A legal practitioner willing to undertake legal aid assignments (whether criminal, family or civil) must be a member of the Legal Services’ General Panel of practitioners.
In cases involving complex or specialised matters, practitioners may be required to be members of the relevant Specialist Panel. Although applications to the General Panel and Specialist Panels can be submitted at the same time, practitioners must first be accepted onto the General Panel before joining a specialist panel.
To be considered for inclusion on the General Panel a practitioner must:
a) hold a current practising certificate;
b) have at least two years’ experience in family law if wishing to receive assignments in family law matters;
c) provide a copy of a current DCSI screening clearance if wishing to receive assignments in which the client is a child.
Become a Legal Aid Panellist – apply now
To apply for inclusion on the General Panel a practitioner must complete an online application form and sign a General Panel Agreement (which includes Practice Standards). By signing the Agreement, the practitioner agrees to be bound by the Agreement and the Practice Standards.
The General Panel Agreement will be returned to the practitioner to confirm the practitioner’s inclusion on the Panel. The date entered by the Commission is the date from which the Panel membership commences.
General Panel Agreement – Practice Standards
By completing the online application, the practitioner is acknowledging that the information provided is true and correct and will be relied on by Legal Services in deciding on the practitioner’s admission to the panel for which they are applying.
Practitioners accepted to the General Panel must also be part of a Specialist Panel to
become eligible for grants of legal aid assignments in matters regarding:
For further details regarding requirements and application forms for each panel, review our Specialist Panels information page.
A practitioner who receives written notice from the Director refusing the practitioner inclusion on the General Panel may, within one month of receiving the notice, appeal in writing to the Commission against the refusal. A practitioner refused inclusion on the General Panel may, six months from the date of the notice of refusal, reapply for inclusion on the General Panel.
A practitioner with a question in relation to panels should contact the Panels Officer on (08) 8111 5531 or panels@lsc.sa.gov.au. |
General Panel Agreement and Practice Standards
Please note that each EFT application must be accompanied by a copy of the firm's stationery that shows the firm's street address and ABN.
Restricted practicing certificates
Payment for Legal Aid work
Working for a Legal Aid Client
Practitioner Panels Page – Resources and information for Legal Aid Panels Members
We embrace diversity and welcome all people, irrespective of culture, faith, sexual orientation and gender identity.
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Legal Services acknowledges Aboriginal people as the Traditional Owners and ongoing occupants of the lands and waters in South Australia and we respect their spiritual, cultural and heritage beliefs. We recognise their continuing connection to land, water and community and pay our deep respect to Elders past and present.
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