LEGAL AID ACT 1977 - SECT 10 Duties of commission

LEGAL AID ACT 1977 - SECT 10

    (1)     In the exercise of its functions, the commission shall—

        (a)     ensure that legal assistance is provided in the most effective, efficient and economical manner; and

        (b)     ensure that its activities are carried on consistently with, and do not prejudice, the independence of the private legal profession; and

        (c)     liaise and cooperate with and, if the commission considers it desirable to do so, make reciprocal arrangements with, other legal aid commissions, professional bodies representing private legal practitioners and other bodies engaged or interested in the provision of legal assistance in the ACT or elsewhere; and

        (d)     liaise with professional bodies representing private legal practitioners in order to facilitate the use, in appropriate circumstances, of services provided by private legal practitioners; and

        (e)     make maximum use of services which private legal practitioners offer to provide on a voluntary basis; and

        (f)     make the services of the commission available to people eligible for legal assistance by establishing such local offices as it considers appropriate and by making such other arrangements as it considers appropriate; and

        (g)     determine priorities in the provision of legal assistance as between different classes of people or classes of matters; and

        (h)     arrange for the provision of duty lawyer services at sittings in the ACT of such courts and tribunals as the commission considers appropriate; and

              (i)     endeavour to secure the services of language interpreters, relationship counsellors, welfare officers and other appropriate people to assist legally assisted people in connection with matters in respect of which they are provided with legal assistance; and

        (j)     encourage and permit law students to participate, so far as the commission considers it practicable and proper to do so, on a voluntary basis, under professional supervision, in the provision of legal assistance by officers of the commission.

    (2)     The commission shall—

        (a)     make recommendations to the Minister with respect to any reforms of the law the desirability for which has come to its attention in the course of the exercise of its functions; and

        (b)     initiate and carry out educational programs designed to promote an understanding by the public, and by sections of the public who have special needs in this respect, of their rights, powers, privileges and duties under the law in force in the ACT.

    (3)     In the exercise of its functions, the commission shall have regard to the amount of money for the time being standing to the credit of the fund and of any money likely to be received by the commission for the purposes of the fund.