Environmental Defender's Office (WA) EDOWA provides free legal advice on matters of public interest environmental law. In deciding whether the EDO should act in a particular matter an EDO lawyer will be guided by the EDO’s assessment criteria. Contact T: 08 9420 7271 W: www.edowa.org.au 18/2 Delhi Street, West Perth, WA 6005 Cost This service is provided at low or no cost to eligible clients. Some costs may be associated with legal representation, decided on a circumstantial basis. Eligibility The matter must relate to an environmental issue and be in the public interest. To determine whether the matter is in the public interest the following should be considered: Is the matter being raised primarily for the benefit of more than one person? Does the matter offer an opportunity to set a useful precedent that would benefit many other people in similar or comparable circumstances? Is providing legal assistance the only way (or the most efficient way) to resolve the issue? Would organisations other than the EDO be better placed to assist (eg: because of their expertise)? Does the person represent other people (including members if the person is a body corporate)? Does the apparent legal ground(s) of the complaint (such as a ground of review) itself raise a matter of general or environmental concern (such as a right to be consulted, or taking into consideration environmental issues in granting a land use approval), or does it raise some other (e.g. technical town planning ) issue? Does the matter entail defending or furthering a positive result achieved earlier by, or through the involvement of, the EDO? The impact on the EDO’s resources may also be considered, and in particular: the amount of resources needed to resolve the matter; whether the person sought legal assistance from other sources or can afford to do so; whether the matter offers opportunities for the EDO to gain experience, materials, contacts etc that are likely to be helpful to the EDO in future. Services Provide free environmental legal advice to individual and community groups who meet specific criteria Public interest environmental legal services including advice, information, education and limited representation Specialist areas of law include planning, freedom of information, environmental protection and biodiversity Public interest advocacy Offer of Membership to Community who receive quarterly newsletters and access to information on the EDO community education forums and publications. Hours 9:00 am - 5:00 pm, Monday to Friday. Back to top