Let’s talk: Would you use this free service if it could save you money and time?

Got a nasty neighbour? Trying to figure out your will? A new community service has just gone live… and it could help you save money and time.

The South Australian Legal Services Commission has come up with a novel idea to give free legal advice to those who need it.

From today, people will be able to use the online service to consult a lawyer during business hours, though it is not clear yet whether residents outside SA will be able to use it.

The ABC reports last financial year more than 80,000 calls were made to the commission’s legal advice hotline.

Chris Boundy from the commission said the live chat was a direct response to growing public demand for legal assistance – without leaving the house.

“If they have a neighbourhood dispute or a fencing dispute, they can get on the legal chat line and quickly obtain information and links to downloadable information through our website without having to wait to speak to someone on a telephone advice line,” Mr Boundy said.

“Rather than talking on an open telephone line about something that may be troubling them, [people] find it much more accessible and discreet to get on a legal chat and talk away in a dialogue sense through their computer and find out legal information that will assist them”.

So we want to know today, would you use this service if it were available nationwide? Do you need legal assistance?