to enhance service delivery

Criminal, Family and Civil Law.

ThroughCare, Community Legal Education,

Coronial & Public Sector Monitoring & 24/7 assistance at police stations.

Indigenous Legal Assistance

Our legal assistance services provided in criminal, civil and family law matters involve:

Advice Matters – Legal advice or information that is not provided as part of Duty or Casework Matters. This includes the provision of a free-call telephone advice service, referrals, preliminary assistance in the writing of short letters and the completion of forms;
Duty Matters – Attendance at court and receipt of initial instructions by a lawyer. This includes all mentions, pleas, applications including for bail, or adjournments performed on a duty lawyer basis, or where the matter is completed on the same day; and
Casework Matters – Ongoing legal services in relation to a particular legal problem, such as conducting a defended hearing. It is not necessary that the matter involve litigation. Casework Matters may also include the provision of detailed legal advice or the negotiation of a claim for or against the client.

ATSILS also provides 24 hour legal representation and advice on criminal matters for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Criminal Law

CRIMINAL LAW

We are one of Queensland’s largest criminal law practices, with 25 offices spread across the State. Our Criminal Law Practice employs highly experienced legal practitioners who represent both adult and juvenile clients across all of the various court jurisdictions (Magistrates Court through to the Supreme Court). Services range from straight forward duty lawyer sentencing matters in the Magistrates Court to complex trials in the Supreme Court.

Please note: Eligibility for casework legal assistance is dependent on a “means test” and a “merit test”.

Civil Law

CIVIL LAW

Our Civil Law Practice provides a highly diverse range of services – with many regional variations (for example, depending upon what other specialist service providers might also be available in the region in question). Indeed, the range of services is so wide, that we would encourage potential clients to contact their local office of our Organisation to discuss their options with our staff. Assistance can vary from “simple” legal advice through to minor assistances (such as filling in forms or drafting letters) to casework assistance (such as helping draft wills or legal representation at contested hearings).

Please note: Eligibility for casework legal assistance is dependent on a “means test” and a “merit test”.

Family Law

FAMILY LAW

Our Family Law Practice provides specialist family law services in the areas of child protection, domestic violence and general family law matters. Where possible, we seek to encourage resolution of most family law disputes by agreement between the parties – but will represent clients on contested hearings where such becomes necessary. Much of our work is dedicated to ensuring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanded children are not taken away from their parents in those situations where we believe that such is unjustified or not in the interests of the child.

Please note: Eligibility for casework legal assistance is dependent on a “means test” and a “merit test”.

Means Test

With limited resources available and to ensure we direct our services towards applicants in the greatest need of assistance, all applications for Indigenous legal services involving casework are subject to means and merit tests. Depending upon the results of these tests, applicants will fall into one of three categories:

Applicants eligible to receive free legal assistance.
Applicants eligible to receive legal assistance subject to payment of contributions (on a sliding scale) towards the cost of assistance.
Applicants not eligible to receive legal aid assistance

An applicant automatically satisfies the means test if one of the following applies:

They are under the age of 18.
Their main source of income comes from CDEP participant wages or Centrelink benefits.
Their gross personal income is less than $52,000 per annum.

Note: Means testing only applies to Representation Services.

News and Events

Need help to make a Will?May 6, 2025 - 3:49 pm
ATSILS has a statewide civil law team that can assist clients in making a valid Will. Check out the video below to understand why having a Will in place is important. To contact an ATSILS office close to you please visit: www.atsils.org.au/contact/ #ATSILS #legalhelp
Tablelands Community Justice Group MeetingMay 1, 2025 - 8:24 am
Great to catch up with the Tablelands Community Justice Group again in Atherton, to further discussions around community-led intervention initiatives, partnerships and Closing The Gap justice policy. Thank you to Julie Go Sam (TCJG) Justice Coordinator and all local Elders in attendance for hosting our CEO – Shane Duffy, Graham White (Director of Sector Engagement […]
Cycling for much needed crisis counselling services across SW QLD.April 30, 2025 - 8:00 am
ATSILS Toowoomba Regional Manager will join family and friends next month on an epic mission to raise awareness and vital funds for crisis counselling services across the Darling Downs and South West Queensland. On 26 May 2025, the first-ever Lifeline 3000 Ride will commence. Covering an incredible 1250km journey, Lifeline Darling Downs and South West […]

Followon Twitter