Legal aid is boosting its free assistance for South Australians hit hard by COVID-19.
Attorney-General, Vickie Chapman said it was imperative that South Australians who need legal advice, can access that advice easily and free of cost.
“This virus is turning lives upside down and causing many legal headaches – but increased assistance is now available and it’s free,” Attorney-General, Vickie Chapman said.
“In response to COVID-19, I’m pleased to announce that the Legal Services Commission is boosting the capacity of its free telephone and online legal assistance services.”
Those services are prioritising COVID-19 legal enquiries about:
- employment laws
- landlord and tenant problems
- assistance for victims of family violence
- welfare payments
- mortgage stress
- credit and debt problems
- consumer protection
- Wills, Power of Attorney documents, and Advance Care Directives
- elder abuse
- immigration visas
- family law disputes over the care of children.
“Legal aid also has specialist legal teams to assist victims of domestic violence, and those teams are well prepared to cope with the impact of COVID-19,” Ms Chapman said.
“Sadly, we anticipate there may be an increase in domestic violence as a result of measures that require people to stay in their homes as much as possible.”
Legal aid lawyers help victims of domestic violence deal with issues including:
- intervention orders
- tenancy agreements
- debt
- family law disputes over the care of children.
Legal aid is funded by the SA government to operate the Women’s Domestic Violence Court Assistance Service. That service provides legal help across SA and can be reached by calling 1800 246 642 or by visiting wdvcas.lsc.sa.gov.au.
For free legal advice of a general nature, please call the Commission’s Help Line during business hours on 1300 366 424.
To chat online with legal aid lawyers during business hours, go to lsc.sa.gov.au and click the Legal Chat icon. The legal aid website also has information and free publications about a range of common legal problems.
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