XN000022-1984-03-15 — Page 11

THURSDAY, MARCH 15, 1984

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LEGAL AID SCHEME EXPANDS RAPIDLY

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MORE PEOPLE ARE BENEFITING FROM THE INCREASINGLY EFFECTIVE SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE LEGAL AID DEPARTMENT.

LAST YEAR THE DEPARTMENT GRANTED LEGAL AID TO OVER 6 800 CIVIL AND CRIMINAL LITIGATION APPLICANTS, A TENFOLD INCREASE SINCE THE LEGAL AID SCHEME WAS INTRODUCED IN 1967.

THE ACTING DIRECTOR OF LEGAL AID, MR PATRICK MOSS, ATTRIBUTED THIS RAPID INCREASE TO THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE SCHEME AND THE PUBLIC'S GROWING AWARENESS OF THE SERVICES AVAILABLE.

IN THE SAME YEAR, THE DEPARTMENT RECOVERED A RECORD AMOUNT OF OVER $45 MILLION IN DAMAGES FOR LEGALLY AIDED PERSONS,

+WITHOUT LEGAL AID, MANY OF THESE PEOPLE MIGHT NOT HAVE RECEIVED ANY COMPENSATION FOR THE WRONGS THEY SUFFERED,

HE SAID.

IN THE 1983-84 FINANCIAL YEAR, THE DEPARTMENT WILL HAVE SPENT MORE THAN $13 MILLION ON CIVIL CASES AND $18 MILLION ON CRIMINAL TRIALS AND APPEALS.

FROM JANUARY 1, THE SCOPE OF LEGAL AID IN CRIMINAL CASES HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO COVER -COMMITTAL PROCEEDINGS IN THE MAGISTRATE'S COURTS.

+WITH THIS EXTENSION, DEFENDANTS .CHARGED WITH SERIOUS OFFENCES CAN NOW BE LEGALLY REPRESENTED AND ADVISED BY LAWYERS FROM THE DEPARTMENT AT AN EARLY STAGE OF THE PRELIMINARY PROCEEDINGS IN THE MAGISTRATE'S COURTS.

+IN THE PAST, THEY COULD ONLY APPLY FOR LEGAL AID AFTER THE IR CASES HAD BEEN TRANSFERRED TO THE HIGH COURT, EXPLAINED MR MOSS.

LEGAL AID IS AVAILABLE TO ANYONE WITH LIMITED MEANS WHO CAN SHOW THAT HE HAS REASONABLE GROUNDS TO COMMENCE, DEFEND OR CONTINUE LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IN THE DISTRICT COURTS OR THE HIGH COURT, AND COMMITTAL PROCEEDINGS IN THE MAGISTRACIES.

IT COVERS AN INCREASING VARIETY OF CASES, RANGING FROM TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS AND INJURIES AT WORK TO NON-PAYMENT OF WAGES AND TENANCY AND CONTRACT DISPUTES.

AN APPLICANT FOR LEGAL AID MUST PROVE THAT AFTER DEDUCTION OF ALLOWANCES, HIS INCOME DOES NOT EXCEED $1 500 PER MONTH AND HIS CAPITAL $15 000.

THE ALLOWANCES INCLUDE RENTS AND RATES PAID AND A CAPITAL VALUE OF NOT MORE THAN $300 000 FOR AN OWNER-OCCUPIED RESIDENCE.

/ALSO INCLUDEL