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How you can access information held by Legal Aid

Legal Aid NSW publishes a large volume of material on our website. Much information relating to our structure and functions is available to the public on this website or by contacting the relevant area of Legal Aid NSW. This material will be free of charge or available at the lowest possible cost.

The Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 requires that Government agencies must put certain information on their websites to be available to the public, free of charge. This is known as 'open access information' and includes:

  • policy documents
  • information guide
  • disclosure log
  • register of government contracts
  • Annual reports
  • Code of conduct
  • Client service charter

If the information you need is not already published on our website, we may still be able to release it to you on request, without your needing to make a formal access application.

If you are seeking specific information which is not available on this website and not routinely provided by Legal Aid NSW on request, you may apply formally for access to it. This involves making a written application and paying a fee. You can use our form.

Complete the form and send it in with payment to:

Right to Information Officer
Legal Aid NSW
PO Box K 847
HAYMARKET NSW 1238

Further information about the formal access application

Formal access applications must:

  • be in writing and sent to inhousecounselunit@legalaid.nsw.gov.au
  • clearly state that you are making a request under the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009;
  • provide the $30 application fee (by Electronic Funds Transfer or by providing credit card details for charge)
  • nominate an email address or postal address for correspondence
  • include as much specific information as necessary to enable us to identify the information you are looking for
  • provide a copy of a valid form of identification (such as Driver’s Licence).

If your application does not include all these things, it will be invalid and cannot be processed. If that happens, we will let you know what you need to do to make your application valid.

If your application is valid, we will acknowledge receipt of the application within 5 working days and deal with your application within 20 working days. Under certain circumstances, an extension of time to complete the application may be obtained.

If we do not decide your access application within 20 days, it is considered 'refused'. We will then refund your application fee and you will have the right to seek internal or external review. (This does not apply if an extension of time has been arranged, or where the agency is waiting for you to pay an advance deposit).

How much will it cost?

The basic application fee under the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 is $30, and payment must be sent with the application form.

Additional processing charges may be charged at $30 per each hour of processing an application. In some situations, we may require you to pay an advance deposit. We will let you know when this is required.