About Victoria Legal Aid Victoria Legal Aid (VLA) is an independent statutory authority set up to provide legal aid in the most effective, economic and efficient manner. We're one of the biggest legal services in Victoria, providing legal information, education and advice for all Victorians. We fund legal representation for people who meet eligibility criteria based on their financial situation, the nature and seriousness of their problem and their individual circumstances. We provide lawyers on duty in most courts and tribunals in Victoria. Our clients are often people who are socially and economically isolated from society; people living with a disability or mental illness, children, the elderly, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and those who live in remote areas. We assist people with legal problems about criminal matters, family breakdown, child protection and family violence, immigration, social security, mental health, discrimination, guardianship and administration, tenancy and debt. We provide: free legal information through our website, our Legal Help telephone service, community legal education, publications and other resources legal advice and minor assistance through our Legal Help telephone service, Duty Lawyer Service and free clinics on specific legal issues support to people in the mental health system through non-legal advocates in the Independent Mental Health Advocacy service family dispute resolution services to help families make decisions about family law disputes away from court grants of legal aid to pay for legal representation by a lawyer in private practice or a VLA staff lawyer. In addition to helping individuals resolve their legal problems, we work to address the barriers that prevent people from accessing the justice system. By participating in law reform, we influence the efficient running of the justice system and ensure the actions of government agencies are held to account. We take on important cases and campaigns that aim to improve the law and make it fairer for all Victorians. About this consultation We are committed to delivering high-quality legal services that make the most economical use of our limited legal aid fund. In order to achieve this, we are reviewing the efficiency and effectiveness of our service delivery models to make sure we have an appropriate service mix and that those services target the right people, at the right intensity and at the right time. We've seen an increase in demand for child protection services. The importance of child protection proceedings for families and the community highlight the need for us to get it right. We to don’t want
About Victoria Legal Aid Victoria Legal Aid (VLA) is an independent statutory authority set up to provide legal aid in the most effective, economic and efficient manner. We're one of the biggest legal services in Victoria, providing legal information, education and advice for all Victorians. We fund legal representation for people who meet eligibility criteria based on their financial situation, the nature and seriousness of their problem and their individual circumstances. We provide lawyers on duty in most courts and tribunals in Victoria. Our clients are often people who are socially and economically isolated from society; people living with a disability or mental illness, children, the elderly, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and those who live in remote areas. We assist people with legal problems about criminal matters, family breakdown, child protection and family violence, immigration, social security, mental health, discrimination, guardianship and administration, tenancy and debt. We provide: free legal information through our website, our Legal Help telephone service, community legal education, publications and other resources legal advice and minor assistance through our Legal Help telephone service, Duty Lawyer Service and free clinics on specific legal issues support to people in the mental health system through non-legal advocates in the Independent Mental Health Advocacy service family dispute resolution services to help families make decisions about family law disputes away from court grants of legal aid to pay for legal representation by a lawyer in private practice or a VLA staff lawyer. In addition to helping individuals resolve their legal problems, we work to address the barriers that prevent people from accessing the justice system. By participating in law reform, we influence the efficient running of the justice system and ensure the actions of government agencies are held to account. We take on important cases and campaigns that aim to improve the law and make it fairer for all Victorians. About this consultation We are committed to delivering high-quality legal services that make the most economical use of our limited legal aid fund. In order to achieve this, we are reviewing the efficiency and effectiveness of our service delivery models to make sure we have an appropriate service mix and that those services target the right people, at the right intensity and at the right time. We've seen an increase in demand for child protection services. The importance of child protection proceedings for families and the community highlight the need for us to get it right. We don’t want to
vla-child-protection-legal-aid-services-review-consultation-and-options-paper.docx