Legal Aid Melbourne

We provide quality Legal Aid to Victorians facing all types of criminal charges

  • You may be eligible to apply for your legal costs to be covered under the Government initiative of Legal Aid
  • JDA Law is proud to be one of Victoria Legal Aid’s preferred law firms, providing expert legal representation to those in need
  • We can help you to determine if you fit the criteria for Legal aid, and assist you in completing the necessary paperwork

Want to know if you’re eligible for Legal Aid?

Call James Dowsley & Associates 24/7 on (03) 9781 4900

JDA Legal Quality Legal Aid Lawyers scaled
What is Legal Aid?

Legal Aid is a Government initiative which provides certain people who cannot afford a lawyer with grants of legal assistance.

As a member of Legal Aid Victoria’s Section 29A Panel, James Dowsley & Associates may be able to provide you with partially or fully funded legal services.

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Who is eligible for Legal Aid?

Legal Aid is designed for those who would not otherwise be able to pay for a lawyer to assist or represent them with their legal matter.

The means test assesses your income, assets, and expenses to determine your eligibility. In addition to this, Legal Aid Victoria considers:

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The Legal Aid Application Process

By answering just a few questions, we can help you to determine your eligibility for Legal Aid.

However, it’s important to remember that as a Government-run initiative, criteria and acceptance are not up to us. We simply provide quality legal services to those in need.

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Need Representation in Melbourne
for Any Criminal Offence?

You can contact JDA Law on (03) 9781 4900 at any time of day to discuss your criminal charge and application for Legal Aid.

Request a Free Consultation

Key contacts

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Adrienna Kisvarda
Adrienna Kisvarda
Criminal Defence Lawyer Frankston
(03) 9781 4900 - adriennak@jdalaw.com.au
Kymberley Skillen
Kymberley Skillen
Criminal Defence Lawyer Dandenong
03 8788 5600 - kyms@jdalaw.com.au
Melainie Vinton
Melainie Vinton
Criminal Defence Lawyer Dandenong
03 8788 5600 - melainiev@jdalaw.com.au
Ben Hanley
Ben Hanley
Criminal Defence Lawyer Frankston
03 9781 4900 - benh@jdalaw.com.au
Lorna Williamson
Lorna Williamson
Criminal Defence Lawyer Frankston
03 9781 4900 - lornaw@jdalaw.com.au
Anthony Maselli
Anthony Maselli
Criminal Defence Lawyer Melbourne
03 8602 1400 - anthonym@jdalaw.com.au
James Dowsley
James Dowsley
Principal & Accredited Criminal Law Specialist
James has been involved in the Criminal Justice System as a Lawyer for over 25 years and gained his Specialist Accreditation from the Law Institute of Victoria in 2002. Being a dedicated advocate for clients human rights, James has a passion for defending his clients in the Australian Courts.
03 8602 1400 - jamesd@jdalaw.com.au
Domenic Care
Domenic Care
Partner - Melbourne
Domenic Care joined James Dowsley & Associates in 2013. He appears regularly in the Magistrates’ Court, County Court and Children’s Court of Victoria for matters including plea hearings, contested bail applications and appeal hearings.
03 8602 1400 - domenicc@jdalaw.com.au
Kieran Reynolds
Kieran Reynolds
Accredited Criminal Law Specialist – Criminal Defence Lawyer
Kieran joined the JDA family in 2015 having worked at several large Criminal Law firms since 2004. He regularly appears in both the Magistrates Court and County Court in a diverse range of matters. Kieran was admitted as an Accredited Criminal Law Speciality in 2009 and has maintained his Specialist Accreditation every year since. He is committed to ensuring that the rights of his clients are upheld in court.
03 8602 1400 - kieranr@jdalaw.com.au
Brett Barratt
Brett Barratt
Criminal Defence Lawyer - Melbourne
Brett joined the JDA family in 2013 as a law clerk. He has since then worked as a paralegal at our Dandenong office between September 2015 and March 2016. Commencing as a Lawyer at our Frankston office in March 2016. He appears regularly on behalf of clients facing a range of summary and indictable criminal matters in the Magistrates’ Court. Brett also instructs counsel and assists in the preparation and running of complex indictable criminal cases in the County Court.
03 8602 1400 - brettb@jdalaw.com.au
Jackson McLeod
Jackson McLeod
Criminal Defence Lawyer Frankston
Having previously interned at the Victorian Law Reform Commission, JobWatch Victoria and Refugee Legal and the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, Jackson has dedicated his career to providing access to justice to those who need it most. He regularly appears in the Magistrates’ Court and has instructed in the County Court. Jackson applies his keen attention to detail and broad knowledge of the law to all of his matters, and capably and professionally handles pleas, bail applications and case conferences at the Magistrates’’ Court.
03 9781 4900 - jacksonm@jdalaw.com.au
Bridie O’Malley
Bridie O’Malley
Criminal Defence Lawyer Dandenong
Bridie joined the JDA family in 2014 commencing as a volunteer law student, assisting in the formation of our Intervention Order section. Graduating to become a paralegal at our Dandenong office in 2016 and joining our team of lawyers in 2017.
03 8788 5600 - bridieo@jdalaw.com.au
Sally Abell
Sally Abell
Practice Manager
03 8788 5600 - sallya@jdalaw.com.au
Lucy Mcphail
Lucy Mcphail
Office Manager
03 8788 5600 - lucym@jdalaw.com.au