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Our organisation

Victoria Legal Aid (VLA) has a board of directors, a managing director and seven divisions, including three large in-house legal practice divisions.

The board

The board of directors is responsible for the management of VLA. The board has five directors who are nominated by the Victorian Attorney-General and appointed by the Governor-in-Council. At least one board member must have experience in financial management and one must have experience in either business or government operation. One of the directors is the managing director of VLA.

The board members are:

  • John Howie, Chairperson
  • Bevan Warner, Managing Director
  • Frank King, Chairperson of Audit Committee 
  • Mary Anne Noone 
  • Sue Walpole.

Managing director

Bevan Warner is the managing director of VLA. He manages the day-to-day affairs of VLA according to the policies, priorities, strategies, and directions determined by the VLA board.

There are two units that report directly to the managing director. The Directorate is responsible for policy, research, law reform, quality assurance and client projects. Internal Audit is responsible for the financial and operational integrity of our systems and processes.

Criminal Law Division

Domenico Calabrò is the acting manager of the Criminal Law Division. It is the largest criminal defence practice in Victoria. It is based in Melbourne. The division is divided into three teams and the Public Defenders Unit. The division provides services in all criminal jurisdictions and is also involved in law reform activities.

The Criminal Law Division, as well as the Family, Youth and Civil Law Division and the Regional Office Division, provide a range of legal services, including:

  • casework
  • duty lawyer services 
  • legal advice and information 
  • outreach services to inmates in secure welfare facilities and all Victorian prisons.

The practice divisions are also involved in community legal education, training, law reform and regular liaison with stakeholders.

Family, Youth and Civil Law Division

Judith Sharples is the manager of the Family, Youth and Civil Law Division. It has three separate services: Family Law Service, Youth Legal Service and Human Rights & Civil Law Service. These services are provided from the Melbourne office. Outreach services are also provided to:

  • patients in mental health facilities 
  • families in regional areas for child support services.

Regional Offices Division

Michael Wighton is the manager of the Regional Offices Division. The division delivers services to Victorians in suburban and rural areas through our network of 14 regional offices. At each regional office we provide services in the areas of criminal, family and some areas of civil law. The division is also responsible for the community legal centre funding program and the co-ordination of private practitioner duty lawyer schemes.

Finance, Assignments & Business Division

Tony Matthews is the manager of the Finance, Assignments & Business Division. The division administers grants of legal assistance, while ensuring the Legal Aid Fund is managed according to the objectives established in the Legal Aid Act. It also manages the organisation’s finances and facilities and provides a family dispute resolution service, Roundtable Dispute Management.

Knowledge Services Division

Justine Hyde is the manager of the Knowledge Services Division. The division provides a telephone legal information service, a public-access library, publications, and precedents and practice support for staff. It also co-ordinates community and professional legal education, VLA’s communications, website, staff intranet, records management, and our obligations under privacy and freedom of information legislation.

Human Resources Division

Diana Dalton is the manager of Human Resources Division. The division provides information, advice and support in recruiting, developing, retaining and managing our staff.

Information Systems Division

Darren Morris is the manager of Information Systems Division. The division maintains, develops and protects our information technology assets. The division also provides staff with training and a help desk service.