Expression on interest for inclusion in the nationwide roster for the PDLA service over the holiday period

Overview

Last year Legal Aid Services (LAS) Implemented a temporary nationwide roster for the Police Detention Legal Assistance (PDLA) service over the Christmas/New Year holiday period. This was implemented to ensure timely access to justice throughout the holiday period. It aimed to ensure that Police were able to continue to contact PDLA lawyers during a period of the year where it can be more difficult for Police to facilitate contact due to leave and unavailability over the holiday period.

In order to ensure timely access to justice throughout the holiday period this year, LAS intends to implement a similar nationwide roster from 17 December 2021 to 10 January 2022. This will run in a similar manner to last years, with PDLA lawyers being paid a flat hourly rate to deliver the service during rostered shifts.

The purpose of this survey is to give PDLA providers a chance to indicate whether they would like to be included on this year’s nationwide holiday period roster. Providers who are interested in being on a nationwide roster over the holiday period will be given a chance to indicate what dates they would be available to be rostered on.

Responses to the survey will be used to formulate and implement the holiday roster. We will advise you of the outcome of this survey in due course.