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Overview
You may want legal assistance if you’re a victim of a crime, especially if you need to understand your rights, apply for a court order, make a complaint, or take part in a court process.
How a lawyer can help
Victims of crime don't need to have a lawyer. But if you're unsure of your legal rights or need help with other things, such as family law matters because of the crime, you may want to talk to a lawyer.
Everyone’s legal situation is different. A lawyer can give you advice about your own legal situation, including explaining:
- what the law says
- what your rights are
- what a court process usually involves
- what options may be available to you to participate in court proceedings.
Free legal assistance
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Community Law
Community Law(external link) has 24 local centres throughout Aotearoa New Zealand that provide free legal advice on a broad range of legal issues to low-income and vulnerable New Zealanders.
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Citizens Advice Bureau
Citizens Advice Bureau(external link) (CAB) provide free and confidential advice, support and information. They may be able to arrange free general legal advice from a lawyer at specified times.
Your local CAB can help you find other free legal services in your area, such as the local Community Law Centre or lawyers in the community who offer some free legal advice.
Phone: 0800 367 222
Where can I get legal advice if I cannot afford a lawyer? | Citizens Advice Bureau(external link)
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Youth Law Aotearoa
Youth Law Aotearoa(external link) provides free legal assistance to children and young people under 25.
Phone: 0800 884 529
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Aotearoa Disability Law
Aotearoa Disability Law(external link) provides free and accessible legal services to deaf and disabled people for disability-related legal issues.
Phone: 09 257 5140
Text only: 027 457 5140
Email: info@adl.org.nz
Send an NZSL message using NZSL Direct on the Aotearoa Disability Law website(external link)
Legal aid
Legal aid is government funding to help pay for a lawyer if you cannot afford one. It is usually treated as a loan, which means you may have to pay back some or all of it. This can depend on things like your income, what you own, the type of case, and what happens in the case.
Find more information about legal aid on the Ministry of Justice website(external link)
Finding a legal aid lawyer
A legal aid lawyer can help you apply for legal aid. You can use the Ministry of Justice Legal Aid Lawyer Finder(external link) to search for a legal aid lawyer by name, firm, region, town or type of law, such as family, civil or criminal law.
Paying for a private lawyer
If you do not qualify for legal aid, or you choose not to use legal aid, you can pay for advice from a private lawyer.
Before choosing a lawyer, you can ask:
- what kind of legal work they do
- whether they have experience with your type of legal issue
- how they charge
- what the first appointment may cost
- whether they can act urgently, if needed.
The New Zealand Law Society has a Find a Lawyer tool(external link)
You can use it to search for lawyers by location and type of legal issue.
If you need protection from family violence, you may want legal advice. A lawyer can help you understand your options and what may happen if you apply for a protection order.
Find more information about protection orders
If you need protection from family violence
A lawyer can help you:
- understand your options
- complete court forms
- prepare information for the court
- represent you in court, if needed.
There is no filing fee to apply for a protection order. There may be a cost if you use a lawyer, but legal aid may be available.
A family violence service, such as Women’s Refuge, may also be able to help you get legal advice or support.
If you were abused in care
There are lawyers who provide legal advice under Legal Aid for victims of historic abuse in care.
The Ministry of Justice has a list of lawyers(external link) who provide this specialist legal aid service.