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Information for the media

Victoria Legal Aid (VLA) began in 1981, when it was known as the Legal Aid Commission of Victoria. It has been called Victoria Legal Aid since 1996.

VLA describes itself as ‘a leading and responsible force for community access to the legal system and for social justice’.

VLA’s mandate is ‘to protect legal rights, with an emphasis upon the rights of the marginalised and economically disadvantaged’.

VLA is an independent statutory body. It is primarily funded by the Victorian and Commonwealth governments.

VLA specialises in criminal, family, youth, civil and human rights law.

Each year VLA:

  • provides funding for Victorians in over 40,000 cases before most courts in the justice system.
  • provides free duty-lawyer services in courts to 60,000 Victorians
  • provides legal advice to over 50,000 Victorians
  • answers more than 70,000 phone enquiries about the law
  • distributes 550,000 brochures and booklets.

VLA employs 220 lawyers. Nearly 70% of casework is allocated to private law firms.

VLA has 14 rural and metropolitan offices throughout Victoria, from Bairnsdale in Gippsland to Horsham in the Wimmera to Warrnambool on the south west coast. Its Melbourne office is at 350 Queen St.

VLA provides $15 million to 41 of Victoria’s community legal centres.

VLA contributes to law reform by writing submissions and policy papers on issues that affect VLA clients.

VLA has a family dispute resolution service that helps separated families resolve disputes rather than taking matters to court.

VLA’s managing director is Mr Bevan Warner.