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Legal Advice

Authors Legal

Authors Legal is a unique, non-profit law firm providing specialised and low-cost legal advice to Australian authors and illustrators.

The ASA launched a unique legal advice service in late 2021. Authors Legal is a non-profit law firm, providing low-cost legal advice on all publishing, agent, and distribution agreements, along with advice on copyright and contractual issues facing authors and illustrators.

Headed by Managing Lawyer and Director Victoria Chylek, Authors Legal operates exclusively in the publishing space and combines both legal specialisation and industry knowledge at an affordable cost. Whether you are a first-time author seeking a contract review, or an established writer wanting specific assistance on contractual terms, Authors Legal can help you to understand your rights and obligations, and arm you with the knowledge you need to negotiate and optimise your agreements.

Our whole community benefits from the output of Australia’s authors and illustrators but it is an extraordinarily difficult career to navigate. The ASA is committed to supporting Australian authors and illustrators and is delighted to launch Authors Legal to help Australian creators in their ongoing efforts to build sustainable incomes from their work.

Authors Legal is a wholly owned subsidiary of the ASA.

To read more about Authors Legal and to access the legal services please visit https://www.authorslegal.org/

The ASA also provides comprehensive and adaptable publishing agreement templates designed to help you create or negotiate an agreement with your publisher, agent, commissioner, illustrator or co-author. The ASA’s contract templates are available to purchase on our website here.