FAQ'S
We know that reaching out for legal help can feel overwhelming. Our Frequently Asked Questions page provides quick, easy to understand answers about how PAX Legal Clinic can support you; what we do, who we assist, how appointments work, and what you can expect when you contact us.
If you need more information, you are always welcome to get in touch through our Contact page.
PAX Legal Clinic assists with 4 main areas of law:
Credit and Debt
Centrelink / Social Security
Tenancy and Housing
Safety and Protection
We focus on supporting vulnerable and disadvantaged people who cannot easily access legal help.
We may also be able to assist with other areas of law, such as traffic matters, summary criminal matters, or general civil issues.
Please contact us so we can review your situation and determine whether we can assist directly, provide Legal Aid support, offer pro bono or partial‑pro‑bono help, or make a warm referral to a trusted Solicitor or community service.
Yes, our services are generally free. We provide free legal information, guidance, and support to help you understand your options.
If your matter needs ongoing representation or specialist assistance, we can help you access the right support through:
Pro bono assistance (where appropriate).
Legal Aid (if you are eligible).
Panel lawyers who can take on Legal Aid matters.
Warm referrals to trusted solicitors or community services.
Community support organisations if your situation involves safety, housing, food, or wellbeing needs.
If you are not eligible for Legal Aid or pro bono assistance, we will discuss your circumstances with you and explore reduced‑fee or partial‑pro‑bono options, depending on the nature of your matter and your level of hardship.
We will always help you understand your options and connect you with the right support, even if we cannot assist directly.
We assist anyone experiencing disadvantage, vulnerability, or safety risks, including people facing homelessness, financial hardship, coercion, discrimination, or violence.
We do not discriminate based on background, identity, or circumstances.
PAX Legal Clinic provides FREE legal assistance to individuals and families across Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne.
Many people experience legal issues connected to alcohol or drug use, including violence, PCA charges, drug‑driving, possession, intoxication‑related offences, or matters where substance use has contributed to unsafe behaviour.
PAX Legal Clinic provides free legal advice to help you understand your rights and/or charges and the options available to you.
You can contact us for free legal advice. We can explain the penalties, possible defences, licence consequences, and what evidence may help your case. We also help you understand whether you may be eligible for a licence appeal or other options.
We provide advice on possession, small‑quantity matters, and situations where substance use has led to police involvement.
For serious supply or indictable matters, we will explain your options and provide warm referrals to appropriate criminal defence services.
If your situation involves coercion, violence, harassment, or unsafe living conditions, we can help you understand your legal protections and safety options. Substance use often overlaps with other vulnerabilities, and you will not be judged for this.
Yes, we provide free legal assistance to all people with dignity, compassion, and respect, following the teachings of Christ in ☦Matthew 9:10-13. The verse teaches that true ministry is found in compassion for those society rejects and overlooks.
PAX Legal Clinic reflects this same principle by offering help to LGBT+ individuals and sex workers who are experiencing legal issues such as:
Domestic violence or physical abuse
Stalking and/or harassment
Coercion or blackmail
Homelessness
Debt and financial hardship
Tenancy and housing issues
Centrelink disputes
Support is provided in a non‑judgmental, confidential, and safety‑focused manner.
If your matter falls outside our scope, we can provide warm referrals to trusted services such as Legal Aid, pro bono solicitors, panel lawyers, community legal centres, or relevant community support organisations.
PAX Legal Clinic provides free legal information, guidance, and one‑off assistance.
In some situations, we may also assist with representation through Legal Aid (if you are eligible), pro bono work, or panel lawyer representation.
If your matter requires ongoing representation or specialist support, we will review your circumstances and determine whether we can assist directly or provide a warm referral to trusted solicitors, community legal centres, or other services.
Yes. All information you provide to us is protected by strict legal confidentiality.
We will not share your information without your consent unless required by law or necessary to prevent immediate harm.
No. PAX Legal Clinic does not operate a public phone line or accept inbound calls.
Because we work remotely and prioritise client safety and privacy, all enquiries must be made through our online enquiry form. Once we confirm a phone conference with you, a Solicitor will call you from a private number for your scheduled phone consultation. This ensures your matter is screened safely, your information is protected, and you receive advice without delay.
When we confirm your appointment with a Solicitor, we will let you know which documents to email to us (if at all). If you don’t have anything to send to us, that’s completely fine, we can still assist you.
No. PAX Legal Clinic only assists individuals who are experiencing disadvantage or vulnerability.
Yes. We assist with the following:
Eviction notices;
Public housing applications;
Unsafe housing, or;
Safety related tenancy issues.
We can also connect you with free community food providers and housing organisations.
Yes, however we can only help you:
Understand the notice you received;
Identify whether the eviction is lawful;
Prepare a response or request a review, or;
Connect you with Legal Aid or a panel solicitor for representation.
Yes. PAX Legal Clinic can draft a Cease and Desist letter in situations involving harassment, stalking, threats, coercion, blackmail, online abuse, or unwanted contact, including matters affecting LGBT+ people and sex workers.
We can help you:
Understand whether a Cease and Desist letter is appropriate
Draft the letter in clear legal language
Explain what the letter can realistically achieve
Discuss safer or stronger alternatives (such as an AVO)
With your permission, we can also send the letter on your behalf, which may help protect your privacy and reduce direct contact.
20. Can PAX Legal Clinic help me prepare a Retraction Statement to the Police or other Legal Representative?
Yes. PAX Legal Clinic can assist with preparing a Retraction Statement specifically for police matters, including situations involving AVOs, criminal charges, witness statements, or information previously provided to the Police.
Clients may need a Retraction Statement when:
They need to correct or clarify a statement made to police
They wish to withdraw or amend information relevant to an AVO
They need to address inconsistencies affecting charges or allegations
They believe earlier information was incomplete, inaccurate, or misunderstood
Our clinic can help by:
Reviewing the circumstances and identifying what needs to be corrected
Drafting a clear, accurate, legally‑appropriate retraction or clarification
Ensuring the statement addresses any risks, consequences, or procedural issues
Advising on how and when to submit the retraction to police or legal representatives
If your matter involves significant criminal risk or requires formal representation, we will provide guidance and refer you to appropriate legal services.
21. Can PAX represent me in a Public Housing dispute?
No, PAX does not provide ongoing representation. However, we can:
Explain your rights and obligations under NSW public housing rules;
Help you prepare documents, complaints, or evidence;
Guide you through the Housing Appeals Committee process, or;
Provide warm referrals to Legal Aid or pro bono housing solicitors.
Yes, we can help you:
Draft a concerns notice;
Lodge a maintenance complaint;
Escalate to Fair Trading or the Housing Appeals Committee, or
Connect you with advocacy services.
Yes. PAX Legal Clinic can provide legal advice if you are experiencing issues with a neighbour including harassment, intimidation, boundary disputes, noise complaints, property interference, or ongoing conflict.
We can help you:
Understand your rights and responsibilities;
Assess whether the behaviour amounts to harassment, stalking, or intimidation;
Prepare a cease and desist letter where appropriate;
Draft written concerns or evidence summaries;
Explain pathways such as Community Justice Centre mediation, police reports, or AVO options, or;
Provide warm referrals to Legal Aid or trusted solicitors if further action is needed.
We can support you to understand your options and connect you with the right services.
Yes. PAX Legal Clinic can provide legal advice about Centrelink issues, especially where there are concerns about debts, cancelled payments, overpayments, compliance letters, or unfair decisions.
No. PAX Legal Clinic is not registered as a charity or not‑for‑profit.
We operate as a free legal advice clinic and do not receive government funding or grants.