Aboriginal Legal Service (NSW/ACT)

About Us

Dorothy Whyman and Timothy McKenzie

The ALS is a proud Aboriginal organisation.

We opened our doors in 1970 in Redfern as the first Aboriginal Legal Service in Australia – that makes us over 40 years old!

The ALS does legal work in Criminal law and Children’s Care and Protection law

We assist Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men, women and children through representation in court, advice and information, and referral to further support services.

But we also do things making us different from other legal service providers, like:

  • We have Field Officers who live and work in their communities working hand in hand with our Lawyers as cultural translators
  • Our Custody Notification Service provides early legal advice for Aboriginal people taken into Police custody
  • We assist prisoners getting out of gaol reintegrate into daily life
  • We make films, brochures and educational resources used for talking with people about their legal rights through our Community Legal Education program
  • We lobby at a local, State, Federal and international level about Aboriginal people’s rights to justice
  • If we can’t assist someone, we can usually find someone who can.

We have 23 offices and 185 Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal staff across NSW and ACT working towards achieving justice for Aboriginal people and the community.

News

Bugmy not guilty - Police use of taser found ‘excessive’

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Police found to have used ‘excessive’ force when tasering a Wilcannia man. read more

Breath testing as bail condition now unlawful - ALS assists in law reform

The Supreme Court in Sydney has ruled against bail conditions that allow police to breath-test people any time, any where. read more

Art competition with cash prize

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ALS invites Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists to create a poster celebrating our 40 years. read more

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