National Access to Justice Survey

National Access to Justice Survey

Help shape the future of legal services in regional Australia.
Help shape the future of legal services in regional Australia.

Your responses are confidential and will be reported only in aggregate.

The survey takes about 15 minutes.

Throughout the survey you will find optional “in your own words” boxes - these give us the quotes and stories that bring the statistics to life.

With your permission (final section), short quotes may be featured in publication:

The Future of Regional Legal Services Insights 2027.

Thank you for assisting The Family Law Education Network, ALA Law and Justfund to give voice to regional australia
Are you?
Which state or territory are you in?
How would you describe where you live or work?
What is the closest 'town/city' to where you are located
- How do you describe your gender?
- What is your age group?
- Were you born in Australia?
- Are you of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander origin?
- Do you speak a language other than English at home?
- Which language?
- Would you need an interpreter to get legal help?
- Do you live with a disability or long-term health condition that affects daily life? (optional)
- Which best describes your household's financial situation?
- Do you hold a concession or health care card?
- What is your current work situation?
- Which best describes you?
  
  Other
- How many years have you worked in your profession?
- What share of your clients are in regional or remote areas?
- Have you ever had a legal problem or needed legal help?
- Were you involved directly, or by supporting someone else?
- What kinds of legal issues have you or someone close to you faced?
- When did you last seek legal advice or help?
- What happened the last time you needed legal help?
- If you did NOT engage a lawyer, or you represented yourself, why? Choose all that apply.
- In the end, did you get the help you needed?
- If you're comfortable, tell us what that experience was like. (optional)
- Overall, how would you rate access to legal services in your community?
  
  1
  
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  1 is Very poor, 5 is Very good
- In your community, roughly how far must a person travel to see a legal practitioner in person?
- Typically, how long is the wait for an appointment with a lawyer in your area?
- Which legal services are hardest to access locally?
- In your own words, what do you believe it is like to access legal services where you live? (optional)
- What are the biggest barriers to accessing legal services in your community? Choose and rank your top 3.
- Rank this statement: Cost is a major barrier to people in my community getting legal help.
  
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  1 is Strongly disagree, 5 is Strongly agree
- Rank this statement: People in my community often go without legal help they genuinely need.
  
  1
  
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  5
  
  1 is Strongly disagree, 5 is Strongly agree
- Is there a particular barrier you would like to tell us more about? (optional)
- If you required legal assistance for a substantive legal issues ( i,e, family court matter ,criminal law or deceased estates matter) do you anticipate you could afford such services from a private lawyer?
- Have you ever been unable to start or continue a legal matter because of cost?
  
  Other
- How aware are you of free or low-cost legal help (Legal Aid, community legal centers, Aboriginal legal services)?
  
  1
  
  2
  
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  5
  
  1 is Not at all aware, 5 is Very aware
- How aware are you of funding options that help people meet legal costs (e.g. deferred payment or litigation funding)?
  
  1
  
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  5
  
  1 is Not at all aware, 5 is Very aware
- If you were eligible would you consider litigation funding to cover your legal costs if you were unable to pay them in advance?
  
  Other
- Rank the statement: “Better funding options would meaningfully improve access to justice in my community.”
  
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  1 is Strongly disagree, 5 is Strongly agree
- Any thoughts on cost, affordability or funding you'd like to share? (optional)
- Have you ever been unable to start or continue a legal matter because of cost? Or been unable to refer someone for legal advice for the same reasons?
  
  Other
- How often do clients raise affordability as a barrier to proceeding fully?
- How often will a client cease instructing you during the conduct of a matter due to costs?
- Have financial constraints caused matters in your practice to settle early or be abandoned?
- How aware are you of funding options that help people meet legal costs (e.g. deferred payment or litigation funding)?
  
  1
  
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  5
  
  1 is Not at all aware, 5 is Very aware
- Do you currently refer clients to litigation lending?
  
  Other
- Rank the statement: “Better funding options would meaningfully improve access to justice in my community.”
  
  1
  
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  5
  
  1 is Strongly disagree, 5 is Strongly agree
- Any thoughts on cost, affordability or funding you'd like to share? (optional)
- How difficult is it to recruit or retain practitioners and staff in your region?
  
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  1 is Very easy, 5 is Very difficult
- Rank this statement: Workload and burnout are a serious issue for practitioners in my region.
  
  1
  
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  5
  
  1 is Strongly disagree, 5 is Strongly agree
- Do you have adequate access to professional support, supervision and development locally?
- What could assist you or others within your area with professional support, supervision and or development into the future?
- Anything you'd like to share about working as a regional practitioner? (optional)
- Which technologies do you currently use for legal or professional services?
- In your opinion, has technology improved access to legal services in your community.
  
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  1 is Strongly disagree, 5 is Strongly agree
- What is your clients attitude towards technology and AI?
- Where could technology make the biggest difference for regional access? Choose your top 2.
  
  Other
- What is the single biggest barrier to using more technology?
  
  Other
- What's your view on the role technology and AI should play in regional legal services? (optional)
- Which technologies would you be comfortable using to access professional legal services?
- In your opinion, has technology improved access to legal services in your community.
  
  1
  
  2
  
  3
  
  4
  
  5
  
  1 is Strongly disagree, 5 is Strongly agree
- What is your overall attitude towards AI in legal services?
- Where could technology make the biggest difference for regional access? Choose your top 2.
  
  Other
- What is the single biggest barrier to using more technology?
  
  Other
- What's your view on the role technology and AI should play in regional legal services? (optional)
- Which of these do you have reliable access to?
- How reliable is your internet or phone connection?
- How confident are you using online services (email, video calls, online forms)?
  
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  1 is Not at all confident, 5 is Very confident
- Would you use online, phone or video legal help if it were available?
- What would stop you using online legal help? Choose all that apply.
- How accessible are family dispute resolution and mediation services in your area?
  
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  1 is Very poor, 5 is Very good
- How accessible is support for families experiencing domestic and family violence?
  
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  1 is Very poor, 5 is Very good
- Anything you'd like to share about how families in your area access support? (optional)
- What would most improve access to justice in regional Australia? Choose and rank your top 3.
- In your own words, how do you think access to justice in regional Australia could be improved? Share any ideas, big or small.
- If you could change just one thing to improve access to justice in your community, what would it be?
- Is there a story or example — yours or someone else's — that has stuck with you and shows why this matters? (optional)
- Rank this statement: "I am optimistic about the future of legal services in regional Australia"
  
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  5
  
  1 is Strongly disagree, 5 is Strongly agree
- Any final thoughts or opinions you'd like to add? (optional)
- If we use a short comment from your responses, how may we attribute it?
- Would you be willing to share your experience in a short interview for the Regional Voices Project?
- Please provide your name
  
  First NameLast Name
- If yes or maybe: Please provide your name, role, region and preferred contact (email or phone).
- Email
  example@example.com
- Phone Number
  Please enter a valid phone number.Format: (000) 000-0000.
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