I acknowledge and pay my respects to the Traditional Owners and Custodians on whose land we live and work.

On behalf of the Board of Legal Aid NSW, it is my pleasure to introduce the Annual Report 2022–23. 

This report outlines the outstanding work of Legal Aid NSW over the past 12 months. That work has been performed by the dedicated staff of Legal Aid NSW and private lawyers who undertake legal aid work. Thank you to the state and Commonwealth governments for the funding to ensure that people who are disadvantaged can obtain access to justice. I am sure that the annual report demonstrates the value for money on this investment.

I congratulate the Hon. Michael Daley on his appointment as the NSW Attorney General and wish him well in the role of First Law Officer. I also take this opportunity to acknowledge the Hon. Mark Speakman SC for his support of Legal Aid NSW during his six-year tenure as Attorney General.

While there has been continued improvement in client services, staff support and governance this year, there have also been challenges. A staff shortage due to a very competitive employment market has caused difficulties, as has a shortage of private practitioners in some areas. The Board is conscious of the impact this has had on the workloads of Legal Aid NSW staff in delivering high-quality services during this period and is very appreciative of their commitment. The Board is kept informed of strategies to ameliorate these issues.

This year was the final year of our Strategic Plan 2018–23. It was a transformational plan for service delivery to our clients, the positive results of which are reflected in our client satisfaction surveys. On 27 June 2023, the Board approved the Legal Aid NSW Strategic Plan for 2023–28. The plan was developed through a robust process of review, consultation and staff engagement. It establishes the vision for Legal Aid NSW, where we want to be over the next five years and how we plan to get there. The Board will closely monitor the implementation of the plan and the outcomes it achieves.

In August 2022, Project Respect was launched. It is a broad program of work aimed at creating a shared vision for the kind of Legal Aid NSW staff wish to work at and focuses on implementing workplace policies, systems and processes that will create a fair, respectful and inclusive workplace. On 20 August 2022, the Board established a special consultative committee to guide and advise us and the CEO on developing and implementing Project Respect. I thank Ms Tasneem Chopra OAM for her leadership as co-chair of this committee and the other members for their input and expertise.

On 9 June 2023, the new Legal Aid NSW website was launched. I commend everyone involved for their hard work. The website is co-branded with LawAccess NSW and helps demystify the law for anyone with a legal issue. Launching the LawAccess NSW webchat function offers our clients a way to avoid call queues and quickly get the help they need. Our efforts to find ways to better connect with our clients continued with the pilot of the defendant portal giving people issued with a Court Attendance Notice at five sites (Bankstown, Blacktown, Mt Druitt, Penrith and Sutherland) direct access to an advice clinic booking through a QR code.

Community Legal Centres (CLCs) continue to make a significant contribution to the legal assistance sector. Funding for the community legal sector has increased in recent years and helps CLCs provide free legal help to more than 35,000 people experiencing disadvantage each year.

Another important piece of work is the review of the National Legal Assistance Partnership 2020–2025 by the Commonwealth Attorney-General’s Department. I acknowledge the work that has been and will be completed as part of this review, which will determine our ongoing funding arrangements. 

Funding issues for the Aboriginal Legal Service (NSW/ACT) came to a head in May 2023 when the ALS implemented a service freeze at 13 local courts. Legal Aid NSW has worked with the ALS to extend our services for Aboriginal people appearing before those courts. Some clients were assigned to private practitioners due to consequential workload pressures on Legal Aid NSW solicitors. The Board is monitoring the impact on Legal Aid NSW.

A Legal Aid NSW Civil Law Blueprint has been established to improve the lives of people experiencing deep and persistent disadvantage or dislocation by using civil law to meet their fundamental needs. I applaud the work of the Civil Law Division in this endeavour and look forward to seeing the results of this important initiative. Over 25 per cent of our civil law clients are Aboriginal people experiencing significant disadvantage.

Thank you to my colleagues on both the Board and the Audit and Risk Committee for your commitment to applying your expertise to your roles and responsibilities. Legal Aid NSW is well served by this impressive group of people.

On 31 March 2023, the Board approved a revised Board Charter. This charter is intended to convey in plain words the statutory, common law and general administrative requirements that apply to the Board. You can download a copy of the charter on the Legal Aid NSW website on Our Board.

Finally, on behalf of the Board I acknowledge the one-year anniversary of the appointment of Monique Hitter as CEO and thank her for her outstanding leadership of Legal Aid NSW and the support she provides the Board.

Craig Smith
Chair, Legal Aid NSW