Ballarat lawyer criticises duty roster changes

DEFENDANTS who cannot afford private lawyers will not be able to choose a legal representative under changes to a Victoria Legal Aid scheme, a Ballarat lawyer says.Dianne Hadden has lashed out at a decision to abolish a roster for private duty lawyers to represent VLA clients. Private duty lawyers had provided legal services for VLA clients on each Wednesday and Friday under the scheme.Ms Hadden said the VLA had told the private duty lawyers they would not be required from January .She said the decision meant clients would not be able to choose between private duty lawyers and VLA lawyers to represent them.But in a statement VLA acting managing director Saul Holt said the VLA office in Ballarat is now staffed at "a level that allows it to run the whole of the duty lawyer service for the Ballarat Magistrate's Court"."The invaluable services provided by duty lawyers to people who do not have their own lawyer on the day of their hearing will still be available each weekday in the Magistrate's Court, maintained at current staffing levels," Mr Holt said. "Local private practitioners have given outstanding service to the duty lawyer scheme over a number of years and the Victoria Legal Aid managing director has written to each of them thanking them for their contribution."But Ms Hadden said removing private duty lawyers from the VLA roster meant some clients were limited to representation by VLA lawyers."We're committed to justice, we're committed to clients' choice," she said. The Courier understands the Law Institute of Victoria is looking into the matter. Ms Hadden has worked as a private duty lawyer since 1986. She is also a former state member of parliament. In a letter to The Courier Ms Hadden wrote private duty lawyers in Ballarat had been "unilaterally and summarily dismissed"."These duty lawyer services have been critical in providing high quality access to justice for those accused persons who have to present themselves before the court," she wrote.