Table of contents
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Table of contents
- 1 – Introduction
- 2 – Types of matters that may be assisted
- 3 – Criminal law guidelines
- 4 – Commonwealth family law and child support guidelines
- 5 – Commonwealth civil law guidelines
- 6 – State family guidelines
- 7 – State civil law guidelines
- 8 – Standard grants assessment process
- 9 – Simplified grants assessment process
- 10 – Referral and practitioner panels
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11 – Means test
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Whose income and assets are assessed in the means test?
- People with other sources of funds
- People the means test does not apply to
- Income test
- Assets test
- Documentary proof of means
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Whose income and assets are assessed in the means test?
- 12 – Commonwealth merits test
- 13 – State reasonableness test and interests of justice test
- 14 – Special circumstances
- 15 – Applying for a grant of legal assistance
- 16 – Decision to grant or refuse assistance
- 17 – Reconsideration and review of decisions
- 18 – Standard terms and conditions
- 19 – Contributions and overdue payments
- 20 – Abandoning legal assistance
- 21 – Finalising grants of legal assistance
- 22 – Allocation of work to lawyers and law firms
- 23 – Payments to lawyers and service providers
- 24 – Compliance reviews
- 25 – Privacy protection
- 26 – Complaints and feedback
- Topic index
- Invoices, worksheets and forms
- Contact us
People with other sources of funds
If the applicant can borrow the money needed for legal services
If the result of the means test is that VLA may make a grant of legal assistance to the person but the person can borrow the money needed to pay the legal costs from any other source, VLA may refuse to make a grant of legal assistance.
If the applicant’s lifestyle suggests they can afford the cost of legal services
If the lifestyle, activities or interests of the person applying for the grant of legal assistance suggest that the person could access enough funds to pay for legal services themselves, VLA may refuse to make a grant of legal assistance.