Civil Law
There are two panels under the Civil area of law which are covered by Commonwealth and State funding. For a law practice to undertake legal aid work under all panels in this area of law, the law practice must have at least one legal practitioner that meets the requirements of each individual panel.
Where a legal practitioner may not meet the individual panel requirements, the principal/nominated principal for the law practice should note the delegation requirements of the individual panel to ensure compliance with Clauses 41 and 47 of the Quality Standards.
- Civil Law
Solicitors only are eligible to undertake work for this panel.
To ensure that Legal Aid NSW meets its financial obligations, the Civil Law Panel is limited to those core areas where legal aid is available subject to Legal Aid NSW policies and guidelines. Chapter 6 of Policy Online contains information about when legal aid is available in both State and Commonwealth civil law matters.
Civil Law State Fee Scale
Civil Law Commonwealth Fee ScalesThe panel covers Civil Law work in the following NSW courts:
- NSW Civil & Administrative Tribunal
- Local Court
- District Court
- Supreme Court
- Court of Appeal
- NSW Industrial Relations Commission
- Administrative Appeals Tribunal
- Federal Circuit Court
- Federal Court
- Full Federal Court
- High Court
- Fair Work Ombudsman/Fair Work Commission
Requirements:
- 2 years PAE in Civil Law matters
Delegation:
- Work under this panel may be delegated to legal practitioners within the law practice who have less than 2 years PAE.
- The principal and any legal practitioners employed by the law practice, who satisfy the individual requirements of this panel, may delegate legal aid work to other legal practitioners within the law practice who satisfy the delegation requirements of this panel.
- Legal practitioners being delegated work under this panel must be supervised by a legal practitioner within the law practice who satisfies the individual requirements of the panel and is eligible to undertake the work.
- Mental Health
Solicitors and barristers (as direct representative) are eligible to undertake work for this panel.
This panel covers State funded matters brought under the Mental Health Act 2007, the Mental Health (Forensic Provisions) Act 1990, the Drug and Alcohol Treatment Act 2007, the NSW Trustee and Guardian Act 2009 and the Guardianship Act 1987.
Please note that most work conducted under this panel is via the Mental Health Advocacy Duty Scheme. For further information and contact details regarding this scheme please read “Guidelines for Panel Lawyers in matters before the Mental Health Review Tribunal” on LANSW Duty Solicitor Scheme webpage.
The panel covers Mental Health Advocacy work within NSW:
- Mental Health Review Tribunal (MHRT) held within NSW Hospital’s Mental Health Units
Requirements:
- 2 years PAE in Mental Health Advocacy matters.
Delegation:
- Delegation of work is NOT permitted under this panel.
- Work under this panel can ONLY be undertaken by a legal practitioner who satisfies the individual panel requirements and is eligible to undertake the work.
Panel enquiries
If you have any enquiries about a panel or the application process, or using the Application website, please contact the Private Lawyer Quality Standards Unit by e-mail at panels@legalaid.nsw.gov.au or on 02 9219 5662.