Family matter panels
There are five panels relating to family law matters. The eligibility criteria to become a member of each of the family matter panels are set out on this page.
Grants of aid to fund an Independent Children’s lawyer, Child Representative, or a Dispute Resolution Chairperson are allocated to practitioners from the relevant family matter lists.
These links will take you to the names of private practitioners who are currently members of each family matter panel:
- Family Law Panel
- Family Violence Cross-Examination Panel
- Protection and Care Panel
- Dispute Resolution Panel
- Restraining Order Panel
Family Law Panel
Practitioners on this panel can be assigned grants of aid to represent a party in a family law case, but not as the Independent Children’s Lawyer.
Applicants must demonstrate that they have:
- a current practising certificate
- *three years’ post-admission experience as a family lawyer
- **a high level of family advocacy and negotiations skills, including the ability and preparedness to conduct litigation up to and including trial
- completed Legal Aid WA's Dispute Resolution training
- completed Legal Aid WA's Family and Domestic Violence 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 family lawyer will be considered for the Family Law Panel if an approved supervisor is in place.
**Practitioners who meet all criteria other than the criteria to have trial experience may apply and be approved subject to the condition that any 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 trial experience.
Family Violence Cross-Examination Panel
Practitioners on this panel can be assigned grants of aid to represent a party in a family law case where a Family Violence Cross-Examination Ban is in place.
Applicants must demonstrate that they have:
- a current practising certificate
- three years’ post-admission experience as a family lawyer
- a high level of family advocacy and negotiations skills, including the ability and preparedness to conduct litigation up to and including trial
- completed Legal Aid WA's Dispute Resolution training
- completed Legal Aid WA's Family and Domestic Violence 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.
If you would like to be considered for the Family Violence Cross-Examination Panel, please also provide:
- details of your ability to conduct complex trials about parenting and property issues, and
- details of your experience cross-examining at least 5 parties in trials in the Family Court of Western Australia or Magistrates Court.
Protection and Care Panel
Practitioners on this panel can be assigned grants of aid to represent a party in Protection and Care proceedings, but not as a Child Representative.
Applicants must demonstrate that they:
- *meet the criteria for membership of the Family Law Panel
- completed Legal Aid WA's Protection and Care training
- completed Legal Aid WA's Dispute Resolution training
- completed Legal Aid WA's Family and Domestic Violence training
- completed Legal Aid WA’s A Panel Practitioner’s Guide to Legal Aid Western Australia training, and
- have child protection advocacy and negotiation skills, including the ability and preparedness to conduct litigation in protection matters, up to and including trial.
*Practitioners with between 2 and 3 years’ post-admission experience as a family lawyer will be considered for the Protection and Care Panel if an approved supervisor is in place.
**Practitioners who meet all criteria other than the criteria to have trial experience may apply and be approved subject to the condition that any 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 trial experience.
Dispute Resolution Panel
Practitioners on this panel can be assigned grants of aid to represent a party involved in a dispute resolution conference (but not as Chairperson).
Applicants must demonstrate that they:
- meet the criteria for membership of the Family Law Panel
- have three years’ post-admission experience as a family lawyer
- completed Legal Aid WA’s A Panel Practitioner’s Guide to Legal Aid Western Australia training
- completed Legal Aid WA's Dispute Resolution training, and
- completed Legal Aid WA's Family and Domestic Violence training.
Restraining Order Panel
Practitioners on this panel can be assigned grants of aid to represent a party in a restraining order application.
Applicants must demonstrate that they have:
- a current practising certificate
- *three years’ post-admission experience as a family or criminal lawyer
- a high level of advocacy and negotiation skills, including the ability to conduct restraining order matters
- completed Legal Aid WA’s A Panel Practitioner’s Guide to Legal Aid Western Australia training
- completed Legal Aid WA's Family and Domestic Violence training, and
- the ability to communicate effectively with Legal Aid WA clients.
* Family or criminal lawyers with between 2 and 3 years’ post-admission experience in their area of law will be considered for the Restraining Order Panel if an approved supervisor is in place.
Resources
Reviewed: 14 July 2022