Preferred supplier newsletter — May 2022
This month:
2022-2025 Independent Children’s Lawyer and Separate Representative Agreement
The current Independent Children’s Lawyer and Separate Representative Agreement is due to expire on 31 July 2022 and the new agreement will start 1 August 2022 and expire 31 July 2025.
Application packages for the 2022-2025 agreement are now available.
For existing independent children’s lawyer and separate representatives that wish to renew their inclusion on the panel, please find the relevant information and documents here.
For new applicants seeking inclusion on the independent children’s lawyer and separate representatives panel, please find the relevant information and documents here.
Please ensure that all completed applications are sent to psupp.coordinator@legalaid.qld.gov.au
Further information can be viewed here.
Principal Registrar (Magistrates Court) Approval – electronic filing of documents in domestic and family violence matters
On 30 April 2022, new domestic and family violence reforms commenced in Queensland, replacing temporary measures put in place to respond to the COVID-19 emergency.
Pursuant to the new rules 9A and 9B of the Domestic and Family Violence Protection Rules 2014, a Principal Registrar (Magistrates Courts) approval has been released approving domestic and family violence documents that may be electronically filed in Magistrates Courts. The Principal Registrar (Magistrates Courts) – Approval 1 of 2022 and further information on the Queensland Courts website can be viewed here.
Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia – updated COVID-19 Hearing Protocol
The Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia have issued new listing/hearing arrangements. A protocol will apply to all hearings and other court events in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 1) and (Division 2) (the Courts) from 9 May 2022 in the ACT, NSW, NT, QLD, SA, TAS, VIC and WA until further notice.
The information has been published on the Court’s website and is available here.
Practising certificate renewal and notifications to LAQ
Applications for renewal of practising certificates have commenced via the new myQLS portal and any enquiries should be directed to Queensland Law Society, Record and Member Services Team on 1300 367 757 or email at records@qls.com.au. Due to some issues with the new system, the due date for submission of renewals has been extended to 17 June 2022. See Proctor for further information.
A reminder that any change in the Preferred Supplier’s business operations or any change in the Preferred Supplier’s partners or directors are notification matters under the Preferred Supplier Agreement. Please advise LAQ within ten (10) business days of any changes to the holder of the principal practising certificate.
Case Management Standards – Criminal Law Updated to Include Sample Documents
As a result of queries made by solicitors who attend the LAQ Stakeholder Meeting, LAQ’s Criminal Law Services Division has updated the Case Management Standards for Criminal Law to include 14 examples of basic sample documents for practitioners to use. These documents are located in Annexures B-E, and L-U.
Please be aware to use these sample documents as a guide only. You may need to adapt them for your clients' individual circumstances and applicable laws or processes as appropriate. Legal Aid Queensland does not guarantee, and accepts no legal liability, for the accuracy, reliability, currency or completeness of any material contained in these sample documents.
The Case Management Standards for Criminal Law can be viewed here.
Mental Health Review Tribunal Service Orders (MHRT) Panel
A reminder to those firms and community legal centres, who are on the MHRT Panel, to respond to capacity requests received from LAQ’s Dispute Resolution Services within two hours of receiving them. The Dispute Resolution Services are required to allocate MHRT files within 24 hours and allow firms and community legal centres a response timeframe of two hours so a prompt response to capacity requests would be greatly appreciated.
Latest news regarding QTranscripts portal
As advised in the Preferred Supplier Newsletters in February 2022 and March 2022, the Department of Justice and Attorney-General is moving to a new way of delivering recording and transcription services across Queensland Courts and Tribunals.
The new recording and transcription service model is expected to commence a staged rollout from 27 June 2022.
Further information in relation to this can be viewed here.
Continuing professional development
Recorded CPD seminars are available on Grants Online under the Information Resources tab.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) updates
The latest information about COVID-19 for preferred suppliers can be viewed here.
Preferred suppliers are reminded to ensure they are confident in their ability to respond to COVID-19 by understanding the risk, minimising it where possible and complying with government and court directions.
Feedback
We welcome feedback and comments from clients, the community and our suppliers. As preferred suppliers you play an important role in helping us to provide quality legal services to disadvantaged Queenslanders. If you would like to provide comments or suggestions to us about our services, policies, processes or staff members, you can complete a contact form or email us at complaints@legalaid.qld.gov.au at any time.
Your feedback is important to us. We ensure a senior staff member investigates all issues raised thoroughly and we analyse all feedback every quarter to see what processes and services can be improved.