(1) If proceedings have been brought in a case to which an Australian legal
practitioner has been assigned under section 14, the Australian legal
practitioner shall, as soon as practicable after the assignment and before
taking any other step in the proceedings--
(a) serve on the other party or
parties to the proceedings, and
(b) file in the court in which the
proceedings are pending,
a notice to the effect that he or she is undertaking
the conduct of the case.
(2) If a notice is filed under subsection (1)--
(a)
the proceedings are stayed for a period of 14 days, and
(b) unless otherwise
ordered by the court--time fixed for the doing of any act or taking any step
in the proceedings does not run during that period.
(3) The filing of a
notice under subsection (1) does not prevent--
(a) the making of any
interlocutory order which, in the opinion of the court, is necessary to
prevent injustice, or
(b) unless otherwise ordered by the court, the
institution or continuance of proceedings to obtain, enforce or otherwise
carry into effect any such order.
(4) The period during which proceedings are
stayed by subsection (2) may be reduced or extended by order of the court.
(5) A fee is not payable for the filing of a notice under subsection (1).
(6)
If, in proceedings for which a person has been granted assistance under
section 13--
(a) a party makes a counterclaim, or pleads a set-off, and
the
court may, on the application of the Secretary, order that the counterclaim or
set-off be dealt with separately, and may make such other orders or give such
directions as it thinks fit.