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Questions On Notice Questions on notice are usually asked when a more detailed answer is required and are in writing, and are forwarded by the Clerk of the Parliament to the relevant Minister who prepares a written answer which is presented to Parliament.
Question on Notice No. 2131 |
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| Posted by Administrator (admin) on Dec 02 2005 |
| Questions On Notice >> |
MR LAWLOR asked the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice (MRS LAVARCH)-
What are the policy objectives of the Regional Solicitor Program?
ANSWER-
The Beattie Government is committed to ensuring that there are sufficient professional service providers in regional communities to meet demand in the coming years and welcomes the initiative of Legal Aid Queensland to provide a Regional Solicitor Program.
Legal Aid Queensland has indicated that in remote and coastal areas the availability of lawyers to undertake legal aid work was being outweighed by demand for these services. The demand/availability ratio varied from location to location in these areas.
The Regional Solicitor Program is a proactive strategic measure to address the need for private lawyers to undertake legal aid work in regional areas. One of the goals of the program is to engage local lawyers from local firms to provide the required legal assistance.
Under the Regional Solicitor Program, a newly admitted lawyer is placed with a regional private law firm. Legal Aid Queensland pays the lawyer's practical legal training course fee and seventy-five percent (75%) of the wage, while the placement firm meets the other twenty-five percent (25%).
The program makes rural and regional locations an attractive option for lawyers, offering them competitive salary rates and a challenging work environment.
Legal aid services play a crucial role in the justice system. Without lawyers willing to undertake legal aid work in rural and regional Queensland, some of society's most vulnerable are left without a voice in the legal system, unable to access affordable representation.
To date, twelve placements have been made in the communities of Dalby, Bundaberg, Rockhampton, Innisfail, Gympie, Mackay, Mt Isa, Charleville, Proserpine and Charters Towers. Two places have been made in both Gympie and Mackay. Last changed: [PUBLISHED_DATE] at 11:00 PM
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