Help and resources for dealing with lawyer issues in Perth Metropolitan
If you're dealing with a lawyer in Perth and need to check their standing, lodge a complaint, or find low-cost legal help, these are the real bodies that handle that work in Western Australia. The list below covers regulators, professional associations, legal aid providers, and consumer protection agencies, so you can find the right door to knock on before spending money on private advice.
Government & regulatory
This is general information, not professional advice. Consult a qualified professional about your situation.
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Legal Practice Board of Western Australia (LPBWA)
Responsible for the admission, supervision and discipline of all lawyers in Western Australia, and receives complaints about lawyers in the state.
Visit website → Phone: (08) 6211 3600
Industry & professional associations
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Law Society of Western Australia
The peak professional association for the legal profession in WA and a constituent body of the Law Council of Australia, it provides guidance to the public on issues such as what to do if unhappy with a lawyer.
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WA Bar Association
A voluntary professional association for independent barristers in Western Australia. Its Disciplinary Committee handles conduct complaints against members, though public complaints about barristers generally go to the LSCC.
Consumer protection
This is general information only. Follow each body's official guidance for your situation.
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Consumer Protection (Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety, WA)
The WA state government division that develops, enforces and promotes legislation protecting consumers, handling complaints, licensing checks, and scam alerts through WA ScamNet.
Visit website → Phone: 1300 304 054
Legal help
This is general information, not legal advice. Speak to a qualified professional about your specific situation.
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Legal Profession Complaints Committee / Legal Services and Complaints Committee (LSCC)
An independent statutory committee of the Legal Practice Board of WA that handles professional complaints and discipline against legal practitioners, including barristers.
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Legal Aid Western Australia
An independent statutory body that provides legal services to people in special need throughout Western Australia, delivered by its own staff as well as lawyers in private practice.
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Law Access (WA)
A not-for-profit organisation that coordinates pro bono legal assistance from the Western Australian legal profession, acting as a service of last resort for those who can't get help from legal aid, a community legal centre, or other legal services.
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Community Legal WA (CLWA)
The peak body for community legal centres in Western Australia, supporting and representing its 27 member organisations and driving policy and advocacy work to improve access to justice.
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Consumer Credit Legal Service (WA) Inc (CCLS)
A non-profit community legal centre that has provided legal advice and support on financial and consumer law matters for over thirty years, running a free statewide Telephone Advice Line for people who may otherwise struggle to navigate these issues.
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Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia (ALSWA)
Founded in the early 1970s, this organisation provides legal services to Aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islanders in WA and receives financial grants from the Commonwealth Attorney-General's Department.
Support organisations
This is general information, not professional advice. Consult a qualified professional about your situation.
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Citizens Advice Bureau of Western Australia (CABWA)
A community organisation that connects people with legal information and services, including maintaining a list of Community Legal Centres in WA, and offers appointments to see a lawyer or access mediation services.
Visit website → Phone: (08) 9221 5711 (lawyer appointments); (08) 9325 4121 (mediation)
Need a provider rather than a resource? Book a consultation.