About duty lawyer services
Duty lawyer services are provided at nominated courts and tribunals across Victoria. Duty lawyers may be in-house staff, or approved private practitioners that Victoria Legal Aid funds.
To ensure members of the public who need help from a duty lawyer receive high-quality services, private practioners are approved by us. This is known as the Private Practitioner Short Service Scheme (PPSSS).
What duty lawyers do
Duty lawyers help people who are attending a court or tribunal hearing and who require assistance on the day. This service is free.
It can cover:
- child protection
- youth crime
- adult summary crime
- intervention orders
- family matters
- some civil matters, such as Mental Health Tribunal hearings.
Help provided by the duty lawyer depends on the person’s circumstances. It may include information, legal advice or representation in court. For duty lawyer services for adult criminal offences, an income test applies to all accused not in custody.
How we manage the schemes
Each agreed private practitioner delivering short-service scheme work is managed by a coordinator from one of our offices.
How to apply
VLA runs an open application process across all VLA office locations, offering interested and eligible firms the opportunity to apply for a PPSSS contract.
To become a duty lawyer, private practitioners must meet the criteria for approval. If endorsed by VLA, you will become an approved practitioner eligible to deliver work under the scheme.
We expect private practitioners to meet the standards of service outlined in the:
- Private practitioner duty lawyers' responsibilities.
- Records management for private practitioner duty lawyers.
- VLA Practice Standards.
Assisting duty lawyers with conflicts of interest in the Private Practitioner Short Service Scheme
Private practitioners may be referred to help those who are seeking help in summary crime, youth crime, and family violence matters if the VLA duty lawyer is unable to act due to a conflict of interest,
It does not alter arrangements in place for existing private practitioner short-service scheme commitments.
For more information see Private practitioner duty lawyer scheme to deal with conflicts.
Contact us
The director of legal practice is responsible for the administration of agreed private practitioner short-service scheme.
Enquiries and issues with how you can join one of the schemes can be addressed to the coordinator PPSSS via email at ppsss@vla.vic.gov.au and you an download an application form:
If your enquiry relates to an upcoming court case, please contact Legal Help.
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