Overview of the Referral Service

Who provides legal assistance under the Referral Service?

Referrals are made to lawyers participating in the following programs:

• the PILCH Members Service in Victoria and NSW;
• the Law Institute of Victoria Legal Assistance Service (LIVLAS); and
• the Victorian Bar Pro Bono Scheme (VBPBS).

Who is eligible for a pro bono referral?

The Referral Service makes pro bono referrals on a discretionary basis and there is no automatic right to assistance. Although we would like to assist every eligible applicant, we are not in a position to do so as the demand for pro bono legal assistance far exceeds its availability. See: Getting a Legal Referral.

Do Referral Service staff provide legal advice?

No. The PILCH Referral Service does not provide legal advice or perform any type of legal work on your behalf, and our staff do not act as your lawyers. We help connect people who require pro bono legal assistance with external lawyers who may be able to provide that assistance.

Any information that Referral Service staff provides to you is not legal advice and should not be relied on by you as legal advice.

Legal services will only be provided by pro bono lawyers if there is a successful application and referral.