Preferred supplier newsletter—November 2021
This month:
- Coronavirus (COVID-19) updates
- Separating with debt: a guide to your legal options
- Child protection — New and updated factsheets
- Conflict of Interest Policy — Grants of aid for criminal law co-defendants
- DJAG recording and transcription project
- Update from the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (FCFCOA)
- Independent children’s lawyers and separate representatives
- Training day — family dispute resolution practitioners and arbitrators
- Continuing professional development
- Feedback
Coronavirus (COVID-19) updates
The latest information about Coronavirus (COVID-19) for preferred suppliers can be viewed here.
Separating with debt: a guide to your legal options
The Attorney-General’s Department has developed this guide in partnership with Care Consumer Law and family law expert, Ms Emma Smallwood. The guide provides family law and consumer credit law information, options and referral points to assist separating couples to proactively manage their debt in the context of a relationship breakdown, and as part of a family law property settlement dispute. It is intended to help separating couples understand their financial and legal responsibilities and where to get help.
Child protection — New and updated factsheets
Preferred suppliers are advised that Legal Aid Queensland has updated the following child protection factsheets on the LAQ website:
We also have published one new factsheet:
Conflict of Interest Policy — Grants of aid for criminal law co-defendants
The Conflict of Interest Policy — Grants of aid for criminal law co-defendants was recently amended to remove the words “legally aided co-defendants”. The updated version can be viewed here.
DJAG recording and transcription project
The latest Recording and Transcription Newsletter contains information on the progress of the transition of Queensland Courts and Tribunals to the new recording and transcription service. The newsletter can be viewed here.
Update from the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (FCFCOA)
The three-month grace period provided for filing old Family Court of Australia and Federal Circuit Court of Australia forms, after the commencement of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (FCFCOA) on 1 September 2021, has ended.
From Monday 29 November 2021 only the new, approved FCFCOA versions of court forms can be filed. All forms are available in the resources section of the FCFCOA website.
More information is also available on the FCFCOA website.
Independent children’s lawyers and separate representatives
Legal Aid Queensland maintains the panels for independent children’s lawyers and separate representatives. If you wish to make an application to be placed on the panel please complete an application and forward to psupp.coordinator@legalaid.qld.gov.au.
Training day — family dispute resolution practitioners and arbitrators
A training day for family dispute resolution practitioners and arbitrators in relation to property matters is scheduled for 18 March 2022. If you would like to arrange attendance at this training please contact lauren.mcnamara@legalaid.qld.gov.au. A reminder that the dispute resolution property pilot will continue through 2022.
Continuing professional development
Recorded CPD seminars are available on Grants Online under the Information Resources tab.
Feedback
We welcome feedback and comments from clients, the community and our suppliers. As preferred suppliers you play an important role in helping us to provide quality legal services to disadvantaged Queenslanders. If you would like to provide comments or suggestions to us about our services, policies, processes or staff members, you can complete a contact form or email us at complaints@legalaid.qld.gov.au at any time.
Your feedback is important to us. We ensure a senior staff member investigates all issues raised thoroughly and we analyse all feedback every quarter to see what processes and services can be improved.