Advice
Basic initial advice to help you understand the issue and consider your next steps.
Local help with everyday legal problems
Southport Community Legal Service provides free legal advice, assistance and referrals to people in our local community. We aim to make it easier to understand a legal problem, consider the options and take an informed next step.
Our service is based in Port Melbourne and primarily assists people in the City of Port Phillip. If you live outside this area, you are welcome to contact us to ask whether we can assist. We assess each enquiry according to its suitability and our available resources.
People behind the service
Our team includes part-time solicitors, volunteer solicitors, law graduates and law students. We offer a friendly and informal setting in which to discuss legal concerns and ask questions.
Our purpose is to improve access to legal help, encourage community understanding of the law and support equal opportunity in the legal system.
A practical starting point
You do not need to know which area of law applies before contacting us. We can help identify the issue and discuss what assistance may be suitable.
Depending on the matter and resources, assistance may include basic advice, help with a legal form or letter, information about court and tribunal procedures, or referral to another legal or community service.
Areas we can discuss
These pages explain common legal issues and the introductory assistance we may offer. Each enquiry is assessed individually.
Family law
Separation, de facto relationships, divorce and children's arrangements, excluding property settlements.
Read about family lawFamily violence
Safety concerns, family violence intervention orders, initial advice and support referrals.
Read about family violencePersonal safety intervention orders
Protection from harmful behaviour by someone who is not a family member, and responding to applications.
Read about personal safety intervention ordersCivil law and everyday disputes
Everyday disputes, personal debts, motor vehicle damage and insurance problems.
Read about civil law and everyday disputesTraffic offences
Traffic charges, licence questions and introductory help with court processes.
Read about traffic offencesCriminal law
Understanding charges, court documents and options for further legal help.
Read about criminal lawConsumer issues
Faulty goods, services, personal consumer contracts and complaint options.
Read about consumer issuesTenancy and renting
Private rentals, public and community housing, rooming houses and co-tenancy.
Read about tenancy and rentingSocial security and government services
Centrelink, Veterans' Affairs, NDIS decisions and complaints about government services.
Read about social security and government servicesNeighbourhood disputes
Neighbour and fencing disputes, personal safety intervention orders and referrals.
Read about neighbourhood disputesWills
Basic wills enquiries and assessing whether simple-will assistance is available.
Read about willsEmployment
Workplace conditions, pay concerns, dismissal questions and referral options.
Read about employmentPowers of attorney
Decision-making documents, powers of attorney and medical treatment decisions.
Read about powers of attorneyVictims of crime
Victorian and interstate financial-assistance schemes and support after crime.
Read about victims of crimeFines and infringements
Review options, special circumstances, payment options and Work and Development Permits.
Read about fines and infringementsWhat level of assistance can we offer?
We assess each matter individually, taking account of its suitability and our available resources. An enquiry or appointment does not guarantee ongoing assistance or representation.
Referral
Information about another legal or support service when specialist help is needed or we cannot assist.
Further assistance
A specific legal task or ongoing casework may be available, decided case by case and subject to resources.
What we do not do
- Commercial or business matters.
- Conveyancing, real-estate transactions and property ownership disputes.
- Family property settlements.
- Personal injury claims and WorkCover.
Our assistance with renting, dividing fences and motor vehicle damage is described on the relevant practice pages. Basic wills enquiries and statutory victims-of-crime assistance are assessed within the limits described on those pages.
Visiting or writing to us
Office: 154 Liardet Street, Port Melbourne VIC 3207.
Mailing address: 341 Coventry Street, South Melbourne VIC 3205.
Please contact us to arrange an appointment and tell us about any hearing date or deadline.
Talk to us
Contact Southport Community Legal Service to discuss an appointment.
Call 03 9646 6066, 0490 934 661 or 0440 131 920.
Email [email protected].