LEGAL AID COMMISSION (ACT)
Objectives
The Legal Aid Commission (ACT) (the Commission), established by the Legal Aid Act 1977 (the Act), provides a range of legal aid services in accordance with the Act.
The mission of the Commission is to promote a just society in the Territory by:
•	ensuring that vulnerable and disadvantaged people receive the legal services they need to assert or defend their rights;
•	developing an improved community understanding of the law; and
•	seeking reform of laws that adversely affect those we assist.
A range of high quality legal aid services are delivered through our staff and professional partners.  The Commission’s services include legal information, legal advice and minor assistance, duty lawyer services, grants of legal assistance (legally assisted cases), and community legal education.
2009-10 Priorities
Strategic and operational issues to be pursued in 2009-10 include:
•	finalising the new ACT/Commonwealth Government funding agreement;
•	amending the Legal Aid Act 1977 to enable implementation of new strategic directions;
•	developing and piloting cost-effective models for delivering legal services to older people and homeless people in the ACT;
•	developing new ways of recording service data and measuring performance;
•	implementing online lodgement of applications for legal assistance;
•	upgrading or relocating premises;
•	developing new arrangements for assigning legally assisted cases to lawyers;
•	continuing to improve the coordination of legal aid services with other community services in the Territory;
•	providing outreach services for vulnerable and marginalised people to access legal advice and assistance;
•	reviewing and developing legal aid services in civil law matters;
•	establishing a Prisoners’ Legal Service at the new Alexander Maconochie Centre; and
•	delivering a range of community legal education programs targeted to priority areas of need.

Estimated Employment Level
2008-09
Budget			2008-09
Est. Outcome	2009-10
Budget	
53		  Staffing  (FTE)	53	57	

Strategic Indicators
The Commission’s strategic plan for 2008-2012 is designed to improve the range, quality and targeting of legal aid services in the Territory.  This will be achieved by pursuing strategic goals which align with the Commission’s mission statement.
The Strategic Indicators for the Commission in the 2009-10 Budget are:

Strategic Indicator 1
Legal Advice and Representation
To ensure that people are not prevented by disadvantage from obtaining the legal services they need to assert or defend their rights.  This goal will be achieved by: 
•	researching the nature and extent of unmet need for legal aid services in the ACT, and barriers to people obtaining legal help;
•	improving methods of service delivery; 
•	expanding the provision of advice and assistance in priority areas of need in civil law through the Commission’s civil law practice and in collaboration with community legal centres; and 
•	improving the coordination of legal aid and other community services.

Strategic Indicator 2
Community Legal Education
To develop within the community an improved understanding of the law and legal system operating in the Territory.  To achieve this goal the Commission will target legal education programs to meet priority areas of need in the community.

Strategic Indicator 3
Law Reform
To promote the reform of laws that adversely affect those we assist.  To achieve this goal the Commission will monitor the impact of laws on disadvantaged members of the community and make submissions for reform of those laws where appropriate.

Output Classes
	Total Cost1	Government Payment for Outputs	
	2008-09
Est. Outcome
$’000	2009-10
Budget
$’000	2008-09
Est. Outcome
$’000	2009-10
Budget
$’000	
Output Class 1:
Legal Aid Services	9,854	10,470	3,519	8,020	
Output 1.1:  Legal Aid Services Provided by Private Legal Practitioners	3,449	3,665	1,232	2,807	
Note:
1.	Total cost includes depreciation of $0.074 million in 2008-09 and $0.203 million in 2009-10.
Output Description
The Commission, under arrangements with private legal practitioners, provides Legal Aid Services to the community.  This output includes payments to private practitioners and the cost to the Commission of administering the arrangements.
Private practitioners are engaged by the Commission to provide legal aid services.  They are paid professional fees and disbursements on the basis of agreed scales, up to a commitment level determined by the Commission on an individual case basis.

	Total Cost	Government Payment for Outputs	
	2008-09
Est. Outcome
$’000	2009-10
Budget
$’000	2008-09
Est. Outcome
$’000	2009-10
Budget
$’000	
Output 1.2:  Legal Aid Services Provided by Commission Staff	6,405	6,805	2,287	5,213	
Output Description
The Commission staff provide a full range of legal aid services to the community.  The cost of these services is calculated on the same basis as Output 1.1 except that the professional fees component is replaced by salaries and related costs.

