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Justice Connect is a registered charity with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission. .partial_entry_warning { height: 0; position: absolute; }


  • Our service provides legal advice, legal education and self-help resources for Australian charities, not-for-profits and social enterprises.

     

    We give legal advice to eligible Australian charities, not-for-profit organisations and social enterprises that help marginalised or disadvantaged members and can’t afford or have difficulty in accessing legal help.

     

    Learn more about when we can help and who we can’t help.

     

    Are you from an NSW-based community organisation?  

     

    If your organisation is based and operating in NSW, we are unable to assist you with your legal issue at this time.  

     

    After funding us for a number of years, in October 2022 the NSW Government stopped funding our work. In November 2023, we had no choice but to cut off our NSW advice services completely. You can read more about this in on our website. 

     

    Self-help resources: 

    You might find the answer to your question in our self-help resources and we encourage you to look there: www.nfplaw.org.au/free-resources  

     

    Help us reinstate our funding in NSW: 

    Since we had to cut off our advice services in NSW, tens of thousands of organisations like yours have had to go without critical legal and governance support.  

     

    We’d appreciate your support to help us reinstate our funding in NSW and ensure a sustainable NSW community sector, where frontline organisations can access our free legal support to help them deliver services to the growing number of people in need across the state every day.   

     

    We’re asking you to email a letter to the NSW Government in support of reinstating our funding so that we can fully restart all our legal supports for the NSW community sector. 

     

    Our Local Aboriginal Land Council (LALC) service will remain unaffected, so if you’re from one of the 120 LALCs across NSW, find out how we can help.  

     

    If you think your organisation may be eligible for legal advice from us, then please proceed to complete the application for assistance. On average this form will take 5 minutes of your time to complete.

     

    You might find the answer to your question(s) in our self-help resources and we encourage you to look there first. You may also be interested in our easy-to-understand, webinars and customised legal training for not-for-profit organisations.

     

     How we use and what we do with your personal and other information

    The personal and other information that you provide to us in this application is used to make an assessment about whether we are able to provide you with a service or refer you to another service provider.

     

    We respect your privacy and confidential information, and have designed robust systems to protect your information.

     

    Some of our services are delivered by our lawyers in our pro bono network. We may share your information with these lawyers for the purposes of finding you legal assistance.

     

    We collect, use, disclose and store your personal and other information in accordance with our privacy policy.

     

    We will not share your information with other service providers (other than lawyers that we are trying to recruit to provide you with legal assistance) without first seeking your consent.

     

    View our privacy policy and disclaimer


    NFP Law’s Advice Service is closed for the year.

    We will reopen on 6 January 2025. During this time, we will not be processing new enquiries.

     

    If you make an application online, we will get back to you once the office opens in the new year.

     

    If you are looking for urgent assistance, please contact your local legal aid.

  • We are only able to communicate with people who have authority to make a legal enquiry on behalf of an organisation. That means that you must either be an Executive Officer/CEO, Chairperson or board member(s) of your organisation OR someone who is authorised by any of those people to make an enquiry on behalf of the organisation. We are unable to assist individual members of organisations. We may need to seek evidence of authority to make a legal enquiry.

  • We have limited capacity to provide advice to new organisations.

    Before making an enquiry, we encourage you to read our self-help resources which guide you through the steps required to establish a not-for-profit organisation. In particular:

     

    Starting a not-for-profit organisation: A series of factsheets and information to guide you through all the basic concepts. Also, our Getting Started Tool, and app designed to help you make key legal decisions about starting a not-for-profit group

     

    Choosing a legal structure: Provides an overview of the options available for not-for-profit organisations, including if you are looking to set up a social enterprise.

     

    Registering as a charity: Explains what a charity is and how to register a charity with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission.

     

    Understanding the tax landscape: Explains applying for tax concessions including deductible gift recipient (DGR) endorsement.

     

    Fundraising and holdingExplains fundraising in Australia and the legal considerations when holding events.

     

    We also regularly run free Getting Started webinars. More information about our upcoming webinars can be found on our website and by signing up to our monthly Not-for-profit Law Update.

     

  • Please provide one or more planning documents (eg. aims and purposes, details of planned programs/services, financial plan or funding sources). The more information you can provide, the more likely we will be able to help.
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    Accepted file types: jpg, gif, png, pdf, jpeg, Max. file size: 63 MB, Max. files: 4.

    • Unfortunately, we are unable to assist with your enquiry in this instance.

       

      This form must be completed by either the Executive Officer/CEO, Chairperson or board member(s) of your organisation OR by someone who is authorised by any of those people to make an enquiry on behalf of the organisation.

       

      Justice Connect’s Not-for-profit Law service can only assist not-for-profit organisations (rather than individuals involved in organisations).

       

      Just because we aren’t able to answer your legal question, doesn’t mean that we can’t help. You might find the answer to your question(s) in our self-help resources. You may also be interested in our easy-to-understand, webinars and customised legal training for not-for-profit organisations.

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    • We give legal advice to eligible Australian, charities, not-for-profit organisations and social enterprises that help marginalised or disadvantaged members of the community and can’t afford or have difficulty in accessing legal help.

      It is not clear whether your organisation fits within our eligibility framework but we are happy to assess your matter if you decide to proceed with the application.

