Community Legal Education (CLE)
Information and Education is delivered in many ways at Legal Aid ACT such as through brochures, factsheets and presentations delivered to the community.
To find out more phone our Helpline on 1300 654 314 and they will connect you to our Community Education and Information Officer.
Email community.education@legalaidact.org.au for any enquiries and information.
Upcoming Events
Our Law for Non-Lawyers (LFNL) sessions run every month with tickets available on Humantix.
Our January session will have Canberra Rape Crisis Centre presenting. A link will be here when it is available.
Law for Non-Lawyers
Each month, we run a number of training sessions on a range topics aimed at workers in the community sector. Our sessions will be posted in the upcoming events for you to sign up.
Factsheets and Resources
If you need help in understanding legal words, please see our Legal Words dictionary. For a guide to the free or low-cost legal services in Canberra, see the Free Law Directory.
If you would like to view the resources, we have available in video format, visit our Video Channel.
We have a number of publications on a variety of legal problems, available online below or you can call the Helpline on 1300 654 314 and we will send them to you.
All of our factsheets are intended to be used as a guide only and not as legal advice. Please contact the Legal Aid Helpline if you need legal advice. For information on the types of legal problems Legal Aid ACT can provide advice on, visit Legal Advice.
The factsheets are presented in Portable Document Format, or PDF. If you are having trouble viewing them, please download a free copy of Adobe Reader by clicking the below image or call our Helpline on 1300 654 314 between 9.00am and 5.00pm weekdays and we will send to you.
About Legal Aid ACT
For further information about Legal Aid ACT, return to the homepage of this website.
Click on the title to download the pamphlet or factsheet.
Applying for a grant of legal aid?
If you need more than one-off legal advice, you will need to apply for a grant of legal assistance. Visit Applying for Legal Aid for information provided on our website.
Click on the title to download the pamphlet or factsheet.
- Application for Legal Assistance form
- Factsheet: Are you applying for a grant of assistance?
- Factsheet: Filling out the Form - Applying for a Grant of Assistance Guide
Please note that the Application for Legal Assistance form is now available online - Application for Legal Assistance form.
Are you separating or getting a divorced?
Family law is the area of law that deals with family matters such as divorce, property and children. The Family Advocacy Support Service can also provide legal and non-legal assistance if you or a family member have experienced, used or alleged to have used family violence in your relationship and need help with a family law, child protection or family violence order.
Click on the title to download the pamphlet or factsheet.
- Family Advocacy and Support Services
- Family Dispute Resolution (FDR) Conferences
- Our Family Law Practice
- Are you separated? Do you need to make parenting arrangements?
- Have your current Parenting Orders been contravened?
- Are you separated? Are you in the process of a property settlement?
- Are you getting divorced?
- Are you a grandparent who is raising a grandchild?
- Recovery Orders
- Free Law Directory - free or low-cost legal services in Canberra
Family Violence, Family Violence Orders and Personal Protection Orders
Legal Aid ACT provides a range of legal and non-legal support services for people experiencing or at risk of family violence. Family Violence Orders and Personal Protection Orders are made by the court to protect a person from future assaults, threats of violence, property damage, stalking acts and acts of indecency, harassment and offensive conduct by another person.
The Family Advocacy Support Service can provide legal and non-legal assistance if you or a family member have experienced, used or alleged to have used family violence in your relationship and need help with a family law, child protection or family violence order.
Click on the title to download the pamphlet or factsheet.
Resources on High-risk Weather Season
Find some resources on how to legally prepare during ACT's high-risk weather seasons here.
Police, Crime and Court
If you have been charged with a crime phone our Helpline for a free appointment the lawyer will be able to give you some initial advice and talk to you about what will happen.
Click on the title to download the pamphlet or factsheet.
- Our Criminal Law Practice
- Have you been charged with a drink driving offence?
- First time in court? Are you entering a plea of guilty?
- What is a character reference?
- Video: What is the ACT Magistrates Court?
- Video: What is an Associate (ACT Magistrates Court)?
- Video: What is a Duty Lawyer (ACT Magistrates Court)?
- Video: What is the role of the Prosecution (ACT Magistrates Court)?
- Video: What is a 'self-represented' litigant (ACT Magistrates Court)?
Child Protection (CYF)
The four videos below are for families who have been contacted by Child and Youth Protection Services (CYF) and want to know about the steps and their rights.
If you need legal help, call us on 1300 654 314.
- Video 1: The steps of Child and Youth Protection Services - Step 1
- Video 2: The steps of Child and Youth Protection Services - Step 2, 3 and 4
- Video 3: The steps of Child and Youth Protection Services - Step 5 and 6 (part one)
- Video 4: The steps of Child and Youth Protection Services - Step 6 (part two)
Capacity
There is no single legal definition of capacity. The legal definition of capacity depends upon the type of decision being made. There are a variety of legal tests of capacity that are always assessed by reference to the capacity to do something, such as enter into a contract, make a will, or provide instructions to a lawyer.
The ACT Capacity Toolkit is for you if you have concerns about the ability of an adult to make decisions for themselves.
The Capacity Guidelines are for legal practitioners who need to ascertain whether a client has capacity for the decision being made.
Click on the title to download the Toolkit or Guidelines.
Resources for Older People
Legal Aid does not provide assistance in writing wills or administering a deceased estate. However we can give you advice and help you identify issues related to wills and the procedures for the administration of an estate. For specialist legal advice for older people, Legal Aid ACT now has the Older Persons ACT Legal Service.
