Legal Aid WA provides a wide range of services for family law and children’s matters. Services include:

• Legal representation by lawyers for children and young people in the Family Court and in the Children’s Court
• Legal representation by lawyers in the Family Court, in child protection proceedings in the Children’s Court, and in defended hearings for family violence restraining orders in the Magistrates’ Court
• Dispute resolution services within family law and child protection proceedings
• Assistance to both carers of children and those who have to pay child support
• Needing legal advice or representation with criminal charges
• Who have been arrested as a suspect by police
• Wanting help with an appeal against conviction or sentence

ALSWA is currently the largest community based Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander legal organization in Australia. It provides legal aid services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples throughout Western Australia in accordance with grant conditions imposed by the Commonwealth Department of the Attorney General. Services include:

Criminal Law: ALSWA criminal law staff make sure the criminal courts know about cultural matters that apply, such as communication styles and tribal punishment.

Family Law: ALSWA family law staff make sure courts that deal with family law and protection issues know about cultural matters that apply, such as communication styles, how children are raised, and the importance of children and family in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

Civil Law and Human Rights: ALSWA provides legal advice in a wide range of civil law and human rights matters, including discrimination, compensation for injury, police complaints and wills. ALSWA also assists with enquires about the Stolen Generation and Stolen Wages.

Community Education: ALSWA’s Law and Advocacy Unit is funded to advise Government and mainstream organisations about law and justice issues that affect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples living in Western Australia.