Between July and September 2014 we consulted broadly to ensure we had the best input possible to make decisions about the future of legal aid in Victoria and our strategic directions.
Listening to the community and our stakeholders also helped us make informed choices about how we assist the most vulnerable and disadvantaged Victorians in a challenging environment where community need for services outweighs our capacity to always respond in the way we would like.
Community research
We commissioned the Social Research Centre to undertake community research to better understand Victorians’ awareness of legal aid, perceptions about priority access to services, and expectations of government-funded legal aid.
More than 1500 people were consulted as part of the research, with 92 per cent of respondents agreeing that it was important or very important for a government-funded agency to help people who can’t afford legal services.
Respondents nominated people on a low income, people experiencing or at risk of experiencing family violence and people with a disability as most deserving of legal aid. This aligns with our priority clients.
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External stakeholder consultation
We undertook a comprehensive stakeholder consultation to gather the views from Commonwealth and state governments, the judiciary, members of the Bar, lawyers in private practice, other justice sector partners, and community and welfare sector stakeholders. Consultation took the form of individual meetings, roundtable discussions and an online survey.
The consultation highlighted:
- a strong call for increased collaboration through closer, more respectful and mutually beneficial relationships
- the need to forge better links with the non-legal, not-for-profit sector
- increased transparency and accountability.
Read the 2014 External stakeholder consultation report and the 2014 Online survey report.
More information
This consultation has informed our strategic directions to improve Victorians’ access to justice.
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.
We help Victorians with their legal problems and represent those who need it most. Find legal answers, chat with us online, or call us. You can speak to us in English or ask for an interpreter. You can also find more legal information at www.legalaid.vic.gov.au
Reviewed 09 June 2022