Changes to Legal Aid NSW policies

09/05/2013

Legal Aid NSW has made a number of recent changes to its client eligibility and grants policies.

**Start up grants ** From 1 July, 2013 Legal Aid NSW waiting times which are an approved fee item in start-up grants for Local and Children's Court summary matters will be removed.

From 1 July 2013, fees for mentions will be reduced to one hour for Local Court summary matters and 1.5 hours for Children's Court summary matters and a cap will be placed on mentions at this amount.

Funds no longer available for some Civil Law matters

Legal aid is no longer available for State matters where the applicant is at 'special disadvantage'. Legal aid will not available for matters such as victim's compensation and compensation under the Motor Accident Act, or any other matter under a State law that is currently allowed if the applicant is at 'special disadvantage'. This does not apply to matters dealt with under any Commonwealth law (such as the Fair Work Act) where the applicant is eligible if at special disadvantage. This change took effect from 6 May 2013.

Legal aid will not be available for matters arising from the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, where, for example an applicant is seeking damages for abuse that occurred in institutional care. This change took effect from 6 May 2013.

See Policy Bulletin for further information.

Legal aid no longer available for environmental matters

From 1 July 2013, legal aid will no longer be available for Public Interest Environment matters. See Policy Bulletin for further information.

Changes regarding the Crimes (High Risk Offenders) Act 2013

The Legal Aid NSW Board has approved an amendment to the Criminal Law Policy making legal aid available for matters under the Crimes (High Risk Offenders) Act 2006. This change took effect from 6 May 2013: See Policy Bulletin for further information.

9 May 2013

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