Victorian Consolidated Legislation

Legal Aid Act 1978 - SECT 7

Duties of VLA

7. Duties of VLA

In performing its functions, VLA must-

   (a)  ensure that legal aid is provided in the most effective, efficient and
        economic manner and in a manner which dispels fear and distrust;



   (b)  establish any local offices that it considers appropriate and
        generally use its best endeavours to make legal aid available
        throughout the State;

   (c)  subject to and in accordance with any legal aid arrangement and the
        agreements and arrangements made between the Commonwealth and the
        State under section 49 from time to time-

   (i)  determine or vary priorities in the provision of legal aid as between
        classes of persons and classes of matters or both;

   (ii) have regard to the recommendations of the Commonwealth Commission
        concerning the provision of legal aid by VLA-

                (A)  in or in connection with a claim, right or proceeding
                     involving a matter arising under a law of the
                     Commonwealth; or

                (B)  in a proceeding in a federal court or in a State court
                     exercising federal jurisdiction; or

                (C)  in respect of persons who are agreed by the
                     Attorney-General and the Attorney-General of the
                     Commonwealth to be persons in respect of whom the
                     Commonwealth has a special responsibility;

   (iii) liaise and co-operate with the Commonwealth Commission in the
        performance by that Commission of its functions and, in particular,
        provide to the Commonwealth Commission such statistics and other
        information as that Commission may reasonably require;

   (d)  subject to any legal aid arrangement, determine the matters or classes
        of matters in respect of which legal services may be performed on
        behalf of assisted persons by way of legal aid;

   (e)  co-operate and, if VLA considers it desirable to do so, make
        reciprocal arrangements with other legal aid commissions, professional
        associations and other bodies engaged or interested in the provision
        of legal aid in the State or elsewhere;

   (f)  liaise with professional associations in order to facilitate the use,
        in appropriate circumstances, of services provided by private legal
        practitioners;

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



   (h)  endeavour to secure the services of interpreters, marriage
        counsellors, welfare officers and other appropriate persons to assist
        in connection with matters in respect of which legal aid is provided;

        (i)    inform the public of the services provided by VLA and the
               conditions on which those services are provided;

   (j)  encourage and permit law students to participate, so far as VLA
        considers it practicable and proper to do so, on a voluntary basis and
        under professional supervision in the provision of legal aid;



   (k)  have regard to the amount of money for the time being standing to the
        credit of the Fund and the amount of money likely to be received by
        VLA for the purposes of the Fund.