Legal System Publications

If you disagree with a decision (or part of a decision) we made about your application for legal financial assistance, you can ask for a review. You can also seek a review of a decision we made on the assessment of an invoice for payment under an existing legal financial assistance agreement.

On , 9 February 2017, Senator the Hon George Brandis QC, Attorney-General of Australia, referred to the Australian Law Reform Commission an inquiry into the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in our prisons as outlined in these terms of reference.

On 29 April 2016, the release of the Australian Government's response to the Productivity Commission's Report into Access to Justice Arrangements was announced. The report considers a number of significant areas in the civil justice system at both the Commonwealth, and the state and territory level.

On 5 March 2016, substantial amendments to the Legislative Instruments Act 2003 commenced to provide a single framework covering registration, publishing and management of all Commonwealth Acts and instruments. The Legislative Instruments Act was renamed the Legislation Act 2003.

The tables note where provisions are substantially equivalent, substantially different, or where there are no equivalent sections in comparison of each State Evidence Acts.

These are the historical versions of the National Legal Assistance Data Standards Manual and are not currently in force.

This form is to be completed by applicants seeking assistance for legal and related expenses from the Commonwealth under section 34ZX of Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Act 1979.

In 2015, these submissions were published. They were received as part of the Statutory review of the Personal Property Securities Act 2009, in response to Consultation Paper 4 - The Register.

These submissions were received as part of the Statutory review of the Personal Property Securities Act 2009, in response to Consultation Paper 1 - Reach of the Act.

In December 2014, submissions were received as part of the Statutory review of the Personal Property Securities Act 2009, in response to Consultation Paper 2 - Considering the creation and perfection of security interests, the taking free rules, priority rules and other dealings in collateral.

The Attorney-General’s Department administers the Administrative Appeals Tribunal scheme to provide funding to people who could not otherwise afford to pay for legal costs incurred in appearing before the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.

This document explains how the Attorney-General’s Department will collect, store, use and disclose your personal information when you apply for and/or accept a grantan offer of legal financial assistance. This information applies to all schemes of legal financial assistance administered by the department.

Complex legislation makes it difficult, expensive and time-consuming for people to understand their legal rights and obligations. This creates burdens for business and restricts access to justice. The following general principles should be applied to improve the clarity and accessibility of laws.

The Federal Court of Australia (FCA), the Family Court of Australia (FCoA) and the Federal Circuit Court of Australia (FCC) (collectively, ‘the Courts’) play a critical role in the national administration of justice for Australia’s states and territories.

The Guide contains basic information about common Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) processes, as well as some tips for using ADR and resolving disputes generally.

If you are applying for a costs certificate under section 6, 7 or 9 of the Costs Act, you should also complete a template statement to confirm that there has been no appeal from the court order that granted the costs certificate.

The Department provides assistance with the cost of legal disbursements in certain Commonwealth cases. Disbursements are costs associated with legal action, other than the fees paid to be represented by a solicitor or a barrister.

The department’s Dispute Management Plan describes ways of doing our work that can help us to prevent and manage disputes and avoid some matters escalating unnecessarily into formal legal disputes.

This case study may be of interest to practitioners considering international pro bono legal work, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region.