Community driven justice

From 1972

I need legal advice

We run a free legal advice service

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I want to read about the law

Read the Law Handbook to learn about your legal rights

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We work towards a fairer and more just Victorian community, one in which the legal and broader social system supports equality and justice.

Night Service

We run a free legal advice night service.

Court based services

We may be able to help you on the day of court.

Legal support programs

Our programs include:

Family Violence Health Justice Partnerships

Drug Outreach Lawyer program

Criminal Defence practice

Migrant Employment Law Clinic

and more

Social action

We work on legal and social issues for a fairer community.

Activists Rights

Learn about your protest and advocacy rights

When the Fitzroy Legal Service opened its doors on 18 December 1972, it became Australia’s first non-Aboriginal community legal centre. Located in the basement of the Fitzroy Town Hall, in what was then one of the poorest suburbs of Melbourne, this new legal service set out to do the unthinkable: provide free legal advice to all comers.

Latest news and updates

March 15, 2024
FLS submission to amend Australia’s Family Law Act  
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February 29, 2024
Message from the CEO – February 2024  
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FLS 2024 Trainee Lawyer
February 29, 2024
Welcoming FLS’s 2024 Trainee Lawyer
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A message from the CEO, January 2024, Hamish McLachlan
January 31, 2024
Message from the CEO – January 2024  
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January 18, 2024
Fitzroy Legal Service doors remain open this Invasion Day
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Hamish McLachlan
January 9, 2024
Introducing FLS Interim CEO, Hamish McLachlan  
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November 28, 2023
In the future, people like Thuy will no longer face unfair barriers
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November 8, 2023
FLS announces CEO departure following a legacy of purposeful growth
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Solicitor and former Australian Government Solicitor, Michael Kingston
October 24, 2023
Five minutes with former FLS volunteer, Michael Kingston
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June 30, 2023
Reflections on a harm reduction intervention in the Inquest into Veronica Nelson’s passing
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Human Rights News
June 19, 2023
Victoria Police breaches human rights and its own policies at cannabis legalisation rally
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May 26, 2023
FLS submission on a medically supervised injecting service in the City of Melbourne
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March 31, 2023
Q+Law: A new legal service with and for LGBTIQA+ communities
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March 10, 2023
FLS joins calls for a Supervised Injecting Service in the CBD
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January 24, 2023
Fitzroy Legal Service joins in calls from Aboriginal, legal, and human rights organisations for the urgent reform of Victoria’s bail laws.
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October 13, 2022
Vale Uncle Jack
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October 22, 2021
Human Rights don’t stop at prison gates. It is time to end routine strip searching of people in prison!
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January 8, 2021
Peter Lynch – Law Handbook contributor
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February 18, 2021
Brian Wright – Law Handbook Contributor
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March 24, 2021
The Victorian Government Must End Its Harmful Obsession with Expanding Victoria’s Prison System
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Read more news ›

Volunteering with us

Volunteers have always been at the heart of the services Fitzroy Legal Service provides to the community.

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