Help at court

If you’re going to court and don’t have a lawyer, the duty lawyer is a free lawyer who may be able to help on your court date by:

• giving you legal advice and information
• helping to fill out court forms or documents
• discussing your eligibility for legal aid
• representing you in court (depending on your situation)—but not for your ongoing court case.

Duty lawyers can help with:

• criminal law matters in the Magistrates Court
• family law matters in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia
• child protection matters in the Childrens Court
• domestic and family violence matters in the Magistrates Court.

For domestic and family violence matters, the following services are also available to help you:

• Women's Domestic Violence Court Assistance Service — for women attending the Brisbane Magistrates Court
• Application Assistance Program — for women attending the Brisbane Magistrates Court to apply for a domestic violence protection order
• Family Advocacy and Support Services — operates in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia from Monday to Friday 9am to 4pm in Brisbane, Townsville, Rockhampton and Cairns. You may be referred by Legal Aid Queensland to this service for help if appropriate.

If you or your children are at risk of harm, call the police. In an emergency, call 000.

How to see a duty lawyer

Before you go to court, contact us to find out if you can see a duty lawyer or how we can help you with your legal problem.

If a duty lawyer can see you, it is best to turn up at the court when it opens, as it may be busy and you may have to wait.

When you get to court, ask the court staff if there is a duty lawyer. If there is, the court staff can tell you what you need to do to see the lawyer.

If you need an interpreter, the court will organise one for you. It is best to let the court know you need an interpreter before your court date. If you haven’t done this, tell the court staff as soon as you get to court.

Other services

There are other services available to help before, during and after your court appearance (depending on your situation and your legal matter). These include:

• Court network volunteers
• Self-represented Litigants Service
• LawRight
• Community legal centres
• Victim Assist Queensland
• Magistrates Court of Queensland

Last updated 2 May 2023