If you have not already applied for legal aid for your appeal, you should do so as soon as possible. Even if you did have legal aid for your sentence or trial, you must apply again for the appeal.

As well as a financial means test, Legal Aid Queensland also applies a merit test before aid is granted. In other words, a senior appeals barrister will assess whether you have reasonable prospects of winning your appeal. In order to satisfy the merit test, you should try to demonstrate in your application that you have reasonable prospects of success on appeal. You will be advised of the result of your application by letter. If Legal Aid Queensland considers that you do not have reasonable prospects of success, aid will be refused.

If you are refused a grant of legal aid for your appeal, you can appeal the refusal. You must write to the External Review Officer within 28 days of the refusal. Write to: The External Review Officer, GPO Box 2449, Brisbane, QLD, 4001.

If you are refused legal aid for your appeal, or you do not wish to be represented by Legal Aid Queensland, you can pay a private solicitor and barrister to represent you on appeal.

If you decide to pay a private solicitor and a barrister and you do not know anybody to contact, you can ring the Queensland Law Society to be advised of a solicitor who specialises in Appeals. The telephone number is (07) 3842 5842.

You can also prepare your own appeal and appear in court yourself.