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About Us

Monash Law Clinics provides free legal advice and assistance to the Victorian community across a range of legal issues. It is also a teaching clinic.

Monash Law Clinics can give advice about these areas of law:

Please note: our services are subjected to eligibility criteria, conflict of interest check and capacity.

  • Criminal and traffic charges in the Magistrates' Court of Victoria
  • Centrelink matters
  • Infringements
  • Motor vehicle accidents (where the client is uninsured)
  • Intervention orders - Family Violence and Personal Safety
  • Rental disputes (where the client is a renter). Please note that this will be advice only and that it is only a limited part of our service
  • Debts (owed to and owing but not matters in the Magistrates' Court of Victoria
  • Divorce

  • Divorce
  • Family violence intervention orders
  • Parenting dispute matters (assistance is likely to be limited to legal advice only, where the matter is contested at the FCFCOA). Assistance with making consent orders may be available.
  • Property (including superannuation splits), spousal maintenance and adult child maintenance matters. Please note: we will only book legal advice appointments for property matters where children’s issues are also involved
  • Contravention applications
  • Location orders
  • Enforcement orders
  • Change of name
  • Child's passport and/or travel applications
  • Applications for parental responsibility where a child's primary carer has died
  • Applications by a non-biological parent for parental responsibility

The Monash Tax Clinic provides free advice on tax matters to people who are unable to afford private legal assistance and representation because of income, language barriers or other disadvantages.

Our specialist Monash Tax Clinic provides legal advice and guidance about:

  • Tax debts, including advice about payment plans and applying for a reduction of interest and/or penalties
  • Dealing with correspondence from the Australian Taxation Office
  • What to do if you disagree with an assessment of tax issued by the Australian Taxation Office
  • Director Penalty Notices issued by the Australian Taxation Office
  • Determining what amounts are assessable income and what expenses are allowable deductions
  • Tax obligations (including advice about registering for an ABN, registering for GST, PAYG withholding, income tax returns and Business Activity Statements)
  • Please note we do not assist with the preparation of, or lodgment of, tax returns or business activity statements at Monash tax clinic as we are not a tax agent clinic.

The Clinic has limited capacity for appointments and we may not be able to assist with all appointment requests. We are part of the National Tax Clinic program. For more information about the National Tax Clinic program, including other participating clinics and more tax guides and resources, visit www.nationaltaxclinics.gov.au

Learn more

Make an appointment

If you would like to access this free legal service, you will need to make an appointment.

Call 1800 860 333 between 9:00am - 4:00pm Monday - Friday, or email law-clinics@monash.edu to request an appointment.

Request an appointment

Pilot Complaints Support Clinic - now open in Victoria

We’re partnering with National Justice Project to trial a free complaints support clinic for people in Victoria who need help taking the next step.

If something has happened to you that felt wrong, harmful or unjust, and you’re unsure where to turn, this clinic may be able to help you:

* Identify the right complaints body
* Understand the process and what to expect
* Prepare a clear summary or draft complaint

Complaints can support individual outcomes, but they also play a crucial role in identifying systemic issues that need fixing.

How it works

1. Email a short description of what happened
2. Let us know what you’ve already tried
3. We’ll confirm if we can assist and arrange a time to meet

hello@hearmeout.org.au

Please note: this is a pilot program, so places are limited.

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What to expect

Monash Law Clinics is part of the Faculty of Law at Monash University and is also a teaching clinic which provides practical training for Monash Law students under the close supervision of experienced, qualified lawyers.

At your first appointment, a Monash Law student and/or a supervising lawyer will ask you some questions to help us get to know you and your legal issue. One or more law students will listen to the conversation. There may also be a student from Monash University Social Work Clinic and/or a student studying interpreting.

After understanding more about your legal issue, the student will consult with their supervisor. Please allow up to 1.5 hours for your first appointment.

At the end of the appointment we may give you some advice, we may need time to research before sending you a letter of advice or we may open a file and provide ongoing assistance. We will advise you about the level of assistance that we are able to provide after your first appointment. If we cannot provide advice or assistance we will attempt to refer you to the most appropriate alternative organisation.

Client stories

  • "We had not realised how exhausting this process had been, until the burden was lifted. The patience, empathy and support provided by the students and staff at Monash Law Clinics has basically given us back our life.”

  • "I would not have been able to fight the tough battle in family court without your support. Justice was served in the courtroom. Monash Law students do an amazing job listening to clients and drafting their affidavits. You all are doing an incredible job.”

  • "Without you, I would have faced payment of a fortune. You and your team have made a huge difference in a difficult time.”

  • "I’m grateful for the existence of the Monash Law Clinics – what an invaluable service! No amount of words could express how fortunate I feel for the service provided by the Monash Law Clinics!”