In March 1999, Women’s Legal Aid proposed that Legal Aid Queensland endorse and implement an integrated, collaborative and consistent response to clients who have been affected by domestic and family violence. This followed concerns of community organisations about the way the legal system treats people who have been affected by violence.
As a result, the Violence Against Women Strategy was developed and coordinated by a group of in-house lawyers and Women’s Legal Aid staff. The strategy was endorsed by Legal Aid Queensland and included in the Strategic Plan 1999–2000.
At a conference held in October 1999, legal practitioners and community organisations recommended best practice standards be developed to guide the way services are provided to clients affected by domestic and family violence. Draft practice standards were subsequently developed by Legal Aid Queensland and circulated for feedback and consultation. Further feedback was provided at a Violence Against Women forum in November 2000.
This feedback was collated and included in the practice standards. The standards are being referred to as Best Practice Guidelines, because Legal Aid Queensland does not intend to enforce the standards, but rather, endorses them as guidelines for practitioners to use to ensure the highest quality service to clients. In addition, the guidelines ensure if the highest standard of service is not achieved, clients are aware of the steps they can take to register their dissatisfaction.
The guidelines were updated in 2008 to refl ect the changes made to the Family Law Amendment
(Shared Parental Responsibility) Act 2006.