Criminal matter panels

There are seven panels relating to criminal matters. Information about what matters each panel covers, and the eligibility criteria to become a member, are set out below.

Practitioners applying for membership of the Murder, Sexual offences and Appeals panels must accept grants of aid given to adults and children.

These links will take you to the names of private practitioners who are currently members of each panel.

Find practitioners:

Offences are allocated across the Crime panels based on jurisdiction, seriousness and offence type: Allocation of criminal matters by panel

Crime - Murder Panel

Practitioners on this panel can be assigned grants of aid in relation to charges of murder, attempted murder, or manslaughter.

Applicants must demonstrate that they have:

* Applicants may also be asked to provide two references from counsel can attest to your experience on homicide trials. The references should include a brief description of the matter, the work that you undertook, and your ability to conduct trials of this nature

Crime - Sex Offences Panel (adult and youth)

Practitioners on this panel can be assigned grants of aid in relation to sex offences.

Applicants must demonstrate that they have:

Practitioners who meet all criteria other than the criteria to have jury trial experience may apply and be approved subject to the condition that any jury trial be conducted under the supervision of an approved supervisor. This condition will remain in place until Legal Aid WA is satisfied the practitioner has sufficient jury trial experience.

Crime - Serious Indictable Panel

Practitioners on this panel can be assigned grants of aid to adults in relation to serious indictable offences that are not covered by the Murder Panel or Sex Offences Panel.

Applicants must demonstrate that they have:

* Practitioners who meet all criteria other than the criteria to have jury trial experience may apply and be approved subject to the condition that any jury trial be conducted under the supervision of an approved supervisor. This condition will remain in place until Legal Aid WA is satisfied the practitioner has sufficient jury trial experience.

Crime - Magistrates Court and Other Indictable Panel

Practitioners on this panel can be assigned grants of aid to adults in relation to charges in the Magistrates Court or other indictable offences not covered by the Murder, Sex offences and Serious Indictable panels.

Applicants must demonstrate that they have:

* Practitioners with between 2 and 3 years’ post-admission experience as a criminal lawyer will be considered for this panel if they have an approved supervisor in place.

Crime - Children’s Court Panel

Practitioners on this panel can be assigned grants of aid in relation to charges in the Children’s Court not covered by the Murder or Sex offences panels.

Applicants must demonstrate that they have:

* Practitioners with between 2 and 3 years’ post-admission experience as a criminal lawyer will be considered for this panel if they have an approved supervisor in place. Supervised practitioners will not be assigned matters that are to be dealt with before the President of the Children’s Court.

Crime - Appeals Panel

Practitioners on this panel can be assigned grants of aid in relation to appeals against conviction or sentence for all offence types.

Applicants must demonstrate that they have:

Crime - Corruption and Crime Commission Panel

Practitioners on this panel can be assigned grants of aid to assist current or former public officers involved in proceedings brought by the Corruption and Crime Commission (CCC) or the Parliamentary Inspector of the CCC.

Applicants must demonstrate that they have:

 

Resources

 

Reviewed: 11 December 2023

Disclaimer

The information displayed on this page is provided for information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. If you have a legal problem, you should see a lawyer. Legal Aid Western Australia aims to provide information that is accurate, however does not accept responsibility for any errors or omissions in the information provided on this page or incorporated into it by reference.