Additional preparation is available for Dangerous Prisoners matters where:
- 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 Dangerous Prisoner 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 aid
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.
Allocation of a solicitor
Representation for dangerous prisoner matters will be provided on an in-house basis unless there is a conflict of interest.
Grant(s) of aid
The grant of aid for additional standard preparation for a Dangerous Prisoner matter is EC4.
Review of decisions
A decision to refuse legal aid for this type of matter may be appealed to the external review officer (refer to review of decisions).