COVID-19 National: Business – Workplace Legal Advice Program

This program aims to provide eligible employers with free independent legal help to deal with workplace issues arising from the coronavirus outbreak.

Advice is available on issues like:
- Stand downs from work
- Flexible work arrangements
- Pay and entitlements
- JobKeeper changes to the Fair Work Act

Law firms with specialist workplace experience provide the advice. It is free and confidential. This will be four hours of free advice to help employers deal with the immediate needs of their business. The law firm will let the employers know what their free service limit is when they contact the employer. This time can be used flexibly, for instance over multiple appointments.

Employers can usually only access the program once. In exceptional circumstances, it may be possible for an employer to access the program a second time. This will be assessed on a case-by-case basis, considering factors such as whether there is a new issue that the business was not known at the initial appointment.

The program does not provide ongoing legal assistance. Employers are not obliged to use the law firm's services once they reach their free service limit. If they choose to access further or additional services from the firm, they will be responsible for the costs and the law firm will provide them with new information about any further work and costs.

Eligible applicants include employers who must:
- Not be represented by a lawyer or paid agent.
- Not be a paid member of a professional employer body or industry association that provides member advice services as part of their membership.
- Be covered by the Fair Work system.
- Agree to the Terms and Conditions of the program.
- Have an enquiry that relates to workplace impacts of COVID-19.
- Be willing to participate in the program.