Introduction
As part of the transition to virtual courtrooms, Legal Aid NSW has undertaken a comprehensive review of its service delivery model. The Back Up Duty Scheme and Duty Solicitor Scheme have played a crucial role in providing legal assistance, and this shift to a fully virtual format requires adjustments to the way these services are delivered.
What is changing?
We are asking interested solicitors to apply to be placed on the Virtual Bail Court Scheme for their respective hub. Since all bail proceedings will now be conducted virtually, solicitors interested in undertaking Bail Court work must have the necessary skills and technology to appear in virtual courtrooms.
Confidence in using technology to dial into virtual courtrooms, using chat functions and receiving and sending documents electronically are essential.
Eligibility
A statewide special intake will be conducted to establish new bail duty lists. To be eligible, practitioners must already be on either the Back Up Duty Scheme (BUDS) or the Duty Solicitor Scheme (DSS).
Not on BUDS or DSS? For more information on how to get onto the schemes, see the following pages:
Virtual Bail Court lists
New virtual bail duty lists will be created for each regional hub, as well as Sydney.
| Location | Work offers |
|---|---|
| Central Coast Virtual Bail Court | You may receive work offers made by Gosford Legal Aid NSW office. |
| Mid North Coast and Northern Rivers Virtual Bail Court | You may receive work offers made by Coffs Harbour, Lismore and Port Macquarie Legal Aid NSW offices. |
| Newcastle and Greater Hunter Virtual Bail Court | You may receive work offers made by Newcastle Legal Aid NSW office. |
| Riverina and New England Virtual Bail Court | You may receive work offers made by Albury, Moree, Wagga Wagga and Tamworth Legal Aid NSW offices. |
| Southern Highlands and South Coast Virtual Bail Court | You may receive work offers made by Nowra and Wollongong Legal Aid NSW offices. |
| Statewide Virtual Bail Court* | You may receive work offers made by Albury, Broken Hill, Coffs Harbour, Dubbo, Gosford, Lismore, Orange, Port Macquarie, Moree, Newcastle, Nowra, Wagga Wagga and Wollongong Legal Aid NSW offices. |
| Sydney Virtual Bail Court | You may receive work offers made by Inner City Local Courts Legal Aid NSW offices. |
| Western NSW Virtual Bail Court | You may receive work offers made by Broken Hill, Dubbo and Orange legal Aid NSW offices. |
*For regional NSW only (excludes applicants from Sydney Virtual Bail Court), we will create a Statewide Virtual Bail Court List.
To ensure coverage, an additional statewide bail list will be created. If a local solicitor within the hub is unavailable, the work offer can be made to a statewide bail list, this means you can pick up work outside your local hub. All successful applicants from our regional areas will automatically be included to the Statewide Virtual Bail Court List. If you do not wish to be included on the regional list, you can opt out when applying.
How will duty work?
- Offers will be made via SMS through the Back Up Duty Scheme Allocation System (BUDSAS). For more information, see the BUDSAS factsheet (PDF, 84 kb).
- If assigned a backup duty day for bail matters, solicitors will be responsible for servicing the entire hub rather than just their local area. Further information on what matters to appear in will be provided on the day of court.
If a solicitor within a hub is unavailable, the office can offer the duty day to a practitioner from the Statewide Virtual Bail Court List.
How long is a shift and how much will I get paid?
Shifts commence at 9am.
The shift is a full day and you will be paid a minimum of $1,170 (including 5 hours + 1 hour follow up work).
If you are appearing in court after 3pm you will be paid an additional hourly rate thereafter until your matters are completed before the court.
Key benefits
- expanded work opportunities beyond your local area
- increased support for regions where private practitioners are unavailable
- upskill in technology, virtual advocacy, and digital workflows, and
- flexibility to work virtually from home or office or elsewhere, adapting to your needs.
How to apply
If you are a current BUDS or DSS solicitor interested in applying for the Virtual Bail Court Scheme (VBCS), use the button below.