What we do
Free legal help
We provide free help for LGBTIQ+ people in Victoria.
We can help if you have:
- Experienced discrimination, harassment and/or violence on the basis of your LGBTIQ+ identity
- Been impacted by family violence.
- Are trans and gender diverse and have a legal issue related to your gender identity.
You can also find out more information about our practice areas:
If you live in Victoria and have a legal issue set out above, then please get in touch to make an appointment.
Ongoing legal representation (casework) is decided on a case-by-case basis. We are unable to take on all matters.
Translators and interpreters
We are able to provide phone translation services for languages other than English. Please call TIS National on 131 450 and ask them to call us.
Alternatively, please email us at [email protected] with the language you speak and the number you would like us to call you on, and we will call you with an interpreter during business hours.
What we can and can’t help with
We can only see you if you have made an appointment. If you need immediate legal help, contact Victoria Legal Aid on 1300 792 387.
We have guidelines on what kinds of legal problems we can help with. We are able to provide referrals for matters we cannot assist with.
For some areas of law, we can give legal advice at a first appointment but we cannot provide ongoing legal assistance through casework.
Below is a list of the areas of law we can help with and how we can help.
Note: TGD refers to trans and gender diverse.
Area of Law | Advice | Casework |
| Bankruptcy | No | No |
| Change of ID | Yes | Yes |
| Change or suppression practices | Yes | Yes |
| Child Protection | No | No |
| Child Support | No | No |
| Commercial Matters (eg. small business, commercial leases, business contracts) | No | No |
| Community Organisations/Clubs | No | No |
| Consumer Law | No | No |
| Conveyancing | No | No |
| Criminal Law – Magistrates’ Court | Yes (if the matter relates to family violence or TGD identity) | Maybe (if the matter relates to family violence or TGD identity) |
| Criminal Law – County, Supreme or High Courts | No | No |
| Corrections complaints | Yes (if the matter relates to TGD identity) | Maybe (if the matter relates to TGD identity) |
| Debts and Fines | Yes (if the matter relates to family violence) | Maybe (if the matter relates to family violence) |
| Defamation | No | No |
| Discrimination | Yes (on basis of LGBTIQ+ identity) | Yes (on basis of LGBTIQ+ identity) |
| Employment | Yes (where LGBTIQ+ identity relevant to employment issue) | Maybe (where LGBTIQ+ identity relevant to employment issue) |
| Expungement of historic homosexual convictions | Yes | Yes |
| Family Law – parenting | Yes (if the matter relates to family violence) | No |
| Family law – change of ID for children | Yes (if the matter relates to TGD identity) | No |
| Family Law – property | No | No |
| Family Law – divorce | Yes (if the matter relates to family violence) | Maybe (if the matter relates to family violence) |
| Family violence | Yes | Yes |
| Freedom of Information | Maybe (where LGBTIQ+ identity relevant to FOI) | No |
| Guardianship / Administration | No | No |
| Health care complaints | Yes (if the matter relates to TGD identity) | Maybe (if the matter relates to TGD identity) |
| Immigration | No | No |
| Infringements (fines) | Yes (if the matter relates to family violence or TGD identity) | Maybe (if the matter relates to family violence or TGD identity) |
| Motor Vehicle Accidents | No | No |
| NDIS | No | No |
| Neighbourhood disputes | Maybe (if the matter relates to LGBTIQ+ status) | No |
| Personal Injury | No | No |
| Personal Safety Intervention Orders | Yes (if the matter relates to LGBTIQ+ identity) | Maybe (if the matter relates to LGBTIQ+ identity) |
| Police complaints | Yes (if the matter relates to family violence or TGD identity) | Maybe (if the matter relates to family violence or TGD identity) |
| Powers of Attorney | No | No |
| Privacy complaints | Yes (if the matter relates to TGD identity) | Maybe (if the matter relates to TGD identity) |
| Property Law (not family, eg adverse possession, boundary/fence disputes, easements, covenants and planning) | No | No |
| Social Security | No | No |
| Tenancy – for tenant | Yes (if the matter relates to family violence) | Maybe (if the matter relates to family violence) |
| Tenancy – for landlord | No | No |
| Victims of Crime Assistance Tribunal (VOCAT) | Yes | Yes |
| Wills | No | No |
| Working with Children Checks | No | No |
Referrals
The LGBTIQ Legal Service can also provide referrals to other community legal centres, private law firms, health services and housing organisations that have expressed a desire to offer safe and inclusive services to the LGBTIQ+ community.
Justice Connect
Justice Connect can help connect people experiencing disadvantage with private lawyers, and can also provide assistance in not-for-profit law for small community groups. Get help here.
Private Lawyers
If you need a referral to a private lawyer, please contact the Law Institute of Victoria on (03) 9607 9550.
Other service providers
Depending on your needs, there are lots of other service providers who might be able to help you, many of which are also free.
Visit our page of recommendations here.
Other things we do
The LGBTIQ Legal Service engage in law reform and systemic advocacy, provide training to family violence and legal professionals, and improving awareness of the legal issues that impact on our communities.