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Our programs

Our work is arranged into programs and sub-programs with defined objectives to support evaluation of their effectiveness. Each objective aligns with Victoria Legal Aid’s vision and values. 

To achieve our objectives, a range of services support each program. These services include:

  • information
  • advice
  • duty lawyers at court
  • minor work
  • representation
  • community legal education
  • policy and law reform work
  • publications and online resources.

Index

Access & Equity Program

Objectives

  • To assist people to deal with legal issues by ensuring that our services are accessible, efficient and appropriate to need.
  • To work to achieve a fair and efficient justice system through collaborative law reform.

Operating expenditure 2010–11

$15.8 million (Commonwealth $5.5 million, State $10.3 million): 

  • Justice and Law Reform: $0.2 million or 0.1 per cent of total 
  • Community Legal Education: $1.5 million or 1.0 per cent of total   
  • Community Legal Centres: $12 million or 8.3 per cent of total  
  • Referrals, Access and Equity: $2.1 million or 1.5 per cent of total.

Civil Justice Program

Objectives

  • To contribute to a fairer, more inclusive and rights-respecting community by providing civil and administrative advice and legal representation to people who are acutely vulnerable. 
  • To contribute to a more efficient  and equitable justice system by seeking to change the law and legal processes where they impact disproportionately on disadvantaged people.

Operating expenditure 2010–11

$8.6 million (Commonwealth $3.9 million, State $4.7 million):

  • Mental Health and Disability Advocacy: $1.2 million or 0.8 per cent of total 
  • Social Inclusion and Equality: $4.3 million or 3.0 per cent of total  
  • Migration: $1.1 million or 0.8 per cent of total 
  • Commonwealth Entitlements: $2.0 million or 1.4 per cent of total.

Corporate Services Program

Objective

To support service delivery and innovation and to help progress program development opportunities benefitting staff and clients.

Sub-programs or areas of activity under this program include:

  • Human resources
  • Research and communications
  • Business services
  • Eligibility for legal aid
  • Legal practice management.

Criminal Law Program

Objectives

  • To represent people charged with offences, with a focus on those who are disadvantaged or at risk of social exclusion. 
  • To influence the criminal justice system to provide timely justice, the fair hearing of charges and appropriate outcomes.
  • To ensure people are well-informed, treated with dignity and guided appropriately through the criminal justice system.

Operating expenditure 2010–11

$72.9 million (Commonwealth $9.8 million, State $63.1 million):  

  • Summary Crime: $31.7 million or 21.9 per cent of total  
  • Indictable Crime: $27.4 million or 19.0 per cent of total 
  • Appellate Crime: $4.8 million or 3.3 per cent of total
  • Youth Crime: $9.0 million or 6.3 per cent of total.

Family Law Program

Objectives

  • To assist people to resolve their family disputes to achieve safe, workable and enduring care arrangements for children.
  • To assist parents to build their capacity to resolve future disputes without legal assistance.  

Operating expenditure 2010–11  

$47.1 million (Commonwealth $26.2 million, State $20.9 million):

  • Independent Children's Lawyers: $4.5 million or 3.1 per cent of total 
  • Family Advice and Litigation: $13.5 million or 9.3 per cent of total
  • Appropriate Dispute Resolution: $8.7 million or 6.1 per cent of total
  • Family Violence: $4.5 million or 3.1 per cent of total
  • Child Support: $1.4 million or 1.0 per cent of total 
  • Child Protection: $14.5 million or 10.0 per cent of total.

More information

Annual reports