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:

a current practising certificate
10 years’ post-admission experience as a criminal lawyer
advanced criminal law experience in the Supreme Court, including experience as junioring in murder trials
jury trial experience that involves both trial preparation and trial advocacy
completed Legal Aid WA's Private Practitioners' Cultural Awareness training
completed Legal Aid WA’s A Panel Practitioner’s Guide to Legal Aid Western Australia training, and
the ability to communicate effectively with Legal Aid WA clients.

* 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:

a current practising certificate
five years’ post-admission experience as a criminal lawyer
advanced criminal law experience in the District Court and before the President of the Children’s Court
*jury trial experience that involves both trial preparation and trial advocacy
the ability to communicate effectively with Legal Aid WA clients
completed Legal Aid WA's Private Practitioners' Cultural Awareness training
completed Legal Aid WA’s A Panel Practitioner’s Guide to Legal Aid Western Australia training, and
completed Legal Aid WA's current Children's Court criminal law training, Appearing in Criminal Matters in the Children's Court of Western Australia.

* 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:

a current practising certificate
five years’ post-admission experience as a criminal lawyer
advanced criminal law experience in the Supreme Court or District Court
*jury trial experience that involves both trial preparation and trial advocacy
completed Legal Aid WA's Private Practitioners' Cultural Awareness training
completed Legal Aid WA’s A Panel Practitioner’s Guide to Legal Aid Western Australia training, and
the ability to communicate effectively with Legal Aid WA clients.

* 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:

a current practising certificate
*three years’ post-admission experience as a criminal lawyer
completed Legal Aid WA's Private Practitioners' Cultural Awareness training
completed Legal Aid WA’s A Panel Practitioner’s Guide to Legal Aid Western Australia training, and
the ability to communicate effectively with Legal Aid WA clients.

* 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:

a current practising certificate
*three years’ post-admission experience as a criminal lawyer
criminal law experience in the Children’s Court
knowledge and understanding of the Young Offenders Act 1994 and Children’s Court of Western Australia Act 1988
the ability to communicate effectively with children
the ability to communicate effectively with Legal Aid WA clients
completed Legal Aid WA's Private Practitioners' Cultural Awareness training
completed Legal Aid WA’s A Panel Practitioner’s Guide to Legal Aid Western Australia training, and
completed Legal Aid WA's current Children's Court criminal law training, Appearing in Criminal Matters in the Children's Court of Western Australia.

* 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:

a current practising certificate
five years’ post-admission experience as a criminal lawyer
knowledge of and experience in criminal matters in the Court of Appeal
completed Legal Aid WA's Private Practitioners' Cultural Awareness training
completed Legal Aid WA’s A Panel Practitioner’s Guide to Legal Aid Western Australia training, and
the ability to communicate effectively with Legal Aid WA clients.

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:

a current practising certificate
five years’ post-admission experience as a criminal lawyer
a high level of experience before the CCC or another tribunal
completed Legal Aid WA's Private Practitioners' Cultural Awareness training, and
completed Legal Aid WA’s A Panel Practitioner’s Guide to Legal Aid Western Australia training.

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.