Our services
Community Law Wellington and Hutt Valley provides a range of services, from drop-in clinics to community advocacy training.
Please note, we can’t help with some issues:
- We don’t give advice to landlords, employers, businesses or people in dispute with community groups
- We can’t prepare or witness wills, powers of attorney, or relationship property agreements
- We don’t give advice about land and property transactions or administration of estates
If we can’t advise you, we can still give you pamphlets of legal information, and point you in the direction of other services.
Refugee and Immigration Legal Advice Service (RILAS)
We provide initial information on residence, visitor, partnership and dependent child applications, deportations, citizenship, and refugee status applications. Find out more here. ... Read more »
Pou Whirinaki – Services to Māori
We provide legal advice, education, and advocacy to Māori while considering a kaupapa Māori framework. Click here for more information about Pou Whirinaki services. ... Read more »
Restorative Justice
Restorative Justice gives victims and offenders of crime the opportunity to talk to each other in a safe and supportive environment, and discuss how the harm might be repaired. ... Read more »
Employment Law
If you have an employment issue and need legal information, you can see a lawyer for free at one of our specialist drop-in clinics. ... Read more »
Services for Women
See a woman lawyer at one of our specialist clinics. Free and confidential. ... Read more »
Community Groups
We provide legal information and education and training for community groups. Click here for more information. ... Read more »
Legal Education
We provide a range of legal education workshops and community advocacy training. See what's coming up! ... Read more »
Rights Education Project
The Rights Education Project is a collection of teaching modules to help young people understand their legal rights. ... Read more »
Conflict Resolution
We offer restorative conflict resolution services for workplaces and communities. Click here to learn more. ... Read more »
The Student Rights Service
The Student Rights Service is a nationwide free phone service for parents, caregivers and students. ... Read more »
Free Legal Advice at Our Offices
We run free drop-in sessions at both of our offices, in Wellington City and Lower Hutt. These are certain times of the day and night when we have lawyers available to meet with you and give you free legal advice. You just drop in, fill out your form, and wait for your private meeting with the lawyer.
You don't need to make an appointment, but we recommend arriving half an hour early to secure your place in line. Check our timetable to see which session is best for you. ... Read more »
You don't need to make an appointment, but we recommend arriving half an hour early to secure your place in line. Check our timetable to see which session is best for you. ... Read more »
Free Legal Advice in Your Neighbourhood
We offer a range of Outreach Clinics throughout a number of suburbs in Wellington. Please check the timetable for a clinic near you. ... Read more »
Lower Hutt Housing Advice & Advocacy Service
In 2020 we launched a specialist housing advice and advocacy service for people living in Te Awa Kairangi / Lower Hutt. You can drop-in and speak to a lawyer on Thursdays between 12-2pm. We are now offering an 0800 call-back advice line for community members in Lower Hutt with housing-related legal issues. Call us confidentially
Tenancy Law
On Mondays in our Wellington office, and Thursdays in our Lower Hutt office, you can drop-in to meet with a lawyer one-on-one about your tenancy issues. Some of the issues that Community Law may be able to help you with include: Evictions Rent increases Tenancy damage/repairs, applications to the Tenancy Tribunal Disputes with landlords and