See if you can get free legal help with a case at the Commission about employment issues. Employers and employees may qualify.
On this page:
Introduction
The Commission's Workplace Advice Service organises free legal help for employees and employers that qualify.
You may be able to speak with a lawyer if an appointment is available.
The service is only for employment issues that involve:
- dismissal
- general protections
- bullying at work
- sexual harassment at work.
Who can use the service
Employees
To be eligible for help, you must:
- not have a lawyer or paid agent
- not be a member of a union
- have an enquiry or issue about dismissal, general protections or workplace bullying.
Small business employers
To be eligible for help, you must:
- have less than 15 employees (which means the Fair Work Act 2009 defines you as a small business)
- not have in-house legal, workplace relations or human resources staff
- not have a lawyer or paid agent
- not be a member of an employer association
- have an enquiry or issue about dismissal, general protections, bullying or sexual harassment at work.
Note:
Using this service is not the same as starting an application with the Commission.
Some of our applications have strict deadlines. If you need help before a deadline, or are not eligible, look up where to find legal help.
How the service works
Step 1: Check if you may be eligible
Check your eligibility in the request form.
Step 2: Complete the request form
If you're eligible, you will be able to submit a request.
Step 3: Make your appointment
We will then either:
- organise an appointment for you
- put you in touch with a lawyer so they can make an appointment for you.
Your appointment may take place by phone or in person.
Note: Sometimes appointments are not available due to high demand. We will tell you if this happens and suggest who else you can ask for help.
Step 4: Attend your appointment
Appointments generally go for one hour.
During the appointment, the lawyer will listen to what you have to say. They might ask you some questions to better understand the situation.
The lawyer may then offer advice on:
- what issues are likely to come up at a Commission proceeding
- whether your issue or enquiry is likely to succeed if you decide to pursue it.
Partner organisations
3D HR Legal
AiGroup Workplace Lawyers
Adero Law
Andersons Solicitors
Arnold Bloch Leibler
Ashurst
Australian Business Lawyers & Advisors
Australian Workplace Lawyers
Bartier Perry Lawyers
Batch Mewing Lawyers
Bowden McCormack Lawyers + Advisers
Boylan Lawyers
Carroll & O'Dea Lawyers
Chris Jensen, Barrister
Circle Green Community Legal
Clayton Utz
Colquhoun Murphy
Corrs Chambers Westgarth
Coutts Lawyers
Danny King Legal
Deakin Law Clinic
De Silva Hebron Barristers & Solicitors
DW Fox Tucker Lawyers
EI Legal
FCB Workplace Law
Griffin Legal
HerbertSmith Freehills
HHG Legal Group
Hobart Community Legal Centre
Holding Redlich
Holman Webb Lawyers
HR Legal
HWL Ebsworth
Industrial Bar Association of the Victorian Bar
IRIQ Law
Jewell Hancock Employment Lawyers
JusticeNet SA
Job Watch Inc.
K&L Gates
Kelly Workplace Lawyers
Kennedys Law
Lander & Co
Lander & Rogers
Langtree Legal
Launceston Community Legal Centre
Lawfield
Legal Aid ACT
Legal Aid New South Wales
Legal Aid Queensland
Maddocks
Mare Lawyers Workwise Advisory Services
Marrickville Legal Centre
Marshalls + Dent + Wilmoth
McCullough Robertson Lawyers
MDC Legal
Michael Law Group
Mills Oakley
Minter Ellison
MJT Law
Moloney & Partners Lawyers
Moray & Agnew
Mullins Lawyers
Murdoch Clarke
Nadia Stojanova, Barrister
Namadgi Legal
North-West Community Legal Centre
Norton Rose Fulbright
New South Wales Bar Association
NRA Legal
Resolution 123
Rubix Legal
Russell Kennedy
Simmons Wolfhagen Lawyers
Sladen Legal
South West Sydney Legal Centre
Sparke Helmore Lawyers
Springvale Monash Legal Service
WGC Lawyers
Wilson/Ryan/Grose Lawyers
Working Women Qld – Program of Basic Rights Qld
Wotton + Kearney
Young Workers’ Rights Service