       

      Just because your organisation might not be eligible for legal advice, doesn’t mean that we can’t help. You might find the answer to your question(s) in our self-help resources. You may also be interested in our easy-to-understand, webinars and customised legal training for not-for-profit organisations.

    • Please select where you operate. You may select more than one state.

    • If your organisation is based and operating in NSW, we are unable to assist you with your legal issue at this time.  

       

      After funding us for a number of years, in October 2022 the NSW Government stopped funding our work. In November 2023, we had no choice but to cut off our NSW advice services completely. You can read more about this in on our website. 

       

      You might find the answer to your question in our self-help resources and we encourage you to look there: www.nfplaw.org.au/free-resources 

       

      We know our advice services are valued and used by tens of thousands of NSW community organisations each year like yours. There’s a growing need for the specialist free legal support only we can provide as community organisations face increased demand for their services in the face of the worsening cost-of living crisis and rolling climate-fuelled disasters.  

       

      Without access to our support, many organisations will struggle to navigate legal and governance issues, which in turn impacts their ability to deliver services to their communities efficiently, effectively, and sustainably.   

       

      We need your help to ensure a sustainable NSW community sector where frontline organisations can access our free legal support to help them deliver services to the growing number of people in need across the state every day. 

       

      We’re asking you to email a letter to the NSW Government in support of reinstating Not-for-profit Law’s funding so we can continue to support a strong and vibrant NSW community sector. 

       

      Our Local Aboriginal Land Council (LALC) service will remain unaffected, so if you’re from one of the 120 LALCs across NSW, find out how we can help. 

    • We are generally unable to assist organisations of this size but will still assess your enquiry. 

       

      Just because we aren’t able to answer your legal question, doesn’t mean that we can’t help. You might find the answer to your question(s) in our self-help resources. You may also be interested in our easy-to-understand, webinars and customised legal training for not-for-profit organisations.

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      **NOTE: Add or remove all valid legal issues to conditional logic to this section for proper functioning of form**

    • The more information we receive, the easier it will be for us to assess whether we can provide you with assistance. The following are questions to consider when describing your situation:

      What questions would you like answers to?

      What has made you need answers to these questions?

      Who is involved and who has done what?

      Is there a particular outcome you are hoping to achieve?
    • eg. organisation, government body, employee, member, volunteer, tenant
    • Organisation / Individual Name Australian Business Number (ABN) Actions
         
      There are no Parties.

      Maximum number of parties reached.

    • If the legal matter needs resolution within 10 working days we are unlikely to be able to assist you.
    • Date Please describe what will happen on this date Actions
         
      There are no Dates.

      Maximum number of dates reached.

    • Organisation details

    • Please provide the name of your organisation you are making your enquiry on behalf of
    • Please provide a street address for the organisation
    • To search for your ABN please go to http://www.abr.business.gov.au. If your organisation does not have an ABN please write none.
    • Please provide a link to your website.

    • Contact person details

    • e.g. Specific day or time

    • We do not assist with internal disputes (disputes between members, between board members and between members and the board) or conflicts between two or more not-for-profit organisations.

      We generally do not assist with complex court matters.

      We encourage you to review our self-help resources on dealing with conflict. They include information on removing a member or committee member. You may also be interested in our free webinar on member disputes and conflicts. These resources may also help you find another service that can help.

       

      If you choose to seek paid legal advice, your state or territory law society ‘find a lawyer’ service may be of assistance. We are unable to provide specific recommendations.

       

       

      State or territory law societies:

      Law Institute of Victoria
      The Law Society of New South Wales
      The Law Society of South Australia
      The Law Society of Western Australia
      Queensland Law Society
      The Law Society of Tasmania
      The Law Society of the ACT
      Law Society NT

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    • Unfortunately, we are unable to assist with your enquiry in this instance.

      If you choose to seek paid legal advice, your state or territory law society ‘find a lawyer’ service may be of assistance. We are unable to provide specific recommendations.

      State or territory law societies:

      Law Institute of Victoria
      The Law Society of New South Wales
      The Law Society of South Australia
      The Law Society of Western Australia
      Queensland Law Society
      The Law Society of Tasmania
      The Law Society of the ACT
      Law Society NT

       

      Just because we aren’t able to answer your legal question, doesn’t mean that we can’t help. You might find the answer to your question(s) in our self-help resources. You may also be interested in our easy-to-understand, webinars and customised legal training for not-for-profit organisations.

    • Thank you for your answers. Please submit this form by pressing the submit button below.

      We will review your request and notify you via email or phone as to whether Justice Connect can assist your organisation.

       

       How we use and what we do with your personal and other information

      The personal and other information that you provide to us in this application is used to make an assessment about whether we are able to provide you with a service or refer you to another service provider.

       

      We respect your privacy and confidential information, and have designed robust systems to protect your information.

       

      Some of our services are delivered by our lawyers in our pro bono network. We may share your information with these lawyers for the purposes of finding you legal assistance.

       

      We collect, use, disclose and store your personal and other information in accordance with our privacy policy.

       

      We will not share your information with other service providers (other than lawyers that we are trying to recruit to provide you with legal assistance) without first seeking your consent.

       

      View our privacy policy and disclaimer


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    • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

    • Please provide details of other parties to the legal issue.

      By other parties we mean the people on the other side of the legal issue (eg. a person, a business, an organisation). 

    • To search for the other party's ABN please go to http://www.abr.business.gov.au. If the other party does not have an ABN please write none.
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