(1) The principal function of the Commission is to provide legal aid and other
legal services in accordance with this Act.
(2) The Commission in the
exercise of its principal function may--
(a) determine--
(i) the persons or
classes of persons in respect of whom legal aid may be granted, and
(ii) the
matters or classes of matters in respect of which legal aid may be granted,
(b) determine priorities in the provision of legal aid as between--
(i)
different persons or different classes of persons, and
(ii) different matters
or different classes of matters,
(d) specify principles, including the
imposition of means tests, to be applied in determining applications for
legal aid,
(e) specify the circumstances, if any, in which contributions
shall be paid by legally assisted persons and the means of calculating any
such contributions,
(f) establish and conduct such local offices as it
considers appropriate,
(g) liaise and co-operate with persons engaged or
interested in the provision, in New South Wales or elsewhere, of legal aid
otherwise than under this Act,
(h) give assistance and make grants, on such
terms and conditions as it thinks fit, to persons or bodies within New South
Wales for the provision by those persons or bodies of legal aid,
(i) enter
into agreements for the provision of legal aid to citizens of New South Wales
in proceedings outside New South Wales with bodies which exercise, outside New
South Wales, functions similar to those of the Commission,
(j) bring to the
attention of the public, by publishing advertisements or otherwise, the
services provided by the Commission,
(k) collect and publish information in
respect of the functions of the Commission and in respect of other schemes of
legal aid provided in New South Wales,
(l) undertake research into all
aspects of legal aid including the investigation and assessment of different
methods of financing and providing legal aid,
(m) initiate and carry out
educational programmes designed to promote an understanding by the public, or
by sections of the public, of their rights, powers, privileges and duties
under the laws of New South Wales, and
(n) make reports and recommendations
to the Minister on such matters relating to the functions of the Commission as
the Minister requests or as the Commission considers appropriate.
(3) The
Commission may exercise such other functions as are conferred or imposed on it
by or under this or any other Act.
(4) The Commission may do all such
supplemental, incidental and consequential acts as may be necessary or
expedient for the exercise of its functions.
