⚖️ Moree's New Legal Aid NSW Office Opens for Locals

Moree residents and those across north-western NSW now have enhanced access to vital legal assistance with the official opening of a new Legal Aid NSW office in the heart of Moree.

Located at Unit 3, 25 Auburn Street, the permanent 'shopfront' office is set to meet a significant and growing demand for legal services in the region. Locals can drop in to connect with a dedicated team of experts, accessing a broad spectrum of in-person and online support.

The office will provide crucial legal advice and representation, particularly for families navigating breakdowns, parenting, or child support issues. Support extends to concerns regarding housing, fines, debt, employment, NDIS, Centrelink, and criminal matters. Solicitors will also be present at Moree Local Court and Moree Children's Court, offering representation and drop-in advice clinics.

Legal Aid NSW CEO, Monique Hitter, underscored the importance of establishing a permanent presence in Moree. "This is so important for local communities, to have access to permanent and on-site legal services," Ms Hitter stated. "This is an area where there is significant unmet demand for legal services, which is why we are committed to ensuring Moree locals have the same access to high quality legal services as those in other towns and regions."

She added that Legal Aid NSW aims to complement existing support services by focusing on unmet legal needs and fostering close collaboration with local organisations. The move marks a significant expansion, building on a 33 per cent increase in services over the past four years, with 1,256 services provided to the Moree region in 2024-25 alone.

Recognising that over 22 per cent of the Moree Plains population identifies as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, the office will serve as a permanent base for Legal Aid NSW’s specialist Civil Law Service for Aboriginal Communities and the Family Law Service for Aboriginal Communities. These services will offer crucial culturally-safe legal assistance, including dedicated drop-in advice clinics for Aboriginal clients.

The Moree Legal Aid team initially comprises a Solicitor in Charge, an Office Manager, an Aboriginal Field Officer, and a Crime Solicitor. Haney Cho, the Solicitor in Charge and Family Lawyer, expressed her enthusiasm for working with the community. Moree local and Kamilaroi woman, Lola Craigie, serving as the Aboriginal Field Officer, conveyed her pride in connecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with culturally-safe legal help to improve outcomes.

For legal concerns, Moree residents can contact the office via LawAccess on 1300 888 529.