The Law Handbook contains an overview of the law in South Australia presented in everyday language. It outlines your rights and responsibilities in a range of legal areas and advises on where you can go for more assistance. The content of the Law Handbook is made available as a public service for information purposes only and should not be relied upon as a substitute for legal advice.
Legal Services Commission Helpline 1300 366 424
Telephone legal advice is available for preliminary information, advice and referrals. Advice is usually restricted to a client’s basic legal rights and obligations about a particular situation. If the problem is too complex or too lengthy for a phone call, the client will be offered an appointment at a Commission office or referred to other sources of assistance.
Available Monday to Friday 9.00am – 4.30pm.
Supreme Court of SA
District Court of South Australia
Adelaide Magistrates Court
State Coroner’s Court
Youth Court of SA
Environment, Resources and Development Court of SA
Licensing Court of SA
Commissioner for Victims’ Rights
Equal Opportunity Commission
Legal Profession Conduct Commissioner
Independent Commission Against Corruption – Office of Public Integrity
Office of the Public Advocate
South Australian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (SACAT)
South Australia Ombudsman
The South Australian Ombudsman is an independent officer who has power to investigate complaints about state government departments and authorities, and local government councils, including reviewing Freedom of Information requests.
Consumer and Business Services
Consumer and Business Services (CBS) is a division of the South Australian Government’s Attorney-General’s Department that provides services to protect consumers, support and regulate business and record significant life events for South Australians. These services include:
Parliament of South Australia
Provides access to all information relating to the South Australian Parliament, including Hansard, Bills and Motions.
Maintained by the Attorney General’s Department and includes Consolidated Acts (including historical reprints) and Regulations, Numbered Acts from 2003, Bills, Proclamations and Notices, Statutes Annual Index and Update.
Subject index to South Australian Legislation
A collaborative effort of members of the Australian Law Librarians Group (SA Division).
South Australian Acts and Regulations
Provides access to South Australian legislation and information about South Australian legislation, including information about the making, commencement, operation, variation or cessation of legislation and the making, commencement, operation, variation or cessation of other instruments made under legislation.
Courts Administration Authority
Provides information about the function and duties of the authority, along with sentencing remarks, judgments and case lists. Also provides access to information about the individual courts throughout South Australia.
FindLaw Australia
A general purpose legal portal
Foolkit
A collection of various law related links and information.
amica was created by National Legal Aid to help a broad range of people with family law problems.
A ground-breaking new service has been launched to help separating couples reach agreements online. During its launch phase, this service is offered free of charge until 1 January 2021.
amica.gov.au helps couples reach amicable agreements about property and parenting issues without engaging lawyers. It also enables couples to record those agreements in plain language on a secure platform.
This 2-minute video highlights amica’s key features.
amica has the potential to significantly cut legal bills. It guides users through a step-by-step process, and offers them information and support along the way to help them reach an amicable agreement. amica also informs them about other support services.
Parenting and property
amica was created with Commonwealth Government funding and designed with direct input from everyday people who’ve been through everyday family law disputes relating to parenting and property issues.
amica’s interactive calendar helps separated parents to reach agreement, and record their agreement, about the best parenting arrangements for their children.
If couples need to divide their assets, amica’s artificial intelligence can also help. amica provides a suggested split of assets after the AI takes into account:
amica is best suited to couples who have a reasonably amicable relationship and a willingness to communicate online.
How much?
Anyone can use the amica website to get free information about family law issues at any time. Until the end of 2020 amica’s dispute resolution feature is also free. From January 2021 there will be a nominal fee for this feature (between $165 and $440 per couple) but it will be waived for users who receive a Centrelink income support payment.
High Court of Australia
The High Court of Australia is the supreme court in the Australian court hierarchy and the final court of appeal in Australia.
Family Court of Australia
The Family Court of Australia has jurisdiction over all matrimonial causes and associated responsibilities.
Federal Circuit Court of Australia
The Federal Court is a superior court of record and a court of law and equity.
Administrative Appeals Tribunal
The Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) provides independent review of a wide range of administrative decisions made by the Australian government and some non-government bodies.
Fair Work Ombudsman
The Fair Work Ombudsman provides education, assistance, advice and guidance to employers, employees, outworkers, outworker entities and organisations, inquires into and investigate breaches of the Fair Work Act and can take appropriate enforcement action.
Fair Work Commission
The Fair Work Commission (FWC) is an independent, national tribunal dealing with employment issues including unfair and unlawful dismissal, anti-bullying claims, awards and industrial action.
Human Rights Commission
The Australian Human Rights Commission is an independent statutory organisation who protect and promote human rights in Australia and internationally. You can make a complaint to the Commission if you have experienced discrimination, harassment and bullying based on, inter alia, your sex, gender, disability, race, or age.
National Native Title Tribunal
The National Native Title Tribunal assists people to resolve native title issues over land and waters.
Office of Australian Information Commissioner
The purpose of the Office of of Australian Information Commissioner is to promote and uphold individuals rights to access government-held information and protect personal information.
Australian Competition and Consumer Commission
Australian Securities and Investment Commission
Austlii
Resource of Australian and international legal materials, including a law specific search engine, links, Australian cases, law and other legal matters.
Australian Bureau of Statistics
Australian Business Register
Australian Taxation Office
The Government’s principal revenue collection agency whose role is to manage and shape tax, excise and superannuation systems that fund services for Australians.
Australian Copyright Council
The Australian Copyright Council is an independent non-profit organisation that provides information, advice and training about copyright in Australia.
Federal Register of Legislation
The Federal Register of Legislation is the authorised whole-of-government website for Commonwealth legislation and related documents. Includes Consolidated Acts and Regulations, Numbered Acts and Regulations and historical reprints.
Parliament of Australia
Provides information about the House of Representatives, Senate and Hansard.