How can VALS help me?
Solicitors at VALS are specialised in one of three areas: criminal law, family law and civil law.

VALS also employs 9 Indigenous Client Service Officers (CSOs). Five of these are based in regional areas the country at Shepparton, Morwell, Mildura, Bairnsdale and Heywood. The other four CSOs are based in VALS’ head office in Melbourne.

Victoria Police are required to advise VALS every time an Indigenous person is arrested. The CSO will then contact the arrested person to see if they need legal help. The CSO may also attend the police station.

CSOs can help you in several ways. They can:
• Act as an Independent Third Person at the police station if you are under 17
• Give general advice about your rights
• Link you up with a VALS solicitor
• Act as a liaison between you and the solicitor
• Take basic instructions and adjourning matters until a solicitor is available
• Lodge court documents
• Visit you in prison
• Help you arrange transport for court appearances, such as organising public transport.

What if I need help after-hours?
VALS operates an after-hours service. A metropolitan CSO is on-call from 5.00pm until 9.00am Monday to Friday, as well as weekends and public holidays. If the matter is of a serious nature, the CSO will contact one of VALS solicitors, who are also on-call after hours.

What do I need to get help from VALS?
VALS has to make sure its funding is used to help those it is intended to help - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The first time you use VALS, you must provide proof of your Aboriginality. This means providing VALS with a document that is signed by:
• The Chairperson of a recognised Aboriginal Organisation, or
• a designated Aboriginal Officer from a Government Department, or
• any Aboriginal employee of VALS.

The Definition of Aboriginality used by VALS is: "A person of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent who identifies as an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander and is accepted as such by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community in which she/he lives."

VALS will give immediate help if you are arrested or the matter is urgent. However, you will be asked to produce a signed confirmation of Aboriginality as soon as possible. You only need to do this the first time you use VALS as we will keep it on file. If you are finding it hard to get such a document, let us know as we may still be able to help you.

What happens with a Koorie versus Koorie dispute?
Some people think that VALS won't act in a matter which involves a dispute between Koorie people - that is, we will only represent a Koorie in a dispute with a non-Koorie. This is not true. We will not refuse to help you just because the other person involved in the dispute is Aboriginal. However, if you approach us for advice and/or representation and VALS is already acting for the other person or otherwise has a conflict of interest, by law, we cannot act for you. If this happens, we will refer you to alternate legal services for help (usually Victoria Legal Aid) or we will brief a private lawyer to represent you.