Accountability Indicators
	2008-09
Targets	2008-09
Est. Outcome	2009-10
Targets	
Output Class 1:  Legal Aid Services	
Output 1.1:  Legal Aid Services Provided by Private Legal Practitioners	
				
a.	Total number of legal advice services provided in person1	300	460	450	
b.	Total number of duty lawyer services provided1,2	480	400	400	
c.	Grants referred to Private Practitioners3	1,450	1,400	1,400	
Notes:
1.	Legal advice is specific advice of a legal nature concerning a person’s individual circumstances.  Minor assistance is provided in cases where advice given includes recommended action that the person may have difficulty taking on their own behalf.  On review of our data collection process legal advice is now recorded when provided by lawyers undertaking duty work as ‘legal advice services’ rather than ‘duty lawyer services’ involving an appearance as this provides a clearer indication of the nature of the work performed.  This has resulted in an increase in the estimate for legal advice services and a decrease in the estimate for duty lawyer services.  It is difficult to estimate the demand for these services given that it is externally driven.
2.	Duty lawyer services are legal services provided by a legal practitioner at a court or tribunal to people who would otherwise be unrepresented.  Duty lawyer services consist of advising the person, and in appropriate circumstances appearing on their behalf, in relation to the proceeding or event.
3.	Grants of legal assistance are financial assistance to enable people (who would not otherwise be able to afford legal services) to obtain legal representation in legal proceedings, or in other legal matters of a substantial nature.  Grants of legal assistance are provided in criminal, family and general law matters.

	2008-09
Targets	2008-09
Est. Outcome	2009-10
Targets	
Output 1.2:  Legal Aid Services Provided by Commission Staff	
				
a.	Total number of information and referral services provided 1	18,000	20,000	19,000	
b.	Total number of legal advice and minor assistance services provided in person2,3	2,700	3,200	3,000	
c.	Total number of legal advice and minor assistance services provided by telephone2,4	7,000	9,200	8,000	
d.	Total number of duty lawyer services provided5,3	2,720	2,300	2,300	
e.	Total number of people participating in community legal education activities6	3,500	3,500	n/a	
f.	Grants referred to Commission staff7	1,200	1,200	1,200	
Notes:
1.	The 2008-09 estimated outcome varies from the 2008-09 target as the demand for these services is externally driven and as a result is difficult to estimate.  
2.	Legal advice is specific advice of a legal nature concerning a person’s individual circumstances.  Minor assistance is provided in cases where advice given includes recommended action that the person may have difficulty taking on their own behalf.
3.	The 2008-09 estimated outcome varies from the 2008-09 target as the demand for these services is externally driven and as a result is difficult to estimate.  It is possible that clients have been accessing advice services and consequently not been seeking duty lawyer services.
4.	The 2008-09 estimated outcome varies from the 2008-09 target as telephone advice numbers fluctuate, depending on a number of external influences including the state of the economy.
5.	Duty lawyer services are legal services provided by a legal practitioner at a court or tribunal to people who would otherwise be unrepresented.  Duty lawyer services consist of advising the person, and in appropriate circumstances appearing on their behalf, in relation to the proceeding or event.
6.	The Commission initiates and carries out educational programs designed to promote awareness and understanding of legal rights and responsibilities, and how the legal system works.  This measure is being discontinued as it is not able to be independently verified.
7.	Grants of financial assistance are to enable people (who would not otherwise be able to afford legal services) to obtain legal representation in legal proceedings, or in other legal matters of a substantial nature.  Grants are provided in criminal, family and general law matters.

Changes to Appropriation
						
Changes to Appropriation - Departmental						
	2008-09	2009-10	2010-11	2011-12	2012-13	
Government Payment for Outputs	Est. Out.	Budget	Estimate	Estimate	Estimate	
	$'000	$'000	$'000	$'000	$'000	
						
2008-09 Budget	3,519	3,626	3,765	3,835	3,835	
						
2009-10 Budget Policy Adjustments						
Homeless and Elder Law Project	 - 	144	147	 - 	 - 	
ICT Resourcing	 - 	69	69	70	70	
Efficiency Dividend	-	-	(19)	(19)	(20)	
						
