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Our history

The idea of legal aid is more than 100 years old in Victoria.

Public Solicitor's Office

Before 1928 only prisoners or very poor people could apply to the Supreme Court for legal aid. In 1928 the government set up the Public Solicitor's Office to make legal aid more easily available. People were eligible if they did not own property worth more than 50 pounds.

Legal Aid Act 1961

As more people learnt about legal aid, demand increased. This created a backlog of cases in the Public Solicitor's Office. To provide more legal aid, the State Government passed the Legal Aid Act 1961 which set up the Legal Aid Committee. This committee was run by the legal profession.

Legal Aid Act 1969

In 1969, the State Government passed new legislation. This Act made the Legal Aid Committee responsible for civil and minor criminal cases, and made the Public Solicitor responsible for serious criminal cases.

Australian Legal Aid Office (Commonwealth)

In 1974 the Commonwealth Government set up the Australian Legal Aid Office. This office provided legal aid for Federal law cases such as family law and bankruptcy. The Australian Legal Aid Office also helped people who the Commonwealth had a special responsibility for, such as people receiving social security and members of the armed forces.

Legal Aid Commission of Victoria

The Legal Aid Commission of Victoria (LACV) was set up in 1978 as an independent statutory body. The LACV took over the functions of the Australian Legal Aid Office, the Legal Aid Committee and the Public Solicitor's Office.

The LACV had a wider role than the Legal Aid Committee and the Public Solicitor's Office. Its role included providing community legal education and law reform. The LACV had an 11 member board including representatives from community legal centres, welfare groups and the legal profession.

Victoria Legal Aid

Victoria Legal Aid replaced the LACV in December 1995.