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Funding changes for independent children's lawyers
Date : 02 Jun 2011
Victoria Legal Aid (VLA) has decided to remove the quota placed on the funding of independent children’s lawyers (ICLs) and to reinstate funding for ICLs to instruct at trial.
From 1 June 2011 VLA will fund all ICL appointments received from the Family Court and Federal Magistrates Court, and ICLs will be able to seek funding for instruction at trial.
The proposal gained wide support during consultations as part of our recent review of the Family Law Guidelines. Further proposed changes will be put to the VLA Board at its June meeting, after which an implementation plan will be developed to rollout the changes. This will ensure all VLA systems are ready to fully support the changes, including appropriate monitoring and evaluation systems.
'VLA is delighted to be able to fund more independent childrens lawyers. This is the result of a major review of family law guidelines, and other changes resulting from that review will be put to the board this month.
'Children are a priority of the family law program and it has been very satisfying to receive such positive feedback from our stakeholders in relation to this boost in funding for ICLs,' said Judy Small, Director, Family, Youth and Children's Law Services.