Guideline 4 – equal opportunity and discrimination

Assistance for certain matters if substantial benefit

Subject to Commonwealth civil law guideline 1.3, Victoria Legal Aid (VLA) may make a grant of legal assistance to a person for an equal opportunity or discrimination case arising under Commonwealth law if there is a is a real prospect of substantial benefit being gained by the applicant for assistance.

See also:

• Commonwealth civil law guideline 1.3 in relation to a grant of legal assistance for a damages action
• Commonwealth civil law guideline 6.1 in relation to a grant of legal assistance for initiating proceedings in the Federal Circuit Court, Federal Court or High Court
• Commonwealth civil law guideline 9 in relation to a grant of legal assistance to appeal a court decision, including in the Full Court of the Federal Court or in the High Court.

Documentary requirements

Applications under this guideline can only be submitted via the standard grants assessment process.

A member of the section 29A practitioner panel or section 30 referral panel seeking a grant of legal assistance should submit an application via ATLAS for assessment, including all of the following documents:

• after referring to guideline 4 and all available material, the lawyer’s assessment and documentation that shows there is a real prospect of benefit being gained by the person applying for the grant of legal assistance
• reference to how the matter meets the Commonwealth merits test
• relevant proof of means.