Funds to attract more private law firms to represent Legal Aid clients

Increasing the hourly rate paid to private lawyers who represent Legal Aid clients will help the organisation attract and retain quality legal suppliers, Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Kerry Shine said today.

From July 1, fees paid to private lawyers who do criminal law work will increase by 19% – the largest single increase in criminal law fees in Legal Aid Queensland’s history.

Mr Shine said the pay rise would see the hourly rate increase from an average of $84 to an average of $100.

“About 70 percent of Legal Aid Queensland’s casework is briefed out to private law firms around the state and, without their support, the challenge of providing legal services to Queenslanders would be almost insurmountable,” Mr Shine said.

“Many suppliers have told us they would like to be able to assist Legal Aid clients, but doing so just isn’t financially viable because the hourly rate paid is so much lower than what they could charge privately paying clients.

“In the recent state budget I committed an extra $4.4 million to increase the hourly rate paid to private practitioners who do criminal law work for Legal Aid clients to $100 an hour – still substantially less than commercial rates, but we hope it will help to attract more law firms to come on board.

“Private practitioners who do Legal Aid work deserve to be adequately remunerated for their work and this increase is a step in the right direction.”

Mr Shine said he had agreed to review the hourly rate paid for criminal law work on an annual basis as part of a plan to bring the amount into line with the hourly rate of $120 paid to lawyers doing family law work.

“It’s important for these rates to be reviewed regularly to ensure we are able to attract adequate numbers of law firms to do the work,” he said.

“There are currently more than 400 law firms around the state who look after Legal Aid clients, but more are required to meet the needs of our growing population.

“I’d like to thank those law firms currently on the Legal Aid Queensland preferred supplier panel for their hard work, dedication and goodwill and encourage other firms to think about becoming part of the team.”

28 June 2007
Media contact: Kirby Anderson (Mr Shine’s office) 3239 6400