Special Types of Practice: Government Lawyers - Guides
Government Lawyers
4. Legal Aid
Firm / Chambers:
Last updated: 27 Jul 2015
- If you have been charged with a criminal offence you might be entitled to a grant of legal aid.
- Your entitlement will depend on your financial circumstances.
- These grants can happen in two ways. Either:
- the Legal Aid authority in your state or territory may grant ‘funding’ to a private lawyer to act on your behalf, or
- the Legal Aid office in your state or territory may allocate you a Legal Aid lawyer.
- A Legal Aid lawyer is a government lawyer who is employed by the government to defend you in the proceedings.
- If you are allocated a Legal Aid lawyer they have the same duties and responsibilities to you as a private lawyer.
- Legal Aid lawyers are the only government lawyers who can act on behalf of a member of the public in this way.
View more Information on Special Types of Practice