2009-10 Budget Technical Adjustments						
Revised Indexation Parameters	 - 	(5)	(5)	(5)	68	
Federal Financial Reforms - Legal Services	 - 	4,186	4,290	4,395	4,501	
						
2009-10 Budget	3,519	8,020	8,247	8,276	8,454	

						
						
Changes to Appropriation - Departmental						
	2008-09	2009-10	2010-11	2011-12	2012-13	
Capital Injections	Est. Out.	Budget	Estimate	Estimate	Estimate	
	$'000	$'000	$'000	$'000	$'000	
						
2008-09 Budget	194	 - 	 - 	 - 	 - 	
						
2009-10 Budget Policy Adjustments						
New Directions Project	 - 	178	 - 	 - 	 - 	
Accommodation Fitout	 - 	1,950	 - 	 - 	 - 	
						
2009-10 Budget Technical Adjustments						
Rollover - Security, ICT and Business Continuity Upgrade	(116)	116	 - 	 - 	 - 	
Rollover - Prisoner Legal Service and Expanded Criminal Duty	(25)	25	 - 	 - 	 - 	
						
2009-10 Budget	53	2,269	 - 	 - 	 - 	

2009-10 Capital Works Program
Departmental
 	Estimated	Estimated	2009-10	2010-11	2011-12	Expected 	
	Total	Expenditure	Financing	Financing	Financing	Completion 	
	Cost	Pre 2009-10				Date  	
 	$’000	$’000	$’000	$’000	$’000	 	
							
New Capital Works							
Accommodation Fitout	1,950	-	1,950	-	-	Mar 2010	
							
Total New Capital Works	1,950	-	1,950	-	-	 	
							
Works in Progress							
Security, ICT and Business Continuity Upgrade	169	53	116	-	-	Sep 2009	
							
Total Works in Progress	169	53	116	-	-		
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 Total Departmental Capital Works	2,119   	53	2,066	-	-	 	

Legal Aid Commission (ACT)
Operating Statement
2008-09			2008-09	2009-10		2010-11	2011-12	2012-13		
Budget			Est.Outcome	Budget	Var	Estimate	Estimate	Estimate		
$'000			$'000	$'000	%	$'000	$'000	$'000		
		Income								
		Revenue								
3,519		Government Payment for Outputs	3,519	8,020	128	8,247	8,276	8,454		
250		User Charges - Non ACT Government	317	359	13	359	359	359		
4,084		Grants from the Commonwealth	4,082	0	-100	0	0	0		
1,446		Interest	1,839	1,628	-11	1,128	878	878		
9,299		Total Revenue	9,757	10,007	3	9,734	9,513	9,691		
		Gains								
0		Total Gains	0	0	-	0	0	0		
9,299		Total Income	9,757	10,007	3	9,734	9,513	9,691		
		Expenses								
4,111		Employee Expenses	4,318	4,495	4	4,552	4,464	4,523		
651		Superannuation Expenses	665	673	1	682	691	700		
4,327		Supplies and Services	4,727	5,029	6	5,083	3,963	4,073		
91		Depreciation and Amortisation	74	203	174	330	325	325		
70		Other Expenses	70	70	-	70	70	70		
9,250		Total Ordinary Expenses	9,854	10,470	6	10,717	9,513	9,691		
49		Operating Result	-97	-463	-377	-983	0	0		

