ATTORNEY GENERAL OF NEW SOUTH WALES
Attorney General launches free legal service for NSW
The NSW Attorney General, Bob Debus, today launched Australia’s most comprehensive legal telephone assistance service.
LawAccess NSW is a free service providing a single point of access to legal and related assistance services in NSW.
"The service is available to every person in NSW, but has a particular focus on people who have difficulty accessing traditional community and government legal services such as people in regional and isolated areas and people with disabilities.
"LawAccess NSW delivers a flexible mix of services including legal information, referrals and legal advice, in some cases, to meet the different expectations and needs of its customers.
"This is an important step in enhancing access to justice for everyone.
"In addition to legal information, referral and advice, LawAccess NSW makes referrals to other organisations including financial counsellors and alternative dispute resolution services where appropriate.
"Funded at a cost of $1.8 million per annum, LawAccess employs 14 equivalent full-time customer service officers with most staff working part time. As well, the service will employ the equivalent of three full-time lawyers and a principal legal officer.
"Combined, the current staff have participated in over 1,100 hours of training since September last year in issues such as family law, general civil law, consumer debt and telephone skills.
"The live telephone service is available Monday to Friday from nine to five.
"A recorded information service called LawTalks is available 24 hours, seven days a week, covering topics such as drink driving, child support, wills, and divorce.
"A web site offering access to over 1,500 plain language and non-English language legal factsheets called LawAccess Online is available at www.lawaccess.nsw.gov.au
"LawAccess is a collaborative industry, government and community initiative merging the former Legal Aid Commission ‘Helpline’ and the NSW Law Society’s telephone assistance line.
"This is an example of government, community and private sectors co-operating in the delivery of services to the community and employing the latest in technology to provide a free service for the community.
"LawAccess NSW can provide a total of 180,000 telephone information sessions per annum.
"LawAccess NSW is available on 1300 888 LAW (1300 888 529) Mon-Fri, 9-5, except public holidays.
"LawTalks is available on the same number 24 hours a day by just pressing "1" on the telephone touchpad
"People from non-English speaking backgrounds can contact LawAccess NSW by ringing the Translating and Interpreting Services on 131 450 and asking them to contact LawAccess NSW.
"For people with hearing or speech disabilities, a TTY service is available on 1300 TTY LAW (1300 889 529) Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm.
Contact: Alex Cramb on 9995 6500 or 0407 262 459
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