In an Australian first, South Australians will now have access to a lawyer through a free online chat service.
A free ‘legal chat’ will be available to South Australians from today.
In an Australian first, the South Australian Legal Commission will provide free online lawyer consultations. The service will allow users to use an online chat window to interact with lawyers.
The launch follows high demand for the commission’s legal advice hotline, with 80,000 South Australians making calls to the hotline in last financial year alone.
“If they have a neighbourhood dispute or a fencing dispute, they can get on the legal chat line and quickly obtain information and links to downloadable information through our website without having to wait to speak to someone on a telephone advice line,” Chris Boundy, manager of access to services at the commission told the ABC.
People working in open-plan offices or under the age of 30 are more likely to gain advice if provided online, Boundy said the trial concluded. He told the ABC that the online chat service would prevent people from waiting on the phone.
“Rather than talking on an open telephone line about something that may be troubling them, find it much more accessible and discreet to get on a legal chat and talk away in a dialogue sense through their computer and find out legal information that will assist them.”
The service will be available Monday to Friday during business hours.