Legal Aid Commission (ACT)
Balance Sheet
Budget			Est.Outcome	Planned		Planned	Planned	Planned		
as at 30/6/09			as at 30/6/09	as at 30/6/10	Var	as at 30/6/11	as at 30/6/12	as at 30/6/13		
$'000			$'000	$'000	%	$'000	$'000	$'000		
		Current Assets								
2,598		Cash and Cash Equivalents	2,708	2,397	-11	1,693	1,967	2,241		
209		Receivables	174	174	-	174	174	174		
145		Other	122	122	-	122	122	122		
2,952		Total Current Assets	3,004	2,693	-10	1,989	2,263	2,537		
		Non Current Assets								
48		Receivables	50	50	-	50	50	50		
350		Property, Plant and Equipment	303	2,419	698	2,139	1,864	1,589		
398		Total Non Current Assets	353	2,469	599	2,189	1,914	1,639		
3,350		TOTAL ASSETS	3,357	5,162	54	4,178	4,177	4,176		
		Current Liabilities								
493		Payables	518	517	..	516	515	514		
0		Finance Leases	42	42	-	42	42	42		
821		Employee Benefits	760	760	-	760	760	760		
159		Other Provisions	294	294	-	294	294	294		
1,473		Total Current Liabilities	1,614	1,613	..	1,612	1,611	1,610		
		Non Current Liabilities								
0		Finance Leases	18	18	-	18	18	18		
29		Employee Benefits	37	37	-	37	37	37		
29		Total Non Current Liabilities	55	55	-	55	55	55		
1,502		TOTAL LIABILITIES	1,669	1,668	..	1,667	1,666	1,665		
1,848		NET ASSETS	1,688	3,494	107	2,511	2,511	2,511		
		REPRESENTED BY FUNDS EMPLOYED								
1,477		Accumulated Funds	1,533	3,339	118	2,356	2,356	2,356		
371		Reserves	155	155	-	155	155	155		
1,848		TOTAL FUNDS EMPLOYED	1,688	3,494	107	2,511	2,511	2,511		

Legal Aid Commission (ACT)
Cash Flow Statement
  2008-09			  2008-09	   2009-10		  2010-11	    2011-12	  2012-13		
    Budget			 Est.Outcome	   Budget	     Var	  Estimate	    Estimate	  Estimate		
    $'000			    $'000	   $'000	      %	    $'000	     $'000	   $'000		
		CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES								
		Receipts								
3,519		Cash from Government for Outputs	3,519	8,020	128	8,247	8,276	8,454		
250		User Charges	317	359	13	359	359	359		
1,446		Interest Received	1,839	1,628	-11	1,128	878	878		
4,084		Grants Received from the Commonwealth	4,082	0	-100	0	0	0		
176		Other Revenue	176	176	-	176	176	176		
9,475		Operating Receipts	9,933	10,183	3	9,910	9,689	9,867		
		Payments								
3,970		Related to Employees	4,177	4,376	5	4,433	4,345	4,404		
651		Related to Superannuation	665	673	1	682	691	700		
4,446		Related to Supplies and Services	4,846	5,148	6	5,202	4,082	4,192		
247		Other	247	247	-	247	247	247		
9,314		Operating Payments	9,935	10,444	5	10,564	9,365	9,543		
161		NET CASH INFLOW/ (OUTFLOW) FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES	-2	-261	#	-654	324	324		
		CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES								
		Payments								
405		Purchase of Property, Plant and Equipment and Capital Works	264	2,319	778	50	50	50		
405		Investing Payments	264	2,319	778	50	50	50		
-405		NET CASH INFLOW/ (OUTFLOW) FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES	-264	-2,319	-778	-50	-50	-50		
		CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES								
		Receipts								
194		Capital Injection from Government	53	2,269	#	0	0	0		
194		Financing Receipts	53	2,269	#	0	0	0		
194		NET CASH INFLOW/ (OUTFLOW) FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES	53	2,269	#	0	0	0		
-50		NET INCREASE/ (DECREASE) IN CASH HELD	-213	-311	-46	-704	274	274		
2,648		CASH AT BEGINNING OF REPORTING PERIOD	2,921	2,708	-7	2,397	1,693	1,967		
2,598		CASH AT THE END OF THE REPORTING PERIOD	2,708	2,397	-11	1,693	1,967	2,241		

