Preferred supplier newsletter — March 2024
This month:
Seminar - Working with interpreters in courts
Queensland Courts is holding a seminar about working with interpreters in courts on Thursday, 11 April from 5pm–6.15pm in the Banco Court, QEII Courts of Law, Brisbane. The seminar is in-person only.
The practical session will assist lawyers, judicial officers and interpreters cover:
Presenters include:
- Chief Justice Bowskill
- Judge Horneman-Wren SC
- Deputy Chief Magistrate Gett
- Magistrate Balic
- Mohamed Bensghir (senior registrar)
- Sumeet Kaur and Lynn Geng (interpreters).
Changes to Family Law Funding Model – Lighthouse Project
Additional recurrent funding was received by Legal Aid Queensland (LAQ) from the Commonwealth Government to respond to changes to court processes for family law matters under the Lighthouse Project expansion. LAQ has reviewed the Grants funding model in response to the case management changes in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (FCFCOA).
LAQ received feedback that the changes of court processes in the FCFCOA have had an impact on practitioners which include:
- Increased time spent in the initiating and responding to proceedings stage.
- Increased appearances generally.
- Court-based family dispute resolution conference (FDRC) convened for more than 5 hours.
- Policy limitations restricting the attendance at more than one FDRC during litigation.
As a result, LAQ has made amendments to the Family Law funding model to provide additional hours to support practitioners to comply with court requirements. The changes include:
- An increase in funding to the initial grant of aid to initiate or respond to proceedings for parties to recognise initial interim hearing requirements.
- An increase in funding to the grants of aid available to Independent Children’s Lawyers (ICLs) in stage 2 to represent the interests of the child/ren up until trial directions noting initial interim hearing requirements and the earlier appointment of ICLs.
- Where a further interim hearing (not an application in a proceeding) is listed, an additional grant of aid may be available for parties and ICLs to prepare for and attend at this further listed hearing.
- Expanding the Court-based dispute resolution grant to provide for preparation, full day attendance where required, consent order fees and mention fee.
- Removing the limitation of only one in-litigation FDRC per matter.
New checklists and invoices outcomes will support these amendments.
These changes will apply to grants of aid issued on or after 18 March 2024. The Grants Handbook pages have been updated to reflect these changes.
2024–27 Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner and Arbitrator Panels
Legal Aid Queensland’s Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner and Arbitrator Panels are open for renewal from 1 July 2024.
To apply for either panel:
submit your application by 12 April 2024 (applications submitted after the panel period has commenced will also be considered
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 the organisation 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 us at complaints@legalaid.qld.gov.au at any time. A senior staff member investigates all issues thoroughly and we also analyse all feedback regularly to improve our policies, processes, and services. View our Feedback and Complaints Policy.