Victoria Legal Aid Handbook for Lawyers

Guideline 14 – witnesses appearing before the chief examiner or examiner

Victoria Legal Aid (VLA) may make a grant of legal assistance to a witness subpoenaed to appear before either:

or

Assistance may be provided where legal assistance will assist the witness to understand the process and their legal rights and obligations.

Any spouse or de facto partner of the witness is exempted from the means test where the supply of financial information will require the witness to breach the secrecy provisions of the relevant legislation.

Documentary requirements

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

Lawyers with any queries about an application under this guideline should contact VLA’s LegalExternal Link Assessments teamExternal Link .

Costs payable

Please see fee schedule 2, Table YExternal Link .

Reviewed 26 April 2023

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