Disclaimer: The material in this print-out relates to the law as it applies in the state of Victoria. It is intended as a general guide only. Readers should not act on the basis of any material in this print-out without getting legal advice about their own particular situations. Victoria Legal Aid disclaims any liability howsoever caused to any person in respect of any action taken in reliance on the contents of the publication.

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Benefits of funding legal assistance

In 2022, National Legal Aid commissioned a report to examine the economic benefit delivered by legal aid services funded by the Australian Government and related to Commonwealth law. The final report demonstrated that the provision of legal aid delivers significant benefit to the community, government, and the justice system every year.

In Australia, legal assistance is jointly funded by federal, state and territory governments. The legal assistance sector is comprised of legal aid commissions, community legal centres, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander legal services, and private practitioners and barristers undertaking legal aid work.

In 2022, National Legal Aid (NLA) commissioned a report to examine the economic benefit delivered by legal aid services funded by the Australian Government and related to Commonwealth law. The final report demonstrated that the provision of legal aid delivers significant benefit to the community, government, and the justice system every year.

Read the full report

In June 2023, Victoria Legal Aid CEO and Chair of National Legal Aid Louise Glanville presented a paper to the international legal aid group conference. Based on the report commissioned by NLA, the paper discusses the Australian experience of avoided costs to the justice and other systems, to individuals, and to wider government and societal outcomes that come from funding legal assistance.

It clearly sets the need to allocate appropriate resources to level assistance services, invest in support and services focused on early intervention and prevention, and consider a holistic approach to the justice and related systems to help people deal with their legal and non-legal problems.

Read the paper:

What is the cost of not funding legal assistance?
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