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Guideline 7.4 – leave to appeal against sentence in the Court of Appeal

VLA may make a grant of legal assistance for leave to appeal against sentence where:

  • the applicant was sentenced to a term of immediate imprisonment or detention (unless the applicant is a child) 
  • there are reasonable grounds for the appeal
  • there is a reasonable prospect that the Court would reduce the total effective sentence, youth detention order, non-parole period or period prior to recognisance release order (unless the applicant is a child) 

Assistance will only be approved for counsel to appear at an oral hearing of the leave to appeal application in exceptional circumstances.

"Child" means a child as defined in section 3(a) of the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005 (Vic).

Documentary requirements

Applications under this guideline are only made by the standard grants assessment process. A grant of legal assistance will not normally be made to a member of the Section 30 Referral Panel.

A member of the Section 29 Indictable Crime Panel seeking a grant of legal assistance should submit an application via ATLAS for assessment, including the listed documents:

  • relevant proof of means, and 
  • if they are available:
    • the advice of trial or appellate counsel
    • the relevant court transcripts and judgments.