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People before pages · NSW

Where to get real help

This site is general information written by someone who is not a lawyer. The services below are staffed by people who can talk to you about your situation. They come first. Our guides come after. NSW services are listed first; every state and territory has the same kinds of service, and they are below.

Use this when

You need a person, not a page: someone who can hear your situation and tell you what applies to you.

Leave with

One number to call, one question to ask, and the documents to have beside you when you do.

If you are at risk right now

Safety comes before any deadline

If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 000. No legal step is more urgent than that.

  • Lifeline — 24-hour crisis support: 13 11 14 · lifeline.org.au
  • NSW Mental Health Line — 24-hour advice and referral: 1800 011 511 · health.nsw.gov.au
  • 1800RESPECT — domestic, family and sexual violence support: 1800 737 732 · 1800respect.org.au
  • Beyond Blue — anxiety and depression support: 1300 22 4636 · beyondblue.org.au

Legal pressure can feel like a physical emergency even when the deadline is weeks away. If you are not sleeping, not eating, or cannot stop the loop in your head, that is a reason to call one of these numbers, not a reason to push through. The 15 principles and Calm Spine guides are about stamina; they are not a substitute for a person.

Free legal help in NSW

These services are free, staffed by lawyers or trained legal staff, and used to hearing from people who are frightened and do not know the vocabulary. You do not need to have organised anything before you call.

  • LawAccess NSW — the state's free telephone legal information and referral service, run by Legal Aid NSW. Usually the right first call for any NSW legal problem. 1300 888 529 · lawaccess.nsw.gov.au
  • Legal Aid NSW — representing yourself — plain-language guides, and information on whether you qualify for a grant of legal aid or duty lawyer help. legalaid.nsw.gov.au
  • Community legal centres — independent, free, local. Many run advice sessions for employment, tenancy, debt, family and civil problems. Find the centre for your area or problem type: findlegalhelp.clcnsw.org.au · clcnsw.org.au
  • Justice Connect — connects people who cannot afford a lawyer with free help, and runs services for people representing themselves in some courts. justiceconnect.org.au
Ask a small, specific question

"I have received this letter, it says I must respond by Friday, and I want to know whether that deadline is real and what happens if I miss it" gets a better answer than "what should I do about my case". The services above can only work with what you tell them; the preparation list below helps.

Every state and territory

Each state and territory has a legal aid commission with a free advice line, and a network of community legal centres. If you are outside NSW, start with your own. For your court's own self-representation pages, forms and handbooks, the resources directory lists them state by state and by kind of matter.

Family, wills and estates

Separation, parenting, property after a relationship, and disputes about a will are among the most common reasons people end up representing themselves. Family law is federal, so the same court and rules apply in every state. Estates are dealt with by each state's Supreme Court.

  • Family Relationship Advice Line — free information on separation, parenting arrangements and family dispute resolution: 1800 050 321 · familyrelationships.gov.au
  • Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia — the court's own pages for people representing themselves in family matters: fcfcoa.gov.au
  • Wills and estates — LawAccess NSW and the other legal aid lines above can explain probate, contesting a will and family provision claims in your state, and refer you on.
  • If there is violence or fear at home, 1800RESPECT is above. Family courts have their own safety arrangements; tell the registry.

Help at the court

Court registry staff can explain how a process works, which form is used, and where and when to file. They cannot tell you what to put in it or whether you should file at all. That distinction is a rule they must follow, not a lack of care.

  • NSW Courts — get legal help and support — the courts' own directory of support services, including for people appearing without a lawyer. courts.nsw.gov.au
  • Supreme Court of NSW — for the self-represented — information for people representing themselves in that court. supremecourt.nsw.gov.au
  • Duty lawyers — some courts and lists have a duty solicitor available on the day for short advice. Ask the registry or LawAccess NSW whether one operates in your court.

Federal matters are different

Much of this site is written for NSW state courts. Employment, family law, bankruptcy, migration and some other matters are dealt with by federal courts and tribunals with their own rules, forms and practice directions. The NSW-specific material here may not apply. Start with the body's own self-representation pages:

  • Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia — fcfcoa.gov.au
  • Fair Work Commission — workplace disputes, unfair dismissal and general protections applications — fwc.gov.au

Where a guide on this site refers to a rule or practice note, it says which court it belongs to. If your matter is in a different court, treat the method as general and check the rule for yours.

Finding a solicitor

Paying for advice does not have to mean handing over the whole matter. Many solicitors offer a fixed-fee initial consultation, and some will do a defined piece of work, such as reviewing a letter or checking an affidavit, while you continue to represent yourself. Ask directly whether they offer limited-scope or "unbundled" help.

  • Law Society of NSW — register of solicitors — check that a person is a current practising solicitor in NSW, and find one by area. lawsociety.com.au

Before a paid appointment, ask what it will cost, what it covers, and what you should bring. Then bring exactly that.

Before you call anyone

Ten minutes of preparation makes a short call useful. Have these beside you:

  • The document that prompted the call, and the date you received it
  • Any deadline written on it, and how it was worded
  • The court or body named on it, and any case or reference number
  • The other party's name and, if there is one, their solicitor's name
  • What has happened so far, in date order, in five lines or fewer
  • One question you most need answered

If the document is still a blur, the First 48 Hours guide will get you to that list without adding pressure, and the legal-letter triage prompt can read the letter first if you cannot face it yet.

What this site cannot do

  • It cannot give advice about your matter, by email or otherwise. The contact address is for reporting errors and suggesting improvements, and we will not answer questions about individual situations there.
  • It cannot tell you whether a deadline is real, whether a claim is strong, or what a court will do.
  • It cannot replace a person who has heard your facts. Every guide here is general information, with a jurisdiction label and a review date at the bottom.

Listing a service on this page is not an endorsement, and none of these organisations has any connection with Self Rep Ready. Details were checked in September 2026; confirm the number and hours on the service's own site before relying on them.

General information only, not legal advice. Services, phone numbers and eligibility rules change. Check each organisation's own website for current details. Last reviewed: September 2026.