The Law Society of NSW has launched a new website which connects members of the public with the right solicitor for their legal needs.

President of the Law Society of NSW, Joanne van der Plaat, said the website, Lawfully Explained, provides the public with guidance and information on some of the most common legal topics and issues.

Lawfully Explained features articles, podcasts and videos answering questions about everything from neighbour disputes to jury duty and what to expect when you attend court. Topics covered include:

• Problems with neighbours
• My rights when getting arrested
• How much does a lawyer cost?
• Why do I need a lawyer?
• Preparing for court
• 10 questions to ask a lawyer.

It also includes a new customised Find a Lawyer tool to help people connect with the right solicitor for their individual circumstances.

The Law Society of NSW has also launched a new podcast series, Lawfully Explained, on the LiSTNR app, featuring interviews with some of the legal industry’s top experts.

“We’re particularly keen, in the current pandemic environment, to bridge the gap between the public and solicitors,” Ms van der Plaat said.

“One of the challenges of the pandemic is the loss of face to face to interaction, which can leave many people feeling isolated – even more so when they have a legal issue they need to resolve.

“In so many situations – buying a house, getting a divorce, dealing with a tense situation with a neighbour – people need a lawyer but often they don’t know where to begin.

“So, the first place most people turn to these days is the internet.

“But, as we all know, trying to access the right information on the internet can feel like ‘falling down a rabbit hole’.

“Rather than randomly googling ‘where can I find a lawyer’, Lawfully Explained connects the public with the information they need to access the most appropriate legal assistance.

“Ultimately we want to help people, particularly the more vulnerable members of our community, to look for legal advice in all the right places,” Ms van der Plaat said.

Lawfully Explained is a Law Society of NSW initiative with support from the Law Institute of Victoria and the Queensland Law Society.