Legal advice (QPILCH)
Supreme and District Court - Civil
Free legal advice for self-represented litigants
The Self-Representation Civil Law Service (SRCLS) provides free, confidential and impartial legal advice to self-represented litigants who are conducting proceedings (including applications) in the civil trial jurisdiction of the Brisbane Supreme and District Courts.
The service is independently operated by the Queensland Public Interest Law Clearing House Incorporated (QPILCH) and was launched in December 2007 as part of the accessCourts initiative.
The SRCLS assists current and potential self-represented litigants. However, the degree of assistance provided is determined by means testing and priority is given to those litigants who cannot afford private representation.
The SRCLS solicitor and volunteer solicitors from QPILCH member law firms assist litigants by:
- providing legal advice
- drafting documents (including pleadings, affidavits, court forms, submissions and correspondence)
- conducting legal research
- suggesting other options for the resolution of court proceedings
- assisting with associated problems
- referring appropriate cases for further advice, support or representation.
The SRCLS and solicitors will not:
- be responsible if a limitation period expires before the litigant can be assisted by the SRCLS
- take on the conduct of the litigant’s legal problem or court proceeding
- represent the litigant at hearings or trials
- act for the litigant as their solicitor on the court record
- sign any documents on behalf of the litigant
- communicate with the court, the other parties or legal representatives on the litigant’s behalf
- pay any fees, disbursements or costs orders incurred by the litigant.
Last updated Thursday, 19 June 2008 9:38
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