The Regional Solicitor Program is run by Legal Aid Queensland in partnership with participating preferred supplier law firms throughout regional Queensland.
The program offers recently admitted solicitors the opportunity to work in a regional law firm. The graduate, the placement firm and Legal Aid Queensland will enter into a two-year tripartite employment contract. After the two years it is up to the placement and the firm to decide if the firm will continue to employ the placement.
The program is open to law graduates who are about to start, have started or have already completed a Practical Legal Training course that satisfies the requirements for admission as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of Queensland. Placements can only start the contract once they have been admitted.
Legal Aid Queensland will reimburse the graduate’s Practical Legal Training course fees and pay 75 percent of their salary. The remaining 25 percent will be met by the regional law firm.
Legal Aid Queensland contributes 75 percent of the placement’s salary with the expectation that the placement will spend 75 percent of their time performing legal aid work.
Private law firms applying for preferred supplier status with Legal Aid Queensland need to meet criteria, including:
- an adequate supervisory program for employed solicitors
- compliance with practice and case management standards
- demonstrated expertise in particular areas of law.
Legal Aid Queensland regularly audits preferred supplier firms for compliance with standards.
We recognise the need to work with preferred supplier firms to service legally aided clients’ legal needs throughout Queensland. We provide electronic information resources to firms doing legal aid work, including electronic lodgement and processing systems for grants of aid and paying accounts. As part of our commitment, preferred suppliers have access to Legal Aid Queensland’s information databases, internet resources and cutting edge library resources.