Legal Aid Queensland is responsible for updating and distributing the Criminal Law Duty Lawyer Handbook, and for duty lawyer accreditation throughout Queensland.
This is the fifth edition of the handbook. As such, I acknowledge the Legal Aid Queensland officers who researched and revised the text to provide an up-to-date and concise publication.
We have produced the handbook in ebook and online formats to improve access and updates to content.
I also acknowledge the Communication and Community Legal Education team, who project managed, designed and formatted the handbook and Kylee Bristow of Lexi Corporate Publishing, who edited it.
Since the Criminal Law Duty Lawyer Program was introduced in Queensland in 1974, practitioners appearing in the magistrates or childrens court have seen the various complex and difficult issues that confront the duty lawyer.
The Criminal Law Duty Lawyer Handbook is a succinct theoretical and practical guide for these practitioners, particularly those less experienced in this jurisdiction. It highlights most of the issues they are likely to encounter. However, it does not attempt to resolve all these issues or solve all the problems that a duty lawyer will encounter.
Legal Aid Queensland believes that the handbook helps ensure the Criminal Law Duty Lawyer Program’s successful operation. All duty lawyers should thoroughly familiarise themselves with the topics and procedures outlined in the handbook. This will not only assist duty lawyers, but maintain the high standard that the Criminal Law Duty Lawyer Program has achieved throughout Queensland.
Anthony Reilly
Chief executive officer
Legal Aid Queensland