ABA/AAT Legal Assistance Referral Scheme

16/03/2022

The Administrative Appeals Tribunal and the Australian Bar Association (ABA) Taxation Committee have established a Legal Assistance Referral Scheme to provide pro bono legal assistance to unrepresented taxpayers who have lodged applications for merits review in the Tribunal’s Taxation and Commercial Division or Small Business Taxation Division.

Under the Scheme:

• the Tribunal will refer eligible cases for legal assistance;
• the ABA Taxation Committee will maintain a list of counsel interested in participating in the Scheme and identify suitable counsel for each referral; and
• counsel will provide the legal assistance particularised in the referral certificate provided by the Tribunal.

In appropriate cases, the ABA Taxation Committee may also approach suitable solicitors to provide legal assistance consistent with the terms of the Scheme.

The Chair of the ABA Taxation Committee, Kristen Deards SC, seeks expressions of interest from counsel interested in participating in the Scheme.

Interested counsel should email the Secretary of the ABA Taxation Committee, Ermelinda Kovacs, at kovacs@wentworthchambers.com.au “Re: AAT-ABA Legal Assistance Scheme”, and provide the following information:

1. date of admission to practice;
2. date of signing the Bar roll / admission to the Bar; and
3. experience in tax advisory / litigation work (limited to 50 words).