Unfortunately, Voiceless is not able to give legal advice. We suggest that you contact a solicitor if you need legal advice or representation. If you cannot afford a solicitor, you may wish to visit the Australian Legal Services pages of the WorldLii web site which provides links to various pro bono legal services. Other options for pro bono or reduced fee legal advice include:

New South Wales

• If you are a New South Wales based resident or organisation, you may wish to contact the Law Society of New South Wales Community Referral Service's Pro Bono Scheme or Solicitor Referral Service as you may be eligible for advice under their scheme (tel:  (02) 9926 0364). Solicitors interested in offering their pro bono legal services are also invited to contact the Service. 

• The Northern Rivers Community Legal Centre is in the process of setting up a new animal law project that offers a pro bono (free) legal referral service to residents and organisations in the Northern Rivers region of NSW.  It is developing a register of law firms and solicitors who indicate an interest in animal law issues and may be prepared to offer their legal services for free. The project will also engage in law reform and community education activities regarding animal protection issues. For further information on the project, please contact the NRCLC on 0266 211 000 or email on nrclc@clc.net.au. Please note that NRCLC policy prevents the Centre from responding to requests for legal advice by email. 
  

Victoria

• Not-for-profit organisations based in Victoria and concerned with animal welfare may wish to contact PilchConnect, a new, specialist legal service which has been set up to provide legal help to Victorian, not-for-profit community organisations. The PilchConnect service provides free and low cost legal information, training, advice and legal referrals.

National

• PALS@PILCH is a national referral service for pro bono matters involving animal protection issues. It was previously housed at the Redfern Legal Centre which was the recipient of a 2006 Voiceless grant. PALS@PILCH is now jointly operated by the Public Interest Law Clearing House services in Victoria and NSW. The service will seek to promote animal protection by engaging in strategic litigation, community education and law reform and policy work. For more information, please contact:
  PILCH NSW - Angela Radich, Senior Solicitor, on (02) 9114 1793  or at info@pilchnsw.org.au; PILCH Victoria - Lucy McKernan, Co-Manager, Public Interest Scheme on (03) 8636 4444 or at Lucy.McKernan@pilch.org.au.
  

• The Animal Welfare Community Legal Centre (AWCLC) was established in 2008 with a grant from Animals Australia.  It aims to provide animal protection groups and other persons interested in animal cruelty issues with legal advice on a pro bono basis.  Given its limited resources, AWCLC focuses on animal cruelty in live export, intensive animal farming and killing of wildlife and 'feral' animals.  Enquiries concerning AWCLC should be directed to animalwelfareclc@gmail.com.
  

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