The Civil Law section at VALS gives priority to cases like police wrong doing and the limitation of Koori rights by government agencies. That is because these kinds of case have the potential to increase the rights of the broader Aboriginal community rather than just benefiting individuals in the community.

The kind of cases in which the Civil Law section can help you include:
• taking legal action against the police or the State of Victoria for police brutality while in custody
• taking legal action against prisons for injury to prisoners
• lodging applications for victims of crime and seeking compensation
• discrimination
• wills
• examining Coronial Inquests to see if they show professional negligence [such as by doctors], and provide evidence for claiming damages for dependents
• issuing Writs for damages against professionals [doctors, lawyers, hospitals, etc] when they have breached their duty of care
• advising on basic contracts law
• giving a second opinion on legal matters.

There are areas of civil law which fall outside of our guidelines and in which VALS usually does not act . These include:
• tenancy issues
• credit issues
• disputes with Government departments, for example with Department of Human Services, Department of Housing
• Guardianship and Administration Complaints
• commercial or business transactions
• defamation, slander & libel
• Native Title
• Copyright, patents & trademarks
• Purchase or sale of property
• Finance or refinance of loans
• TAC claims [personal injury in motor car accidents]
• Workcover claims
• Unfair Dismissal claims

If you have a dispute that falls in one of these categories, you should still contact us as we can refer you to other legal services or lawyers who can help you. You may be eligible for legal assistance from Victoria Legal Aid.

If, for whatever reason, VALS has refused you help, you can appeal to the VALS Board for a reconsideration of the refusal.