areas of criminal, family and civil law.

This includes: - Legal advice over the phone - One-off legal advice and help with simple documents - Providing representation in court as a duty lawyer - Workshops and webinars - Law reform and policy work

Location

Across NSW

Graduate Opportunities

Legal Aid offer unpaid PLT placements to graduates. Students must commit to 80 days, either part-time or fulltime.

PLT students undertake the following: - Assisting legal officers in conducting an effective legal practice - Undertaking file work and legal research - Working collaboratively with practice staff (legal officers and administrative staff) - Complying with the Legal Aid Commission Act, policies and practice management standards and undertake all related administrative and case management activities.

Applicants must have knowledge of issues relating to delivery of legal services to socially and economically disadvantaged people, and knowledge of relevant court procedures and Legal Aid Commission policies and procedures.

You can find more information here: https://www.legalaid.nsw.gov.au/about-us/working-atlegal-aid/practical-legal-training-and-work-placements

Fun Fact / Recent Project

Duty Lawyer Service Legal Aid have lawyers at all local courts in NSW, as well as some other courts and tribunals, called duty lawyers. Duty lawyers help people who have a matter at court that day who do not have their own lawyer.

Duty lawyers can: - Give advice about your matter - Gxplain what might happen in court about your matter - Help you to get an adjournment (to put off your matter to a later date, so you have time to get legal advice) - Talk to the court/tribunal or other parties on your behalf - Speak for you in court in most criminal matters.