Legal Aid NSW has launched two new online self-help tools that will assist people to find tailored solutions to deal with their fines and low complexity traffic offences.

The tools mean that people can get the help they need without needing to see a lawyer, or be able to have a more focused discussion with their lawyer if they do need further advice.

Online self-help tools – sometimes called “Guided Pathways” – can help people find the tailored solution they need quickly and conveniently, enabling more people to resolve matters for themselves in their own time.

This means that people can get the help they need without needing to see a lawyer, or be able to have a more focused discussion with their lawyer if they do need further advice after using the tool.

Legal Aid NSW CEO Brendan Thomas said low complexity traffic offences and fines made up a significant proportion of advice services.

“These matters primarily entail lawyers repeating straight forward procedural information,” he said.

“Having these online tools available for people to use will free up advice clinic time for the more disadvantaged and vulnerable clients, and more complex matters.”

The tools have been developed with input from clients and lawyers and are intended to help people find the information they need quickly and conveniently enabling more people to resolve matters for themselves, in their own time.

They also provide information and direct links to further assistance if required.

Fines: FineFixer NSW is an online self-help tool that takes people through a series of simple questions and provides them with useful, ranked options to deal with their fines: whether by challenging them, applying to pay in instalments, getting legal help or other options depending on their circumstances.  A wide variety of fine types are covered in the tool including public transport, tolls, parking, council, court, failure to vote, failure to attend jury duty and ambulance fines.

Traffic offences: Our Traffic online self-help tool takes people through a series of simple questions and provides options to help people make a decision about what to do next with common traffic offence problems such as driver licence suspensions, fines and needing to attend court. 

Both tools can be accessed via the LawAccess NSW website: https://legalhelp.lawaccess.nsw.gov.au/