ASK! A Legal Service for Youth
ASK! A Legal Service for Youth is a free legal advice and information service for young people 14-21 years of age seeking help with a legal matter.
Need free legal advice?
Just ASK!
Legal problems can be very stressful if you don't know how to deal with them. Our aim is to help young people solve their problems.
If you are aged between 14-21 years, are located in NSW and need some help, make an appointment today for free legal advice and information by calling (02) 8383 6629.
The legal expertise is provided by experienced lawyers from Mallesons Stephen Jaques.
What help can you ask for?
The team at ASK! provides advice in the following areas of law:
- Fines
- Criminal Charges
- Debt
- Housing & Tenancy
- Social Security
- Drug and Alcohol Offences
- Contracts
- Family Law
- Victim’s Compensation
- AVOs (apprehended violence orders)
- Employment
- Traffic Accidents & Offences
We can help with a wide range of problems. These are a few examples:
- My friend made lots of STD calls from my phone and now I have a huge bill I can't pay. What can I do?
- I borrowed my friend's car and had an accident. Now they've sent me a letter telling me I have to pay for all the damage. Do I have to?
- We were just told we're being evicted. What can we do?
- I was employed on a trial basis but they never paid me. Can I get the money?
- I just got a letter from Centrelink saying that I owe them money. What can I do?
- I've been put in foster care but I want to live with my grandma. Can I?
- I’ve been asked to sign a contract and I don’t know what it all means. Can you go through it with me?
- My parents are getting divorced and I'm worried I'll have to live with my dad. Can they make me?
- My drivers licence just got cancelled. I need it for work, what can I do?
- This guy on our block keeps hassling and following me. Is there anything I can do?
- My friend got picked up for drugs, now the cops are asking me questions. Do I have to talk to them?
- I was bashed up last month. Can I get help paying for my doctor's bills and my time off work?
If you are worried about something and don’t know where to go to find out what to do, don’t ignore it – we can help you. We also have experienced counsellors available at the sessions if you need to talk to someone.
Where?
The service operates in Randwick at the premises of the Ted Noffs Foundation and in Waterloo at the premises of South Sydney Youth Services.
Randwick
Ted Noffs Foundation
206A Alison Road (cnr Avoca Street)
Randwick
Waterloo
South Sydney Youth Services
Waterloo Oval
Cnr Elizabeth & Allen Streets
Waterloo
If you contact us, we can book you in to the service nearest to you. The advice is still free, even if you come in and see us.
Sometimes, if you can't attend an appointment (for example if you live too far away), we may be able to speak to you by telephone.
We can’t answer your questions by email. We need to see you in person or speak to you on the telephone to make sure we have all the information we need to help you solve your problem.
When?
By appointment each alternate Tuesday:
Randwick: Between 4:00pm and 6:00pm
Waterloo: Between 3:00pm and 5:00pm
How do I make an appointment?
You can make an appointment by:
Phone: (02) 8383 6629
OR
Email: ask@noffs.org.au
Remember! We can’t answer your questions by email. We need to see you in person or speak to you on the telephone to make sure we have all the information we need to help you solve your problem.
If you need or would feel more comfortable using an interpreter, we can organise one for you.
Privacy
As lawyers, Mallesons Stephen Jaques have a very strict legal and ethical obligation to you not to share your personal information with anyone else unless you tell them to. You can trust them to respect your privacy and to keep your information confidential.
What if we can’t help you?
Sometimes our team might not be able to help you with your problem. When this happens we will make every effort to find someone for you who can.
If you need help urgently and are 25 or under and in NSW, please call the Shopfront Youth Legal Centre on (02) 9322 4808 or visit their website at www.theshopfront.org.au.
Want a question answered by email?
If you would still prefer to get some information or advice by email, you can submit your question on-line at www.lawstuff.org.au. This website is run by the National Children’s & Youth Law Centre. Lawyers at the Centre will reply to your message as quickly as possible, usually within 4 days.
Over 21 years of age?
If you are not between the ages of 14-21 years and need some legal assistance, please call LawAccess on 1300 888 529 or visit their website at www.lawaccess.nsw.gov.au.
Legal information available to you
Mallesons Stephen Jaques has produced easy to read leaflets, on various topics, that may be able to help you. These fact sheets are intended to be a general guide to the law only.
We recommend that you seek professional advice before acting, or failing to act, on the basis of information contained within the fact sheets.
