Legal Resources

Getting help

Find out where you can go to get free legal advice and general assistance including information for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people; women; children and young people; people with a disability; older people; and migrants.

https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/find-legal-answers/getting-help

Find Legal Answers

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Looking for information about the law? The Find Legal Answers database provides information on popular legal topics in plain-English language.

Find Legal Answers offers legal resources, guidance on getting started, and links to legal services – available online or at Bathurst Library.

The Find Legal Answers Tool Kit is a collection of plain-language books covering everyday legal issues – available online or at Bathurst Library. Topics include dealing with debt; wills and estates; neighbours and the law; family law; NSW law; facing a charge in court and how to run your own court case.

There are also specific sections for young people and older people.

Find Legal Answers eBook collection

The Law Handbook: Your Practical Guide to the Law in NSW covers 40 legal topics from the legal system to wills, estates and funerals.

Neighbours and the Law is a simple guide to legal issues in neighbourhood disputes including fences, animals and noise. 

Rest Assured: A Legal guide to Wills, Estates, Planning Ahead and Funerals in NSW This clear, practical guide helps you understand wills, estates and funerals – topics first considered after the death of a loved one. 

Dealing with Debt: A Legal Guide to Personal Debt in NSW helps debtors in NSW understand common debt types, debt recovery, explore management options, and respond to debt recovery action in the Local Court of NSW. 

The Family Law Handbook is a practical guide for separation and divorce, covering post-separation steps, negotiations, child arrangements, family violence, property settlements, and court procedures. (Note, chapters 1 and 2 are online, and the book is available at Bathurst Library.) 

Women and Sexual Violence Law is a pocket guide providing important information for women and girls who are survivors of sexual violence, and those who support them – covering affirmative consent laws; medical and legal help; reporting to police; court processes, and other support services. 

How to run your own court case is a step-by-step guide to self-representation in a non-criminal case in a court or tribunal, with advice on claims, evidence, negotiation, court, and appeals. It includes case studies, checklists, legal terms, and covers matters like family law, debt, tenancy, and government appeals. 

Defend Yourself: Facing a charge in court is a practical guide to defending a criminal charge, covering arrest, bail, lawyers, court procedures, pleas, trials, evidence, sentencing, and appeals. 

 

Free Legal Resources

AustLII provides free online access to one of the largest sources of legal materials in Australia including Federal and State legislation, court judgements, Australian cases, law and other legal matters. 

Community legal centres give free and confidential legal help to people in need.  

Find all Commonwealth legislation, including current and historical Acts, Legislative Instruments, Gazettes and Bills. 

Find cases and selected published decisions for NSW Courts and Tribunals, including the Supreme Court, Local Court, District Court, Children’s Court and the Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT). 

Find all NSW legislation, including current and historical Acts, Regulations, Gazettes and Bills.  

Women’s Legal Services NSW (WLS NSW)

provides free confidential legal advice and referrals to women in NSW, with a focus on family law, parenting issues, domestic violence, sexual assault and discrimination. 

Central Tablelands and Blue Mountains Community Legal Centre (CTBMCLC)

 CTBMCLC is a not-for-profit organisation offering free legal advice across the Central Tablelands and Blue Mountains. Services include family law and domestic violence matters, civil issues such as credit, debt, wills, powers of attorney and guardianship, as well as criminal law including traffic offences, and more.

 

Domestic and family violence

Contact 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732) for 24/7 advice and support. 

This booklet was written for people who are or have been victims/survivors of domestic violence and have obtained an AVO. This resource is also available in our Find Legal Answers Tool Kit collection. 

A plain-English guide to family law in New South Wales covering a range of topics such as divorce, children, property settlements and AVOs. 

This pocket guide provides important information for women and girls who are survivors of sexual violence, and those who support them. This resource is also available in our Find Legal Answers Tool Kit collection.  

What is coercive control? The NSW Government Coercive Control webpage provides information, resources, help and support.  

The NSW Government Domestic, family and sexual violence webpage has information about how to get help and support, emergency housing, understanding domestic and sexual violence, sexual consent and the law, legal help, and how to stay safe.  

The Domestic Violence Legal Service is a specialist legal service for women experiencing domestic and family violence in NSW. It provides free confidential legal information and referrals for women in NSW with a focus on domestic violence and Apprehended Domestic Violence Orders. 

WLS NSW offers face-to-face and over-the-phone legal advice.  

The NSW Domestic Violence Line provides counselling and referrals to women experiencing domestic and family violence. Caseworkers can assist with understanding what an Apprehended Violence Order (AVO) is and how to get one. 

WILLOW 

WILLOW is a free legal information project by Women’s Legal Service NSW. It provides easy online access to simplified legal information for women escaping violence or in crisis, women with low literacy and women with limited digital capability.  

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