Preferred supplier newsletter — February 2024
This month:
New Supreme Court Practice Directions
The Supreme Court has issued two new Practice Directions:
Practice Direction 4 of 2024 is an amalgamation of processes relating to interpreters, affected child witnesses, and s.651/652 applications to the Supreme Court. It is important that all practitioners familiarise themselves with the relevant procedures.
Practice Direction 5 of 2024 applies to the criminal list in the Brisbane Supreme Court and introduces the role of Criminal Resolution Registrar which prescribes how cases will be managed through the court. The Criminal Resolution Registrar will require parties to attend a trial case conference prior to trial listing or at other times as a case management tool. It is understood this conference will operate in a similar way to a judge-managed mention. We expect these will be short events — they will be claimable in standard grants and expensive cases as mentions without the need for additional grants.
To assist with introducing this practice direction, there is an information session scheduled for Wednesday, 6 March 2024 in the Banco Court to be presented by Justice Peter Callaghan and Ms Bronwyn Currie, Criminal Resolution Registrar. All criminal practitioners are encouraged to attend. The court will provide a link to register closer to the date.
Legal Aid Queensland logo
Legal Aid Queensland (LAQ) will permit preferred suppliers to promote themselves as a LAQ preferred supplier, including use of LAQ’s Authorised Provider logo for both printed material and electronic or screen viewed material, provided the nature and extent of such promotional material and the intended use of the logo have the prior approval of LAQ.
For more information on the guidelines for use of the LAQ logo, please email psupp.coordinator@legalaid.qld.gov.au
Publications and resources
LAQ produces more than 100 publications and resources from factsheets to posters, brochures, wallet cards and comprehensive legal information guides on a range of topics. You can check out the publications on the LAQ website and they can be ordered online at no cost.
For more information about our publications or to order copies of the duty lawyer session report form, email publications@legalaid.qld.gov.au
Continuing professional development (CPD)
Looking for professional development opportunities to boost your CPD points? Many of LAQ’s CPD seminars are recorded and available on Grants Online under the Information Resources tab.
Feedback
LAQ welcomes feedback and comments from clients, the community, and its suppliers. As preferred suppliers you play an important role in helping LAQ provide quality legal services to disadvantaged Queenslanders. If you would like to provide comments or suggestions about LAQ services, policies, processes or staff members, you can complete a contact form or email LAQ at complaints@legalaid.qld.gov.au at any time. LAQ ensures a senior staff member investigates all issues thoroughly and LAQ also analyses all feedback regularly to improve its policies, processes, and services. View LAQ’s Feedback and Complaints Policy.