4. Exempted matters - where an applicant is not required to pay an initial contribution

These are matters that are exempted from an initial contribution imposed under s.36(1)(a) of the Legal Aid Commission Act 1979.

Criminal

• Local Court criminal duty matters,
• Legal Aid NSW criminal law advice,
• Drug Court matters,
• First appearance bail applications in Local Court criminal matters,
• Children in the Children's Court criminal matters,
• Legal Aid NSW criminal law duty service,
• Protected person in apprehended domestic violence orders,
• Supreme Court bail applications, 
• Representation provided by the Prisoners' Legal Service, and
• Criminal Law matters where the Means Test does not apply.

Family

• Legal Aid NSW family law legal advice service,
• Family Law Duty Service,
• Family Law Care and Protection Duty Service,
• Children in Children’s Court matters,
• Children in appeals to the District Court in care matters,
• Children involved in family law proceedings where an order for separate representation is made under s.68L of the Family Law Act 1975,
• Children in NCAT and appeals in the Supreme Court,
• Family Dispute Resolution conference,
• Proceedings under the Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998, 
• Child support matters, and
• Family Law matters where the Means Test does not appy.

Civil

• Legal Aid NSW civil law advice service,
• Some matters where the applicant is the subject of proceedings in Mental Health Advocacy Service matters (including Guardianship matters),
• Matters under Part 11 of the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1988 (Cth) and under the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 (Cth),
• Coronial Inquest matters, and
• Civil Law matters where the Means Test does not apply.