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  • Federal Self Representation Service

    The Federal Self Representation Service assists people representing themselves in some types of cases in the Federal Court and Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia, or who may be starting or defending a case in these courts. 


    The service provides legal information and legal advice appointments. To find out if the Federal Self Representation Service can assist you, answer a few questions, and if your problem and circumstances match the service's criteria, you will be able to lodge an online application.  


    I understand that this is an application only, that I am making a request for assistance, and until Justice Connect indicates that legal assistance will be provided, no client-solicitor relationship is created.


     How we use and what we do with your personal information

    The personal 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 will not share your personal 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.

    We may use deidentified and anonymised information collected to improve our products and services.

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

    View our privacy policy and disclaimer.


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  • This may be different to where you currently live.
  • Please select the State or Territory you currently live.
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  • Unfortunately, our Self Representation Service only assists with legal issues based in Victoria, NSW, ACT and Tasmania

    There are Self Representation Services in most other Australian states and territories.

    The following Self Representation Services are available in: 

    Queensland - Law Right 

    Western Australia - Legal Aid  

    South Australia and Northern Territory - JusticeNet 


  • Please select the type of legal problem you need help with*

    These matters are relevant to the Self Representation Service.

  • Please confirm your legal problem type*

    This list below is matters relevant to the Self Representation Service. You can edit your selections.

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  • Unfortunately, the Self Representation Service can only assist with some types of legal problems

    Legal problems that we can assist with are either at the Federal Court or Federal Circuit Court, or could involve a case in the Federal Court or Federal Circuit Court in the future. 

    The types of problems that we commonly provide assistance for are:

    • Fair Work/employment law
    • Bankruptcy
    • Discrimination
    • Judicial review or administrative law applications

    If you have several problems, and only some of them fall within our service, we will only be able to help you with the problems that are in an area of law covered by our service.

    If you have a problem that is not covered by the Self Representation Service, find out information about Justice Connect's other services here and find out where else to look for free legal help here. 

  • Unfortunately, the Self Representation Service can only assist with some types of legal problems

    Legal problems that we can assist with are either at the Federal Court or Federal Circuit Court, or could involve a case in the Federal Court or Federal Circuit Court in the future. 

    The types of problems that we cannot provide assistance for are:
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    If you have a problem that is not covered by the Self Representation Service, find out information about Justice Connect's other services here and find out where else to look for free legal help here. 

    You can continue to get help for the following matters:
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  • Tell us about you

  • Why are we asking for this information?

    Why we are asking

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    We are asking this information because it helps us assess if we have a service that can help you. Some of our services have specific eligibility criteria. We will not save this information linked to your name unless you provide your name to us at a later stage in the application process.

  • If you have a partner or spouse, please answer this question for your combined income (e.g. is your only source of income as a couple government benefits)
  • For example, children or elderly parents that live with you who rely on your income.
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    Means eligibility checks

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  • Income and assets too high

    Based on your responses, for the type of legal problem that you have, your income is higher than our eligibility requirements.

    Justice Connect's services focus on assisting the most vulnerable people. We know that there are many people with unmet legal needs who cannot afford a lawyer, and are not eligible for our services. We advocate for increased funding of legal services so that more people can access free legal help.

    You can read more about our services and access self-help tools for those services here, and you can also read more about where else you can look for free legal help here.

  • Describe your assets and debts

  • Why are we asking for this information?

    Why we are asking

    ×
    We are asking this information because it helps us assess if we have a service that can help you. Some of our services have specific eligibility criteria. We will not save this information linked to your name unless you provide your name to us at a later stage in the application process.
  • Please provide a rough guess of the value of assets that you own like cars, tools, jewellery.
  • A rough guess of the amount of debts that you have, not including mortgages over property. Include credit card debt, personal loans etc.
  • A rough guess of the estimated value of property that you own (eg your home or investment properties).
  • A rough guess of the amount outstanding in mortgages over property that you own.

  • Details of previous order or decision

  • If it is not in the list, please select "other" and provide details
  • Please select any of the following that apply to your Fair Work or employment problem.

  • The Self Representation Service is not able to assist with all employment law problems, only certain types

    We are able to assist with some:

    • claims for unpaid entitlements; and
    • general protections claims (including mistreatment and termination claims).

    If you have another type of employment law issue that you would like assistance with, please contact your local community legal centre (details can be found here) or at Job Watch (if you are in Victoria or Tasmania. The Job Watch website can be accessed by clicking here.)

  • The Self Representation Service is not able to assist with all employment law problems, only certain types

    We are able to assist with some:

    • claims for unpaid entitlements; and
    • general protections claims (including mistreatment and termination claims).

