Disclaimer: The material in this print-out relates to the law as it applies in the state of Victoria. It is intended as a general guide only. Readers should not act on the basis of any material in this print-out without getting legal advice about their own particular situations. Victoria Legal Aid disclaims any liability howsoever caused to any person in respect of any action taken in reliance on the contents of the publication.

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Benefits of funding legal assistance

The 2022 National Legal Aid report demonstrates that the provision of legal aid delivers significant benefit to the community, government, and the justice system every year.

In 2022, National Legal Aid (NLA) commissioned a report to examine the economic benefit delivered by legal aid services funded by the Australian Government and related to Commonwealth law.

The final report demonstrated that providing legal aid significantly benefits the community, government, and the justice system every year.

In Australia, public legal assistance is jointly funded by federal, state and territory governments.

The legal assistance sector includes:

  • legal aid commissions
  • community legal centres
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander legal services
  • private practitioners and barristers undertaking legal aid work.

In 2022, NLA commissioned a report to examine the economic benefit delivered by legal aid services funded by the Australian Government and related to Commonwealth law.

The final report demonstrates that the provision of legal aid delivers significant benefit to the community, government, and the justice system every year.

Read the full 2023 report on the NLA website.

In June 2023, our then CEO and NLA Chair Louise Glanville presented a paper to the international legal aid group conference based on the report commissioned by NLA.

It clearly sets out the need to:

  • allocate appropriate resources to legal assistance services
  • invest in support and services focused on early intervention and prevention
  • consider a holistic approach to the justice and related systems to help people deal with their legal and non-legal problems.

Download the paper:

What is the cost of not funding legal assistance?
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