Women’s Legal Service Victoria
Women’s Legal Service Victoria (WLSV) is a not for profit organisation that has been providing free legal services to women for over 30 years. We specialise in issues arising from relationship breakdown and violence against women. WLSV provides free and confidential legal information, advice, referral and representation to women in Victoria. We prioritise assisting women who are facing particular barriers to accessing justice and whose case will have significant impact. We initiate and participate in law reform activities, ensuring that clients’ experiences are taken into account when legal policy is being developed or when changes are being made to the law. We deliver legal education, training and professional development to a range of organisations and professional groups. We also coordinate a volunteer program with over 70 volunteers.
WLSV is funded by the Indigenous Justice and Legal Assistance Division, Attorney General’s Department, Canberra and Victoria Legal Aid. We have also received project funding from the Victorian Legal Services Board.
Our Mission
Women’s Legal Service Victoria works to improve access to justice and outcomes for women who have experienced relationship breakdown or violence. WLSV does this by:
- Providing quality legal services that are responsive to women’s needs and to the needs of children in their care
- Providing women, and people who work with women, with knowledge and skills to better navigate the legal system
- Advocating for law and policy reform
Our Values
- Progressive
- Respectful
- Collaborative
- Inclusive
- Empowering
Our Services
Women’s Legal Service Victoria assists women experiencing disadvantage who are facing legal issues arising out of relationship breakdown and violence. This means that we assist women with issues such as:
- Protection from family violence and personal safety (intervention orders)
- Children living with and spending time with their parents (this used to be called “custody and access” or “residence and contact”)
- Division of property after separation
- Separation and divorce
- Victims of crime applications
We are also able to offer access to financial counselling to women experiencing problems with debt, financial hardship or accessing financial entitlements following relationship breakdown.
We offered the following assistance to women in Victoria this year:
- free legal advice by phone on our Legal Advice Line
- free advice to women in person at our Face-to-Face Legal Advice Clinic
- free advice and representation to women at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court through our Legal Advice and Representation Clinic
- free Legal Representation in certain defined circumstances
Women’s Legal Service Victoria does not give second opinions. If you are concerned about the legal advice you are currently receiving you should discuss your concerns with your lawyer or contact the Legal Services Commissioner.