    If you have another type of employment law issue that you would like assistance with, please contact your local community legal centre (details can be found here) or at Job Watch (if you are in Victoria or Tasmania. The Job Watch website can be accessed by clicking here.)

  • Have you been to the Fair Work Ombudsman about your unpaid entitlements problem?

  • Speak to the Fair Work Ombudsman about your unpaid entitlement claim first 

    Before we can assist you with your unpaid entitlements problem, you should to first speak to the Fair Work Ombudsman about your unpaid entitlement claim.

    The Fair Work Ombudsman is Australia's national workplace relations ombudsman. You can contact them during business hours on 13 13 94 or online at www.fairwork.gov.au.

    You should ask the Ombudsman to assist you to identify the Award that applies to you (the rate of pay that you are entitled to). The Ombudsman may be able to mediate with you and your employer to reach an outcome. 

    If mediation is unsuccessful, or you have other concerns, you can contact the Self Representation Service once you have contacted the Ombudsman. Take notes of your conversations with the Ombudsman.

  • Before we can assist you with your unpaid entitlements problem, you should first speak to the Fair Work Ombudsman about your unpaid entitlement claim 

    The Fair Work Ombudsman is Australia's national workplace relations ombudsman. You can contact them during business hours on 13 13 94 or online at www.fairwork.gov.au.

    You should ask the Ombudsman to assist you to identify the Award that applies to you (the rate of pay that you are entitled to). The Ombudsman may be able to mediate with you and your employer to reach an outcome. 

    If mediation is unsuccessful, or you have other concerns, you can contact the Self Representation Service once you have contacted the Ombudsman. Take notes of your conversations with the Ombudsman.

    If you have selected other issues that you would like assistance with, you may continue in relation to these issues.

  • Please select the type of bankruptcy problem that you have.
  • Have you filed a complaint with the Australian Human Rights Commission?
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  • The Self Representation Service can generally only provide assistance with discrimination claims if:

    • The claim has already been through the Australian Human Rights Commission.

    There are a number of different pathways for pursuing discrimination claims. If you have not yet filed a claim with the Australian Human Rights Commission, you should first get legal advice about whether this is the best pathway for you. 

    If you in the middle of the Australian Human Rights Commission process you may wish to seek legal advice. 

    You can contact Legal Aid in your state to see if you are eligible for their assistance or to be connected with other services that might be able to help you. 

    You may be eligible for the Self Representation Service in future if you do proceed through the Commission. 

  • The Self Representation Service can generally only provide assistance with discrimination claims if:

    • The claim has already been through the Australian Human Rights Commission.

    There are a number of different pathways for pursuing discrimination claims. If you have not yet filed a claim with the Australian Human Rights Commission, you should first get legal advice about whether this is the best pathway for you. 

    If you in the middle of the Australian Human Rights Commission process you may wish to seek legal advice. 

    You can contact Legal Aid in your state to see if you are eligible for their assistance or to be connected with other services that might be able to help you. 

    You may be eligible for the Self Representation Service in future if you do proceed through the Commission. 


  • Please describe your legal problem in more detail*

    The more information we receive, the easier it will be for us to assess whether we can provide you with assistance.

  • e.g. Loss of job, quarantined due to infection

  • Please provide information about:*

    • Background

    • Who is involved

    • What has happened

    • What help you need and

    • The particular outcome you are hoping to achieve

  • For the problems where the Self Representation Service may be able to assist you, do you have an upcoming court hearing or other deadline?
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    Dates section

  • Please provide the details you have such as the date, name of the court (e.g Federal Court, Federal Circuit Court) and the location of the court.
    Date Please describe what will happen on this date Actions
       
    There are no Dates.

    Maximum number of dates reached.

  • Formal letters or notices

    Have you received formal letters or notices about your problem?*

  • You can select multiple files to upload
    Drop files here or
    Accepted file types: jpg, gif, png, pdf, jpeg, Max. file size: 63 MB, Max. files: 4.

    • Please provide details of other parties to the legal dispute

      By other parties we mean the people on the other side of the legal issue (eg. a person, a business).
    • Organisation / Individual Name Party's Phone Actions
         
      There are no Parties.

      Maximum number of parties reached.

    • Tell us about yourself

    • e.g. safest or best way to contact you

    "*" indicates required fields

    DD slash MM slash YYYY
    Eg: date of hearing, date of AGM, date of appeal

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

      By other parties we mean the people on the other side of the legal issue (eg. a person, a business). We understand you may not know all the details of the other party, please just provide the details you are aware of. 

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