This page lists the major specialist community legal centres (CLCs), generalist CLCs, and services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia.

Specialist community legal centres

Below is a list of the major specialist CLCs in Australia, ordered by area of specialisation.

• • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders
    • See ‘Services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ below
  • Arts
    • Arts Law Centre of Australia (NSW)
  • Asylum Seekers, Refugees and Migrants
    • Refugee Advice and Casework Service (NSW)
    • Immigration Advice and Rights Centre (NSW)
    • Refugee and Immigration Legal Service (QLD)
    • Refugee Advocacy Service of South Australia (SA)
    • Tasmanian Refugee Legal Service (TAS)
    • Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (VIC)
    • Refugee Legal (VIC)
    • Circle Green Community Legal (WA)
  • Disability Rights
    • Australian Centre for Disability Law (NSW)
    • Basic Rights Queensland (QLD)
    • Queensland Advocacy Incorporated (QLD)
    • AED Legal Centre (VIC)
    • Disability Discrimination Legal Service (VIC)
    • Intellectual Disability Rights Service (NSW)
    • Villamanta Disability Rights Legal Service (VIC)
  • Employment Law & Injured Workers
    • JobWatch (QLD, TAS & VIC)
    • Employment Law Centre (WA)
    • Worker Assist (TAS)
  • Environmental Law and Animal Welfare
    • Animal Defenders Office (ACT)
    • Animal Law Institute (VIC)
    • Environmental Defenders Office (Australia-wide)
    • Environmental Justice Australia (VIC)
  • Financial Rights
    • Consumer Law Centre of the ACT (ACT)
    • Financial Rights Legal Centre (NSW)
    • Consumer Credit Law Centre SA (SA)
    • Consumer Credit Legal Service (WA)
  • Health (including mental health)
    • HIV/AIDS Legal Centre (NSW)
    • Mental Health Legal Centre (VIC)
    • Mental Health Law Centre (WA)
    • Queensland Advocacy Incorporated (QLD)
  • People experiencing homelessness
    • Homeless Law at Justice Connect (VIC)
    • Homeless Persons’ Legal Service at the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (NSW)
    • Street Law at Canberra Community Law (ACT)
    • Street Law Centre (WA)
  • Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) Community
    • Inner City Legal Centre (NSW)
    • LGBTI Legal Service Inc (QLD)
  • Prisoners
    • Prisoners’ Legal Service (QLD)
  • Seniors
    • Seniors Rights Service (NSW)
    • Seniors Legal and Support Service at Caxton Legal Centre (QLD)
    • Seniors Rights (VIC)
  • Tenants
    • Tenants Union (ACT)
    • Marrickville Legal Centre (NSW)
    • Tenants Queensland (QLD)
    • Tenants’ Union of Tasmania (TAS)
    • Tenancy WA (WA)
    • Tenants’ Union of NSW
    • Tenants Victoria
  • Youth
    • Youth Law Australia (NSW)
    • YFS Legal (QLD)
    • Youth Advocacy Centre (QLD)
    • Young Workers Centre (VIC)
    • Youthlaw (VIC)
    • Youth Legal Service (WA)
  • Welfare Rights
    • Basic Rights Queensland (QLD)
    • Social Security Rights Victoria (VIC)
    • Welfare Rights Centre (NSW)
    • Welfare Rights & Advocacy Service (WA)
  • Women’s Rights/ Family Law/ Family Violence
    • Women’s Legal Centre (ACT)
    • Women’s Legal Service (NSW)
    • Women’s Legal Service (QLD)
    • Women’s Legal Service (SA)
    • Women’s Legal Service (TAS)
    • Women’s Legal Service (VIC)
    • Women’s Legal Service (WA)
    • Top End Women’s Legal Service (NT)

 Generalist community legal centres

Some of the major generalist CLCs in Australia include:

• Canberra Community Law (ACT)
• Marrickville Legal Centre (NSW)
• Public Interest Advocacy Centre (NSW)
• Redfern Legal Centre (NSW)
• Darwin Community Legal Service (NT)
• Caxton Legal Centre (QLD)
• LawRight (QLD)*
• JusticeNet SA (SA)*
• Hobart Community Legal Service (TAS)
• Fitzroy Legal Service (VIC)
• Flemington & Kensington Community Legal Centre (VIC)
• Justice Connect (VIC & NSW)*
• Citizens Advice Bureau (WA)
• Law Access WA*
• Northern Suburbs Community Legal Centre (WA)
• Western Sydney Community Legal Centre (NSW)

*Also a public interest law clearinghouse

Services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

These are the major Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services (ATSILS) in Australia:

• Aboriginal Legal Service (NSW/ACT)
• Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia Ltd (WA)
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service (QLD)
• North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency (NT)
• Tasmanian Aboriginal Legal Service (TAS)
• Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service (VIC)
• Wirringa Baiya Aboriginal Women’s Legal Centre

If you’re interested in working to achieve improved justice outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander survivors of family violence, you could volunteer at a National Family Violence Prevention Legal Service (FVPLS). Some major FVPLSs include:

• Djirra (VIC)
• Aboriginal Family Law Services (WA) 
• North Australian Aboriginal Family Legal Service (NT)
• Queensland Indigenous Family Violence Legal Service (QLD)
• Thiyama-li Family Violence Service (NSW)
• Family Violence Legal Service Aboriginal Corporation (SA)

Last updated March 2022.