We introduced quality tools around brief analysis, case strategy and handover to counsel.
Why we introduced these tools
We want to ensure a consistently high quality approach to documented legal analysis, communications between lawyers, trial planning, client care and file management for all legally aided cases.
Quality tools to assist with evidentiary analysis and case strategy development can assist practitioners to make sound forensic judgements at an early stage that form the foundation for the progress of a matter.
Good communications between solicitors and barristers will ensure that lawyers work together efficiently and trial preparation tasks are completed in accordance with a written trial preparation plan, reducing duplication and delay.
Checklists ensure that practitioners will consider all relevant matters at the various stages of a case.
The tools are consistent with our focus on ensuring the quality of legal aid work through practice standards, compliance systems and a pending program of quality auditing to provide better outcomes for clients, the courts and the community.
What happens next
A working group, including lawyers from private practice and community legal centres, collaborated to develop tools to:
- guide the analysis of a case at an early stage
- develop an articulated case strategy
- standardise handovers between solicitors and barristers
- provide procedural checklists to guide the conduct of each stage of a case.
The new quality tools are compulsory for our in-house practice immediately and highly recommended for private practitioners.
Download the tools
Brief analysis and case strategy (doc, 116 KB)(opens in a new window)
Handover to counsel (doc, 44 KB)(opens in a new window)
Allocation checklist (doc, 225 KB)(opens in a new window)
Indictable checklists for non-sexual offences
After brief served checklist (doc, 263 KB)(opens in a new window)
Before committal checklist (doc, 255 KB)(opens in a new window)
After committal to trial checklist (doc, 289 KB)(opens in a new window)
Plea checklist (doc, 248 KB)(opens in a new window)
Pre-trial checklist (doc, 275 KB)(opens in a new window)
Post-plea checklist (doc, 227 KB)(opens in a new window)
Indictable checklists for sexual offences
Allocation checklist (sexual offences) (doc, 228 KB)(opens in a new window)
After brief served checklist (sexual offences) (doc, 281 KB)(opens in a new window)
Before committal checklist (sexual offences) (doc, 274 KB)(opens in a new window)
After committal to trial checklist (sexual offences) (doc, 303 KB)(opens in a new window)
Plea checklist (sexual offences) (doc, 252 KB)(opens in a new window)
Pre-trial checklist (sexual offences) (doc, 291 KB)(opens in a new window)
Post-plea checklist (sexual offences) (doc, 236 KB)(opens in a new window)
Updated