Supervisor Status Scheme

Who are Approved Supervisors under the Scheme?

Legal Aid WA maintains a list of panel practitioners who have Approved Supervisor status under the Scheme. This list will be available on this webpage once the Scheme has commenced.

How to apply to be an Approved Supervisor

Applications can be made by completing a Supervisor Status Application.

Applicants must set out:

1. That the practitioner has at least 5 years of relevant post-admission experience
2. That the practitioner is a current member any of the following panels, without conditions or restrictions on their membership:
   • Crime – Magistrate/Other Indictable
   • Crime – Children’s Court
   • Family Law
   • Restraining Orders
3. That the practitioner does not have any current compliance issues that are being managed or considered by Legal Aid WA or the Legal Practice Board of Western Australia
4. Details about how they will ensure:
   • regular contact with any supervised practitioner for the purpose of review, guidance and instruction relating to grants of aid, particularly before and after court appearances
   • any legal advice or assistance provided by a supervised practitioner (verbal or written) to a legally aided client is approved, before it is provided to the client, and
   • correspondence and other documents related to any grant of aid, prepared by a supervised practitioner, have been scrutinised and approved by the supervising practitioner
5. That they agree to the conditions of having Approved Supervisor status under the Scheme, as set out in the Supervisor Status Application

Processing your application

Applications for Approved Supervisor Status should be completed and returned by email to panelapplications@legalaid.wa.gov.au

Your application will be assessed by the Professional Standards and Integrity Unit who will contact you in due course.

If your application is approved, you will be contacted with details of your Approved Supervisor Status, including any additional conditions to which it may be subject.

Information for practitioners who are being supervised by an Approved Supervisor under the Supervisor Scheme

A requirement of being an Approved Supervisor is that any supervised practitioner must be given a copy of the conditions set out in the Supervisor Status Application. The Approved Supervisor must also ensure that the supervisee is aware of any mandatory training requirements.

FAQs

1. Are there any conditions that supervisees should be aware of if I am an Approved Supervisor under the Scheme?
2. I am Senior Counsel, a Barrister or a sole practitioner. Can I engage a supervised practitioner to appear on my behalf?
3. Am I able to request extra funding for supervising practitioners under the Scheme?
4. Where can I find the Private Practitioner Standards and Compliance resources?
5. Can a practitioner I am supervising apply for Approved Supervisor status on my behalf?
6. Can work be completed by junior practitioners if the assigned practitioner is not an Approved Supervisor under the Scheme?

1. Are there any conditions that supervisees should be aware of if I am an Approved Supervisor under the Scheme?

Yes. As outlined in the Supervisor Status Application, practitioners who have Approved Supervisor status must ensure that any practitioner they are supervising:

1. Only undertakes work within the scope of their competency
2. Only undertakes work which is permitted under the Private Practitioner Manual or in the current version of the Non-panel Practitioner Appearance Document
3. Is aware that Legal Aid WA may exclude or limit what work can be performed under the Scheme at any time
4. Is aware that Legal Aid WA may require a supervisee to undertake particular training at any time
5. Has completed all mandatory training modules for the relevant panel, as outlined under the Training for Applicants webpage
6. Has made the court aware that the supervised practitioner is appearing under supervision and a grant of legal aid, and
7. Is aware that feedback may be provided by the court to the assigned practitioner and Legal Aid WA.

2. I am a Barrister or sole practitioner. Can I engage a supervised practitioner to appear on my behalf?

If you have approved Supervisor Status under this scheme, YES you can engage a junior practitioner from another firm.  If that firm does not also have an approved Supervisor panel member, please ensure that you advise the principal of your obligations under this Scheme. 

3. Am I able to request extra funding for supervising practitioners under the Scheme?

Panel members with Approved Supervisor status under the Scheme are not ordinarily entitled to claim any additional funding for providing supervision, unless Legal Aid WA has provided prior written approval. You should request an extension of aid at the earliest opportunity. If the matter is one that would require more than one lawyer, consideration will be given for additional funding. 

4. Where can I find the Private Practitioner Standards and Compliance resources?

The conditions of having Approved Supervisor status under this Scheme are in addition to the responsibilities and obligations panel members agree to under the Professional Services Agreement (PSA).

The PSA, PPM, Guide to Claiming Payment, Audit & Compliance Policy and other documents under the PSA framework are all available on the Practitioner Standards and Compliance webpage.

5. Can a practitioner I am supervising apply for Approved Supervisor status on my behalf?

No. Applications for Approved Supervisor status under this Scheme must be submitted by a current panel member. 

6. Can work be completed by junior practitioners if the assigned practitioner is not an Approved Supervisor under the Scheme?

Any panel member is responsible to Legal Aid WA for the conduct and performance of all legal services in matters assigned to them, as outlined in clause 21.4 of the Private Practitioner Manual (PPM). Panel members are currently permitted to supervise work performed on their behalf under a grant of aid, on the conditions that:

1. The work is properly supervised, and the supervision can be substantiated, in accordance with clause 21.3 of the PPM
2. The legal services performed in an assigned matter are done so in accordance with clause 21.4.1 of the PPM
3. Information substantiating the services and costs performed by or on behalf of the assigned practitioner are retained, in accordance with clause 23.4 of the PPM, and
4. Any claim for payment submitted by or on behalf of the assigned practitioner must be accompanied by a report that properly substantiates the claim, including details of who performed the legal services, in accordance with clause 26.1 of the PPM.

Get help

If you have any queries about an application you have submitted, please phone (08) 9261 6309 or email panelapplications@legalaid.wa.gov.au

Useful Documents

• Non-Panel Practitioner Appearance Document
• Supervisor Status Application

Reviewed: 9 April 2025