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28 July 2016 – Volume 1
Legal Aid Brief – practitioner special edition: Family Law
Don Lampe

Welcome to a special edition of Legal Aid Brief for family law practitioners. We hope it is useful and will support our partnership with all practitioners doing legally aided family law work. In this edition, get to know long-term panel member Don Lampe, learn some ATLAS handy hints and read about the importance of safety planning.

News

Getting to know Don Lampe

Don Lampe is a veteran of providing legal aid and is a well-respected Melbourne family lawyer. Find out about what motivates him, his work and who he’d invite to dinner.

Read more at Getting to know Don Lampe.

The importance of having a safety plan – case note

When an abusive father sought access to his children in the family law courts, nimble lawyering kept the location of a fearful mother hidden. See how the risks arose and were averted, and practical ways lawyers can help to keep clients safe.


Read more at The importance of having a safety plan.

Guidance on child protection guideline changes

Notes on the state family guidelines provide helpful guidance to practitioners. Victoria Legal Aid is keen for practitioners to bring any unusual matters to our attention for our consideration.

Read more at Guidance on child protection guideline changes.

The importance of meeting with child clients in child protection matters

Victorian child protection law was amended in 2013, resulting in children not having to attend court for proceedings. While this can make it more difficult for practitioners to meet with their child clients, it remains important to take steps that will enable this.

Read more at The importance of meeting with child clients in child protection matters.

Recycling documents creates a privacy risk

Learn how recent compliance checks highlight that practitioners should avoid recycling documents from one client file to use as draft paper on another.

Read more at Recycling documents creates a privacy risk.

Online resource for Independent Children’s Lawyers across Australia

The National Independent Children’s Lawyer website was launched earlier this year. We encourage all ICLs to register.

Read more at Online resource for Independent Children’s Lawyers across Australia.

Supporting the delivery of high-quality legal services

We recently introduced quality audits of our panel practitioners which seek to provide feedback on how we are applying our practice standards.

Read our recent Legal Aid Brief story supporting the delivery of high-quality legal services.

ATLAS tips and handy hints

Financially associated persons and family violence

Victoria Legal Aid does not consider someone who is temporarily providing accommodation or other support to assist a person escaping from family violence as a financially associated person. Find out how you can help make sure these circumstances are known to us.

Read more at Financially associated persons and family violence.

How to submit ATLAS information for a quicker response

How you input information into ATLAS can make a real difference to how quickly we can respond, and to your client’s experience. It is also not necessary to submit proof of all appearances, unless specifically requested. 

Read more at How to submit ATLAS information for a quicker response.

Paying barristers directly in ATLAS

Practitioners would be aware that Victoria Legal Aid requires practitioners to pay barristers directly.

Read more at Paying barristers directly using ATLAS.

Upcoming professional development

Professional Legal Education

  • Child protection: cross examination of a case worker – 3 August 2016, Geelong 
  • How to run an administrative review of DHHS decisions at VCAT: PART 2 – 26 August 2016, Melbourne 
  • Working with parents with mental illness (Family Dispute Resolution Service training priority) – 16 November 2016, Melbourne.  

Legal Practice Essentials

  • Cultural diversity and working with interpreters workshop – 26 August 2016, Mildura
  • Family Law Forum – 7 October 2016, Melbourne.

Contact

For information on these session contact Legal Learning and Development Manager Lara Wentworth on (03) 9269 0683 or email ple@vla.vic.gov.au

We want your feedback and ideas

If you have any community news that you would like included in this eNewsletter email editor@vla.vic.gov.au. Items will be published at the editor's discretion.

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