Extraordinary case for Community Safety Order matters

Legal Aid Queensland may deem a Community Safety Order matter as an extraordinary case if:

  • the case involves voluminous material to be considered (>1,000 pages), and
  • circumstances exist that will impact on the conduct of the case by lengthening the preparation time required, and 
  • the applicant has been provided aid for the substantive matter. 

Documentary requirements

Extension of aid requests received from preferred supplier or in-house practitioner

Practitioners seeking additional preparation for Community Safety Order matters must lodge an extension of aid request through the Grants Online system using the appropriate information request. 

Requests must be made within sufficient time to be considered by Legal Aid Queensland. Retrospective requests will be considered in accordance with Legal Aid Queensland's policy in relation to retrospective grants of legal assistance

Interpretation

Circumstances exist that will impact on the conduct of the case by lengthening the preparation time required

Legal Aid Queensland may consider that additional preparation is warranted if:

  • there are complex legal issues, such as:
    • untested law
    • contested expert evidence
  • client characteristics significantly increase the time required to obtain instructions due to:
    • an intellectual disability
    • a mental illness or mental impairment
    • a sensory disability
    • the applicant is not proficient in English and requires an interpreter
    • cultural issues. 

Grant(s) of aid

The grant of aid for additional preparation for an extraordinary Community Safety Order matter is EC5.

Review of decisions

Decisions not to deem Community Safety Order matters extraordinary are not appealable to the external review officer (see review of decisions). 

A decision to refuse to deem a Community Safety Order matter as extraordinary may be appealed to a Senior Grants Officer. 

Last updated 19 February 2025