Click on the title to download the pamphlet or factsheet.
- Older Persons ACT Legal Service
- Our Elders
- Are you a grandparent who is raising a grandchild?
- Care for your assets
- Concerned about someone?
- Decision making and your rights
- Do you have a will?
- Do you have adult children living at home?
- Gifts, loans and debts
- Plan for your safety
- What is a guardian? What is a guardianship order?
- Working with older people at risk of abuse
- ACT Capacity Toolkit: A Guide for Assessing Capacity
- Capacity Guidelines: A Practical Guide for Legal Practitioners
Resources for Younger People
The Youth Law Centre is the best place to get information if you are between the ages of 12 and 25. The number to contact the Youth law Centre is (02) 6173 5410.
Click on the title to download the pamphlet or factsheet.
Resources for Migrants and Refugees
The Community Liaison Unit helps people in the community access the legal services provided by Legal Aid ACT, other legal services in the ACT and non-legal support services.
Click on the title to download the pamphlet or factsheet.
Overview
If you came by boat:
How to Lodge a TPV/SHEV application
- Temporary Protection Visas (TPV)and Safe Haven Enterprise Visas(SHEV)
- How to complete and lodge an application for a protection visa
- How to write a Statement PV
- Attending an interview with Asylum Seekers
- Helping with forms if you are not a Registered Migration Agent
How to lodge a protection visa application
- How to complete and lodge an application for a protection visa
- Completing Form 866 and 1505
- How to write a Statement PV
What to expect at an interview
Refused by the Department
Mandatory Visa Cancellations:
- Mandatory Visa Cancellation - for people who are not Australian citizens and currently serving a prison sentence.
- What to do if your visa has been mandatorily cancelled
Work Problems
Legal Aid ACT operates an employment law clinic. The clinic runs each Friday. If you have been dismissed from work phone our Helpline on 1300 654 314 as soon as you can as short time frames can apply.
Click on the title to download the pamphlet or factsheet.
Neighbourhood Disputes
Legal Aid ACT can give legal advice on Neighbourhood disputes. Make a free 30 minute appointment by calling the Helpline on 1300 654 314.
Click on the title to download the pamphlet or factsheet.
NDIS
Legal Aid ACT can give legal advice and assistance for both NDIA Reviews and AAT Applications. Call the Helpline on 1300 654 314 to get help.
Click on the title to download the pamphlet or factsheet.
Legal Aid for Veterans
Free, independent legal support to participate in the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide. The Defence and Veterans Legal Service (DAVLS) is a free national service that provides independent information and legal advice to support Australian Defence Force personnel and veterans, as well as their families, carers and supporters, to safely share their experiences with the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide.
Call the Defence and Veterans Legal Service on 1800 33 1800 or visit their website defenceveteranslegalservice.org.au.
Click on the title to download the pamphlet or factsheet.
Cars and Driving
Click on the title to download the pamphlet or factsheet.
Tenancy
Legal Aid ACT can give legal advice and assistance to tenants in the ACT through the Tenancy Advice Service ACT. Call the Helpline on 1300 654 314 to get help. See the Tenancy Advice Service ACT page for more information.
Click on the title to download the pamphlet or factsheet.
- Access and Privacy
- Bond
- Condition Reports
- Ending a Tenancy: Escaping Family Violence
- Ending a Tenancy/Breaking a Lease
- FVOs, PPOs and Tenancies
- Going to ACAT
- Maintenance and Repairs
- Modifications to Property
- Mould
- Occupancy Agreements
- Pets
- Rent Increases
- Starting a Tenancy
- Sub-letting
- Your Rights and Obligations as a Tenant
- ACT Government Factsheets - the ACT Justice and Community Safety Directorate provides several of its own factsheets that are regularly updated and explain major changes in the Residential Tenancies Act.
- Tenancy Comic Book - Problems with my Landlord
Useful Documents
- Condition of Premises Report - Condition reports are used as evidence in bond disputes. This 5-page condition report can be used in a tenancy or occupancy. It is available free from www.revenue.act.gov.au
- Standard residential tenancy terms - Schedule 1 - Standard residential tenancy terms - Schedule 1
- Standard Tenancy Agreement 2019 - Standard Tenancy Agreement
Sample Letters
Sample letters are in Word format so you can edit and use them for your own situation
- Sample letters - Access for Purchaser
- Sample letters - Bond Dispute
- Sample letters - Break lease no grounds
- Sample letters - Challenging Notice to Vacate in a fixed term tenancy
- Sample letters - Challenging Notice to Vacate periodic tenancy
- Sample letters - Change to Rent Payment Method
- Sample Letters - Lodgement of Bond
- Sample letters - Notice of Intention to Vacate
- Sample letters - Notice to Remedy Breach
- Sample letters - Outstanding Rent (1)
- Sample letters - Outstanding rent (2)
- Sample letters - Rent Increase
- Sample letters - Repairs
- Sample letters - Termination of periodic tenancy
- Sample letters - Unwanted Access
Other Legal Issues
Click on the title to download the pamphlet or factsheet.
Comic Book series
The aim of these Comic Books is to help people to better understand the law on topics that most affect them in a short and easy to read format.
Animated Videos
About Legal Aid ACT
Family Violence
Tenancy