About Us

The Tasmanian Aboriginal Legal Service (TALS) is a community legal service which is controlled by local Aboriginal people.

We specialise in criminal, civil and family law matters - and provide culturally safe, holistic and appropriate services that are inclusive and open to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Tasmania.

We are a committed advocate for justice, equality and human rights.

Our partners

TALS is primary funded by the Australian Government's National Legal Assistance Partnership 2020-2025 (NLAP) overseen by the Attorney-General's Department.

Our other key partners include the Tasmanian Government and relevant agencies, National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services (NATSILS) and other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services throughout Australia (ATSILS), the National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA), Tasmania Legal Aid and Aboriginal community-controlled organisations in Tasmania.

Become a member of TALS

TALS is a local Aboriginal community-controlled organisation under the governance of the Aboriginal Corporation of Tasmanian Legal Services - a registered organisation under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006 (ICN 9283).

We welcome Aboriginal people in Tasmania to become a member of TALS.

To become a member of the organisation, please complete an application and forward to tals@tals.net.au. Your application will be considered by the Board in accordance with the Rule book.

Our Challenge:

TALS aims to halve Aboriginal Tasmanians' rate of negative contact with the justice system in a decade.

TALS understands how sometimes the most vulnerable people who need access to legal assistance are also those who face the most difficulties asking for help. We work hard to ensure everyone can access our services.

TALS works to provide legal assistance to people outside a traditional legal setting by:

  • attending at Risdon Prison to ensure those in custody (either on remand or serving sentence) will have access to legal advice and casework
  • and working with Aboriginal community organisations for regular visiting sessions to encourage people to seek legal information and advice