A Range of Helpful Resources
The LIV offers a large range of information, resources and services to assist with your legal needs.
Legal Resources
Choosing a Lawyer
It is important to choose a lawyer with the correct skills and experience required for the specific legal issue. The LIV offers a number of suggestions for selecting the right lawyer for your needs.
Legal Referral Service
The LIV's phone and online Legal Referral Service provides free referrals to solicitors all over Victoria. All referrals are to LIV members who have agreed to see clients for up to the first 30 minutes free of charge. Normal fees will be charged after the first 30 minutes. Referrals are made according to practice area, geographic location, preferred language and other specific requirements.
Victorian Legal Aid
Victorian Legal Aid is a statewide organisation that provides legal assistance to people who are unable to afford the cost of a private lawyer. They can assist with matters relating to criminal law, family law and some civil matters.
Community Legal Centres
Community Legal Centres are independent, non-profit community organisations that provide free legal services to the public. They are located throughout the suburbs and in larger country towns.
Most centres receive funds from a variety of sources including state and federal governments and philanthropic organisations, but some receive no or very little funding and are staffed entirely by volunteers. The extent of services provided varies considerably.
Contact your local Community Legal Centre to for more information. A list of Victorian Community Legal Centres can be found at the National Association of Community Legal Centres or on the Federation of Community Legal Centres Victoria websites.
Public Interest Law Clearing House
The Public Interest Law Clearing House (PILCH) is a non-profit public interest legal centre that specialises in coordinating pro bono legal services in cases of public interest.
LIV Legal Assistance Scheme (LIVLAS)
The LIV Legal Assistance Scheme (LIVLAS), is a referral service that acts as a facilitator of pro bono legal assistance between the community and the legal profession. The scheme is administered by PILCH.
Law Aid
Law Aid is designed to improve access to justice in Victoria for members of the public who are unable to afford the cost of civil litigation.
LIV Bookshop
You can access a range of legal publications on a range of areas of law through the LIV Bookshop by searching through our comprehensive online catalogue or you can choose to visit our bookshop at 470 Bourke Street, Melbourne, where our experienced staff can assist you in finding legal information to meet your needs.
LIV Directories
The LIV directories enable you to search for Victorian law firms by region, town or suburb. You can also limit your search to those firms which have accredited specialists, mediators, or collaborative professionals.
Legal Organisations
The legal organisations listing provides web links to over 100 Victorian and inter-State courts, tribunals, commissions, government agencies and departments, associations and other organisations that operate in the legal sector.