WEDNESDAY, MAY 26, 1993
LEGALLY AIDED CLIENTS GET BEST REPRESENTATION
THE LEGAL AID DEPARTMENT. IN ASSIGNING CASES ΤΟ OUTSIDE COUNSEL, ADHERES TO THE OVERRIDING PRINCIPLE THAT THE INTERESTS OF THE LEGALLY AIDED CLIENT MUST COME FIRST AND THAT THE CLIENT IS BEST REPRESENTED LEGALLY.
THIS WAS STATED BY THE CHIEF SECRETARY, THE HON SIR DAVID FORD, IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON MRS ELSIE TU IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
"THAT SAID, THE DIRECTOR OF LEGAL AID ASSIGNS CASES AS WIDELY AS POSSIBLE AMONG COUNSEL OF SUITABLE EXPERTISE, HAVING REGARD TO THE NATURE AND COMPLEXITY OF THE CASES AND THE AVAILABILITY OF THE COUNSEL, SIR DAVID EXPLAINED.
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ΤΟ ENSURE AN EQUITABLE SYSTEM, THE DEPARTMENT HAS COMMITTEE, CO-OPTING A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE INDEPENDENT AGAINST CORRUPTION, TO MONITOR THE ASSIGNMENT OF CASES.
SET UP A COMMISSION
IN THE ASSIGNMENT OF CASES TO OUTSIDE COUNSEL, SIR DAVID SAID THE DEPARTMENT DID NOT MAKE A DISTINCTION BETWEEN "EXPATRIATE COUNSEL" AND "LOCAL COUNSEL", WHATEVER THE DEFINITION.
THUS THERE IS NO DISTINCTION BETWEEN EXPATRIATE AND LOCAL BARRISTERS FOR THE ASSIGNMENT OF CASES.
THE DIRECTOR OF LEGAL AID IS REQUIRED BY LAW TO MAINTAIN A PANEL OF COUNSEL ENROLLED ON THE ROLL OF BARRISTERS WHO ARE WILLING TO INVESTIGATE, REPORT AND GIVE AN OPINION UPON APPLICATIONS FOR THE GRANT OF LEGAL AID AND TO ACT FOR AIDED PERSONS.
AT PRESENT THERE ARE 471 BARRISTERS ON THE DIRECTOR'S PANEL WHICH INCLUDES THREE FORMER COUNSEL OF THE LEGAL AID DEPARTMENT, 75 FORMER COUNSEL OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S CHAMBERS AND 16 FORMER MAGISTRATES.
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