Referrals - Legal

Legal Aid - 1300 651 188
Website
Legal Aid Queensland's Client Information Services call centre has the most up-to-date database of legal information and referral services throughout Queensland. Client Information Officers can help people to work out if their problem is legal, discuss their options, and refer them to an appropriate agency if necessary. Legal Aid Queensland provides legal assistance to financially and socially disadvantaged Queenslanders, as well as information, advice and representation in family, civil, and criminal law matters.

Victims of Crime Compensation Unit (Legal Aid) - 1300 651 188
Website
Gives legal advice and represents people who have received a personal injury (physical or mental) as the result of a crime. It may be possible to get compensation for injury from either the person who committed the crime or the government. The unit has specialist lawyers who can help victims of crime with their claims, and can give general information about eligibility, application processes, etc.

Women’s Legal Service
Brisbane - (07) 3392 0670
Outside Brisbane only - 1800 677 278
Website
Women's Legal Service is a Community Legal Centre that provides free legal advice and information to women in Queensland.

Caxton Legal Service - (07) 3254 1811
Website
Caxton Legal Centre is an independent, non-profit community organisation providing FREE legal and social work advice, assistance and referral for the general public. Services are designed for people who cannot afford a solicitor, for people who just want initial advice, or for people who want a referral to a private solicitor. They can provide services in most areas of law except immigration, conveyancing and some large commercial matters.

Solicitors’ Referral Service - (07) 3842 5842
Website
For callers who want the name of a general solicitor or one practising in a particular area of law (e.g., Family Law, Personal Injuries). The operator will give the caller the names of 3 solicitors.

Prisoners Legal Service
Brisbane – (07) 3846 3384
1800 813 940

Free legal advice and assistance to prisoners and their families on matters relating to incarceration.

Community Legal Centres - (02) 9264 9595
Website
E-mail: naclc@fcl.fl.asn.au
Community Legal Centres provide information and a referral service for most areas of the law (only basic and initial family law advice). These centres are throughout Queensland. See website for contact details and locations.

Youth Advocacy Centre - (07) 3857 1155
Website
Community legal and welfare service for young people 10 to 16 years and their families living in and around Brisbane. Focus on criminal law as it relates to minors. Deals with casework, law reform and community legal education.

Volunteers in Policing (Hervey Bay)

Provide court support and other services for victims of crime. Clients need to contact their local police station in the Hervey Bay area and ask for the 'VIPs'.

Freedom of Information (FOI) - (07) 3224 2242 or 1800 809 078
Website
For anyone wanting to obtain information under the Freedom of Information Act. The Queensland Freedom of Information Act 1992 (FOI Act) gives people a right, subject to limited exceptions, to access documents held by ministers, state government departments, local authorities and most government agencies and statutory authorities.

Concerned Persons Register (Dept of Corrective Services) - 1800 098 098
Website
Provides information to victims of crime about an offender who has been convicted of an offence of violence against them. The Register provides information about an offenders progress through the correctional system. The Register can provide information to people who are:
An actual victim of an offence of violence;
An immediate family member or partner of an actual victim of an offence of violence, including a deceased victim; or
A guardian of a child victim, or of another victim with a legal incapacity, of an offence of violence.
The Register is not a general information service for the public and it is not the purpose of the Register to intervene in the management of offenders.

Victims Liaison Officers
Brisbane – (07) 3239 6840
Outside Brisbane - 1800 673 428
(Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions)
Website
Provided by the Department of Public Prosecutions, for clients going through the trial process. Clients should not phone this service to obtain a Victim Liaison Officer - it is a service provided to clients by the people dealing with the case.

Youth Justice Conferencing - 13 13 04
Website
Youth Justice Conferencing is a restorative justice approach to youth crime. It is a meeting between the people who have been affected by a young person's crime - the young person and their family or other support people, the victim (if they wish to attend) or their representatives and their support people. Approved convenors from the community bring together conference participants and a representative from the police, to assist them to talk about what happened, how they have been affected by the crime and how the young person might work towards repairing the damage or harm done.

Last Updated: 10 May 2006