Practitioner panels and lists
At Legal Aid WA, we use a series of private practitioner panels and lists to allocate and manage the performance of legal services that we fund under a grant of aid.
Under the Legal Aid Commission Act 1976, we can decide whether or not legal services are to be provided by a private practitioner or by one of our employed practitioners. If a grant of aid is assigned to a private practitioner, they must be on the relevant panel or list of practitioners for that type of matter.
Practitioners can apply for membership of a panel or list if they are able to show they have the required level of experience and competency, according to the nature and complexity of the matters to be undertaken. In some situations, practitioners must have completed relevant training through Legal Aid WA before they can apply for membership.
Choose from the headings below to review the eligibility criteria for membership and find the names of private practitioners on each panel and list.
Criminal matter panels
- Crime - Murder Panel
- Crime - Sex offences Panel
- Crime - Serious indictable Panel
- Crime - Magistrates Court and other indictable Panel
- Crime - Children’s Court Panel
- Crime - Appeals Panel
- Corruption and Crime Commission Panel
Family matter panels
- Family Law Panel
- Protection and Care Panel
- Restraining Order Panel
- Dispute Resolution Panel
Family matter lists
- Independent Children’s Lawyer and Child Representative List
- Dispute Resolution Chairperson (Children's matters) List
- Dispute Resolution Chairperson (Property settlement) List
Civil matter panels
- Civil Law Panel
- Civil Law - Veterans Panel
Why are different panels and lists used?
These arrangements are designed to give the public confidence that people who receive legal aid funding are represented by practitioners who are among those most suitable for their particular matter. This is particularly important where the matters are inherently complex, require specialisation, or involve a significant amount of Legal Aid WA funds.
Private practitioners on our panels and lists must have necessary experience in that area. All members of our panels and lists are bound by our professional standards in how they provide legal services on our behalf under a grant of aid. Legal Aid WA investigates and monitors compliance with these standards to maintain the quality of legal services that we fund.
Get help
If you have any queries about the panels or lists, and to notify us of temporary unavailability, please email panel@legalaid.wa.gov.au or call our Professional Standards and Integrity Unit on (08) 9261 6543.
If you are interested in applying to join one of our panels or lists, you should read the sections on how to apply and the obligations of members.
Reviewed: 29 September 2023