Legal help
We’re still here to help young people during COVID-19.
Youthlaw provides free and confidential legal information and advice to young people up to the age of 25. Call us on (03) 9113 9500 (9am to 5pm Monday to Friday).
You can also email us with a legal query or fill in our online form to send us a question.
We usually call back within 2 days ( earlier if we can see it’s urgent or no later than within 5 days). Alternately you can call Victoria Legal Aid’s Legal Help line on 1300 792 387 or visit www.legalaid.vic.gov.au. VLA’s service is a multilingual legal help line and not just for young people so be warned that sometimes there can be delays.
If you need to talk to someone or get support in the meantime, call Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800 (for under 18s) or Lifeline on 13 11 14 (for over 18s).
Due to COVID-19 we have had to temporarily suspend our drop in clinics in the Melbourne CBD. But you can still get help from a lawyer over the phone or by email, or you can contact/visit one of our outreach partner organisations.
We do also help adults who are assisting a young person, by phone (as above) or via email, however this is restricted to advice about police interviews or is criminal charge related.
We do provide legal representation however our resources are limited and we prioritise vulnerable young people and in accordance with our casework guidelines.
General enquiries
Phone: 03 9113 9500 (all inquiries including legal help)
Fax : 03 9620 3622
info@youthlaw.asn.au (admin & management type queries)
Legal education & training requests
We provide legal information and resources for young people, parents, workers and other adults supporting young people. Go to our website a fill in our easy online form. Your request will be taken to our weekly lawyer meeting and allocated . Where we do not have capacity we may suggest another organisation.
In regard to legal education for young people we restrict our sessions to groups of vulnerable, marginalised or disadvantaged young people. This generally does not include schools, however could be provided to a group of students in a targeted program or to VCAL or community/alternative schools. Schools are encouraged to contact Victoria Legal Aid as they provide some legal education in schools or you can use access their excellent Street Law Education Kit for teachers, youth workers and other educators.
- Request a presentation to a group of young people.
- Request worker training.
Our location
Youthlaw is located at 147-155 Pelham St, Carlton 3053 Vic.
We provide drop-in clinics as well as a special Fines Clinic every Friday. See our drop-in advice page for more information. Unfortunately, these clinics have been temporarily suspended due to COVID-19. Please call us instead on (03) 9113 9500.
Media enquiries
T: 03 9113 9500 and ask for
- Director – Ariel Couchman
- Policy, Advocacy & Human Rights Officer – Tiffany Overall
or email at info@youthlaw.asn.au
Feedback or concerns
If you have any feedback or concerns about the service you receive from Youthlaw, please see this brochure on how to make a complaint.