Back up duty scheme
The Back Up Duty Scheme is not currently open for practitioners to express an interest statewide.
LEGAL AID NSW BACK UP DUTY SCHEME
The Back Up Duty Scheme operates at courts serviced by Legal Aid NSW to supplement inhouse Legal Aid NSW solicitors in the provision of duty assistance and urgent casework. Private practitioners are appointed to the Back Up Duty Scheme lists for particular regions and included courts through an expression of interest process.
Practitioners allocated duty work as part of the Back Up Duty Scheme appear for clients in first appearances, pleas of guilty, mentions, adjournments, section 32 applications and bail applications subject to Legal Aid NSW policy and guidelines.
Practitioners appointed to the Back Up Duty Scheme are also eligible to be allocated urgent case work including defended hearings and other matters requiring expenditure. In some locations this includes District Court and Children’s Court matters.
All practitioners on the Summary Criminal Law Panel will be notified via email when Back Up Duty Scheme is open for expressions of interest to be submitted. Expressions of interest must be submitted by both new applicants and practitioners seeking reappointment. For queries relating to the Back Up Duty Scheme please email backupduty@legalaid.nsw.gov.au
Back Up Duty Scheme - Information Package
Back Up Duty Scheme - Information for Referees
For information about providing duty assistance at locations not serviced by in-house Legal Aid NSW solicitors, please contact the Duty Solicitor Scheme Coordinator on 9219 5122 or via email at dutyscheme@legalaid.nsw.gov.au, or read more on the Legal Aid NSW website.
Last updated July 2019