What is legal aid?
As aforesaid, legal aid is a scheme administered by the Victorian state government with the aim to offer expert legal representation to people in need. Legal aid covers a wide range of legal matters and offers professional and unbiased guidance to people in distress.
Who is eligible for legal aid?
Legal Aid is designed for those who would not otherwise be able to pay for a lawyer to assist or represent them with their legal matter.
The means test assesses your income, assets, and expenses to determine your eligibility. In addition to this, Legal Aid Victoria considers:
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What your case is about
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The likely benefit to you
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Any possible benefits to the public in helping you
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Whether those benefits justify the cost of legal assistance
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Whether a court proceeding is likely to end well for you
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In the case that your legal problem is a criminal appeal, whether there are reasonable grounds for the appeal
The Legal Aid application process
By answering just a few questions, we can help you to determine your eligibility for Legal Aid anywhere across Melbourne, Victoria.
However, it’s important to remember that as a Government-run initiative, criteria and acceptance are not up to us. We simply provide quality legal services to those in need.
The following is a brief overview of the Legal Aid application process:
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You will need to fill out a Grants of Legal Assistance application form on the Legal Aid Victoria website. A qualified lawyer may be able to provide you with free assistance in completing the form
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As part of your application you will need to provide supporting documents such as proof of income, bank statements or Centrelink benefit statements
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You must post your completed application and supporting documentation to the listed address
If you are successful, a letter will be sent to you and the lawyer helping you.
This letter will outline what assistance will be paid for, any conditions imposed by Legal Aid, your lawyer’s name and contact details, and the date your assistance begins.
The grant may pay for legal advice, preparation of documents, and representation in court.