List no. 06 · Room 5 · Help
Getting legal help
Every state and territory has a Legal Aid organisation with a phone line for legal help, and more than 160 community legal services across Australia give mostly free advice. Their numbers are below, each copied from the organisation’s own website, with questions worth asking, the first three drawn from Victoria’s regulator.
General information
This page explains the law in general terms. It is not legal advice, and it cannot tell you what to do in your own matter. This guide does not recommend or refer to any law firm. The organisations listed here are government legal aid bodies and not-for-profit community legal services.
Legal Aid, state by state
Numbers and hours as shown on each organisation’s site on 7 October 2026.
| State | Organisation | Phone | Hours | Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NSW | Legal Aid NSW | 1300 888 529 | 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays | Legal Aid NSW: contact page |
| VIC | Victoria Legal Aid | 1300 792 387 | 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday; Legal Help Chat online | Victoria Legal Aid: contact page |
| QLD | Legal Aid Queensland | 1300 65 11 88 | 8.30am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday | Legal Aid Queensland: contact page |
| WA | Legal Aid WA (Infoline) | 1300 650 579 | See the website for hours | Legal Aid WA website |
| SA | Legal Services Commission of SA (Legal Helpline), which gives free advice for most legal problems | 1300 366 424 | See the website for hours | Legal Services Commission: drug driving factsheet |
| TAS | Tasmania Legal Aid (Legal Help) | 1300 366 611 | 8.45am to 5pm, Monday to Friday | Tasmania Legal Aid: contact page |
| ACT | Legal Aid ACT (Legal Aid Helpline) | 1300 654 314 | See the website for hours | Legal Aid ACT website |
| NT | Legal Aid NT | 1800 019 343 | See the website for hours | Legal Aid NT: contact page |
What Legal Aid can and cannot do for a drug driving charge
A phone line for information and advice is not the same as a lawyer to run your case, and the difference matters for traffic charges. South Australia’s Legal Services Commission says legal aid will only be granted if there is a likelihood of imprisonment, which is not usual for drug driving charges, though it may be available for a driving under the influence charge with prior convictions, for driving while disqualified, or where a case is particularly serious.
Other help sits around the courtroom itself. Victoria Legal Aid offers Help Before Court to eligible people with a coming court date. Legal Aid WA’s guide to a first appearance sets out options for being represented, under “Get help at court”. The Local Court of New South Wales points people with traffic matters to Legal Aid for information and advice.
Community legal centres
Community legal services are independent non-profit organisations. Some serve everyone in a local area; others focus on a particular area of law or group of people. Community Legal Centres Australia, the national peak body, does not give advice itself, but links to the bodies in each state and territory that list local services.
If you go to a private lawyer: questions about cost
The Victorian Legal Services Board and Commissioner, which regulates lawyers in Victoria, says lawyers must not charge more than fair and reasonable amounts, and that if work will cost more than $750 the lawyer must give you a written estimate, called a costs disclosure. It also says a lawyer should update you in writing when costs are likely to rise. Rules on costs differ between states; check with the regulator where you live.
- What is your estimate of the total cost, in writing, and what billing method will you use? (Victoria’s regulator says you have a right to negotiate both.)
- Can I have an itemised bill?
- Will you tell me in writing if the estimate changes?
- What costs are outside your fee, such as court fees or reports?
- Who will appear for me on the day?
- How often do you handle drug driving matters in this court?
- What are the realistic outcomes in a matter like mine, and what would change them?
Victoria’s regulator also keeps a register of lawyers, where you can check whether a lawyer is registered and whether they have any disciplinary action recorded.
If you need support beyond the legal side
Victoria’s TAC points readers of its drug driving page who want support to Directline and Family Drug Support. healthdirect has a helpline on 1800 022 222, where a registered nurse is available 24 hours a day.