Legal Aid Commission (ACT)
Statement of Changes in Equity
    Budget			Est.Outcome	    Planned		   Planned	   Planned	   Planned		
as at 30/6/09			as at 30/6/09	as at 30/6/10	   Var	as at 30/6/11	as at 30/6/12	as at 30/6/13		
   $'000			   $'000	     $'000	    %	    $'000	    $'000	    $'000		
1,605		Opening Balance	1,732	1,688	-3	3,494	2,511	2,511		
		Accumulated Funds								
49		Operating Result for the Period	-97	-463	-377	-983	0	0		
		Reserves								
49		Total Income And Expense For The Period	-97	-463	-377	-983	0	0		
		Transactions Involving Equity Holders Affecting Accumulated Funds								
194		Capital Injections	53	2,269	#	0	0	0		
1,848		Closing Balance	1,688	3,494	107	2,511	2,511	2,511		
Notes to the Budget Statements
Significant variations are as follows:
Operating Statement 
•	government payment for outputs:  the increase of $4.501 million in the 2009-10 Budget from the 2008-09 estimated outcome is mainly due to:
•	the receipt of appropriation in place of Commonwealth grants due to the Federal Financial Reforms ($4.186 million); and
•	new initiatives (Homeless and Elder Law Project — $0.144 million, ICT Resourcing — $0.069 million).
•	user charges — non ACT government:  the increase of $0.067 million in the 2008-09 estimated outcome from the original budget and the increase of $0.042 million in the 2009-10 Budget from the 2008-09 estimated outcome is due to an expected increase in client contributions and recoveries.
•	grants from the Commonwealth:  the decrease of $4.082 million in the 2009-10 Budget from the 2008-09 estimated outcome is due to grants from the Commonwealth being transferred to government payment for outputs, as explained above.
•	interest:
•	the increase of $0.393 million in the 2008-09 estimated outcome from the original budget is due to statutory interest received from the Law Society of the ACT being higher than expected ($0.353 million), and investment earnings being higher than expected; and
•	the decrease of $0.211 million in the 2009-10 Budget from the 2008-09 estimated outcome is due to the expectation that the earnings on the statutory interest account returning to expected levels, coupled with an expected reduction in cash term deposit balances and the flow on effect of lower interest rates.
•	employee expenses:
•	the increase of $0.207 million in the 2008-09 estimated outcome from the original budget is mainly due to an upwards revision to long service leave and annual leave provisions and the cost of back-filling staff on long-term leave; and
•	the increase of $0.177 million in the 2009-10 Budget from the 2008-09 estimated outcome is mainly due to staffing related to new initiatives ($0.213 million). 
•	supplies and services:  the increase of $0.4 million in the 2008-09 estimated outcome from the original budget and the increase of $0.302 million in 2009-10 Budget from the 2008-09 estimated outcome are mainly due to an increase in the cost of services being provided by private legal practitioners, due to an increase in the complexity of some cases.
•	depreciation and amortisation:
•	the decrease of $0.017 million in the 2008-09 estimated outcome from the original budget is mainly due to a delay in the security upgrade and refurbishment of the Civic office and the upgrade of ICT infrastructure; and
•	the increase of $0.129 million in 2009-10 Budget from the 2008-09 estimated outcome is mainly due to a number of capital initiatives, the security upgrade, an ICT infrastructure upgrade, and the Civic office.
Balance Sheet
•	cash and cash equivalents:
•	the increase of $0.110 million in the 2008-09 estimated outcome from the original budget is mainly due to the net effect of an increase in cash due to the increase in interest received and client contributions levied, offset by a decrease in cash due to an increase in payments for supplies and services; and
•	the decrease of $0.311 million in the 2009-10 Budget from the 2008-09 estimated outcome is mainly due to lower interest received, combined with the effect of increasing payments for supplies and services.
•	current and non current receivables:  the decrease of $0.033 million in the 2008-09 estimated outcome from the original budget is mainly due to a decrease in the estimate of GST payable to the Australian Taxation Office.
•	other current assets:  the decrease of $0.023 million in the 2008-09 estimated outcome from the original budget is mainly due to a decrease in prepayments.
•	property, plant and equipment:
•	the decrease of $0.047 million in the 2008-09 estimated outcome from the original budget is mainly due to delays with capital acquisitions; and
•	the increase of $2.116 million in 2009-10 Budget from the 2008-09 estimated outcome is mainly due to the capital works program.
•	current and non current finance leases:  the increase of $0.060 million in the 2008-09 estimated outcome from the original budget is due to motor vehicles now being acquired through finance leases rather than operating leases.
•	other provisions:  the increase of $0.135 million in the 2008-09 estimated outcome from the original budget reflects an increase in the overall level of commitment to private legal practitioners.
Cash Flow Statement 
Variances in the statement are explained in the notes above.
Statement of Changes in Equity
•	capital injections:
•	the decrease of $0.141 million in the 2008-09 estimated outcome from the original budget reflects the rollover of capital projects to 2008-09 to 2009-10; and
•	the increase of $2.216 million in the 2009-10 Budget from the 2008-09 estimated outcome reflects the 2009-10 capital works program.