Legal Aid NSW says living and housing pressures have driven an increase in demand for their services. Photo: stock
Demand for legal aid in NSW is increasing even as cost-of-living and housing pressures continue to rise.
Legal Aid NSW says new figures show almost 4500 people a year are seeking help from them to deal with those issues.
“We have seen enormous demand for our services in recent years and expect it to rise further,” says Legal Aid CEO Monique Hitter.
“Many NSW people are dealing with more legal problems but are less able to pay for a lawyer due to financial pressures.”
“Early access to our free legal assistance can help to resolve those legal problems before they worsen significantly,” Hitter says.
“That’s good for families, the court system and the wider community.”
ANNUAL REPORT
Legal Aid NSW’s annual report reveals they provided more than 500,000 services in 2023-24, up 10 per cent on the year before, with 36 per cent of those services in regional NSW.
The report also reveals a 19 per cent increase in legal aid services to people with housing problems last financial year; 6200 free services (compared to 5200 in the year before) with almost half of these cases involving tenants facing eviction.
There was a 20 per cent increase in mediation services (3307) for couples, who are separating, to reach out-of-court agreements.
Legal Aid NSW’s free legal help line and web chat service handled almost 200,000 enquiries last year, up 25 per cent. Many enquiries related to family law and parenting arrangements, employment issues, driving, disputes over goods and services, and debts.
There was a 14 per cent increase in services provided to those dealing with family, civil or criminal law issues.
There was a 10 per cent jump in services provided by duty lawyers who deliver on-the-spot free aid at courts across NSW.
Legal Aid says cost-of-living pressures can lead to a wide range of legal problems such as housing stress (mortgage and tenancy issues), family breakdowns, elder abuse, domestic violence, employment, debts and fines, criminal law issues, and consumer protection.
For those in NSW wanting free legal information and support, call Legal Aid NSW on 1300 888 529.
