Legal Information

The Client Services Officers who attend to calls made to our office are able to provide general legal information. They are not able to provide legal advice. They can help if people:

• are not sure where to start looking to find answers to a legal problem;
• want some general information about where best to get help for a legal problem;
• need referral to an appropriate service; and
• want to know whether they should request an advice appointment or should see a lawyer.

Legal Advice Appointments

Legal advice appointments are for one-off legal advice regarding our main practice areas.

Any ongoing assistance with document drafting or other matters is offered at the discretion of the solicitor who is seen on the day. However, there is no guarantee that they will have capacity.

Appointments can be made by contacting (08) 9272 8800 or 1800 625 122 (country callers) between 9:00am and 4:00pm Mondays to Fridays. Please be aware that we receive a large volume of calls each day, and sometimes it can be difficult to get through. If this is the case then you are welcome to email info@wlswa.org.au.

For an agency or service provider wanting to refer a client for assistance, we have a Referral Form which can be completed and emailed back to us.

We understand that sometimes urgent situations arise that are beyond control.  All requests for urgent appointments are referred to our Principal Legal Officer and we try to make accommodation where possible. If we cannot assist we will endeavour to refer to someone that can.

Appointment requests and confirmation must be made by the person who the appointment is for, unless a referral is made by an agency or worker on a person’s behalf.

Booking an Appointment

It is a requirement for us to gather the following information from people before we make an appointment:

• name, date of birth and a safe email address and phone number we can contact;
• the name of the other person(s) involved and their dates of birth (if known). This can include a current partner, former partner, parents of children in the care and/or anyone caring for them children;
• whether they hold a concession card, have experienced family violence or financial disadvantage;
• The general nature of the situation and legal problem;
• If it is a matter where children are involved, we will need their names and dates of birth; and
• If there are any court hearings, the date of the next one and a summary of any proceedings.

Once we have all the information, we will undertake a conflict check to make sure we are ethically able to provide legal advice. We also have to assess our capacity to assist.  If we cannot help, we will always do our best to try to refer to someone who can.

Appointment requests can also be made by filling out and submitting the form below.