Table 6.5: Statistics from Victoria Legal Aid compliance assessments Note: Data are not directly comparable July to January to July July to across these different periods December 2014 2015 December 2015 Criminal Law (summary and indictable crime) Total files checked 473 454 129 Staff lawyer files 119 64 79 Number checked 32 16 50 Non-compliance notices issued Private practitioner files 354 390 50 Number checked 213 308 5 Non-compliance notices issued Value of restitution notices after $346,542 $115,916 $15,194 reconsideration and independent review (note this is $190,896 (waived due to after a single firm is restitution excluded) relaxation) Family Law Total files checked 170 268 342 Staff lawyer files 132 146 80 Number checked 93 42 31 Non-compliance notices issued Private practitioner files 38 122 262 Number checked 39 76 99 Non-compliance notices issued Value of restitution notices after $244,914 $173,668 $125,471 reconsideration and independent review Civil law (note this work is only done by staff lawyers) Total files checked 64 No checks 84 conducted Non-compliance notices issued 8 No checks 22 conducted The policy change to a more educative approach with private practitioners was also implemented during the time period covered in Table 6.5, which directly influenced the results. Private practitioners in the second compliance check were given the opportunity to resolve issues with the guidance of compliance staff, whereas staff lawyers from the first check were not. The Review also notes that Victoria Legal Aid can issue more than one non-compliance notice per file checked.
Table 6.5: Statistics from Victoria Legal Aid compliance assessments Note: Data are not directly comparable across these different periods July to December 2014 January to July 2015 July to December 2015 Criminal Law (summary and indictable crime) Total files checked 473 454 129 Staff lawyer files Number checked 119 64 79 Non-compliance notices issued 32 16 50 Private practitioner files Number checked 354 390 50 Non-compliance notices issued 213 308 5 Value of restitution notices after reconsideration and independent review $346,542 (note this is $190,896 after a single firm is excluded) $115,916 $15,194 (waived due to restitution relaxation) Family Law Total files checked 170 268 342 Staff lawyer files Number checked 132 146 80 Non-compliance notices issued 93 42 31 Private practitioner files Number checked 38 122 262 Non-compliance notices issued 39 76 99 Value of restitution notices after reconsideration and independent review $244,914 $173,668 $125,471 Civil law (note this work is only done by staff lawyers) Total files checked 64 No checks conducted 84 Non-compliance notices issued 8 No checks conducted 22 The policy change to a more educative approach with private practitioners was also implemented during the time period covered in Table 6.5, which directly influenced the results. Private practitioners in the second compliance check were given the opportunity to resolve issues with the guidance of compliance staff, whereas staff lawyers from the first check were not. The Review also notes that Victoria Legal Aid can issue more than one non-compliance notice per file checked.
7092_DJR_Access_to_Justice_Review_Volume_2_-_Report_and_recommendations_final.docx