General procedural advice
If you’re representing yourself, you might need help to work out what steps you need to take.
Registry staff can provide general procedural information to help you figure out how to represent your case, but they can’t provide legal advice.
Read more about the difference between procedural and legal advice.
Below are some options for getting assistance with court procedures, practices and etiquette.
Self-Represented Litigants Service
The Self-Represented Litigants Service (SRLS) provides assistance and support to people representing themselves in civil cases in the Brisbane Supreme and District Courts.
For enquiries about Magistrates Court matters, contact your local courthouse.
The service provides free, confidential and impartial assistance to all litigants regardless of race, gender, sexuality or disability.
What we do
- Explain and answer questions about how the court operates
- Explain basic legal concepts and terms
- Give information about court rules, procedures and practices, court protocols and etiquette
- Direct you to required forms and relevant legislation
- Explain the mandatory requirements for completing forms and other court documents
- Provide court lists and information about listing cases before the court
- Refer you to agencies that provide legal advice
What we don’t do
- Give legal advice
- Tell you whether to bring your case to court, or whether you’re likely to succeed
- Advise what action you should take in your case
- Complete court forms or paperwork for you, though staff can check that you’ve completed court documents correctly, including signatures, dates, hearing details, and file numbers
- Tell you what to say in court
- Give an opinion about what will, or is likely to, happen in court
- Talk to a judge or registrar on your behalf
- Go with you to hearings, trials or other court appearances
- Serve papers for you
- Help with Magistrates Court inquiries
Resources provided
The service also provides a resource room with a photocopier, computer with internet access and printer.
The computer is subject to the Public Safety Network Management Centre (PSNMC) Guest Internet Service terms and conditions. To access this service, you need to provide identification, agree to the terms and conditions of use, and meet eligibility criteria (see below).
Email FundsandSRLS@justice.qld.gov.au to reserve the resource room.
Eligibility
To be eligible for assistance, you must:
- have no legal representation
- be starting civil proceedings in the Brisbane Supreme or District Court
- be acting either as an individual or on behalf of a small corporation or community organisation
Booking a meeting
If you are eligible, complete our online form to book a 30-minute meeting with registry staff. Meetings are held on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9am–12pm, either:
- in person at the Brisbane registry, 415 George Street Brisbane Qld 4000
- over the phone.
Once you submit this form, we’ll contact you by phone or email to arrange a meeting.
Court Network volunteers
Court Network offers free, non-legal information, support and referral service to all individuals, families and friends going to court.
Our Court Network volunteers can:
- be with you in person on your day in court
- show you around the court beforehand to familiarise you with the court
- provide support and information about going to court
- explain how the courts and legal systems operate
- give you a safe place in court
- refer you to other community services that can help you.
Read more about our court volunteers.
Supervised case list: Self-represented litigants
For Supreme Court matters, and only on application and direction of the court. See Supreme Court practice direction 10/2014 for details.