There are no fees associated with the filing of an application to the Tribunal and a lawyer cannot charge an applicant costs in respect of an application, unless the Tribunal approves those costs.
Pursuant to section 48 of the Victims of Crime Assistance Act 1996 the costs of, and incidental to, all proceedings in the Tribunal are in the discretion of the Tribunal and it has full power to determine by whom, to whom and to what extent the costs are to be paid.
Where an Application for Assistance is successful, the reasonable legal costs incurred by the applicant will usually be paid by the Tribunal, directly to the applicant’s legal representative.
If an applicant is legally represented, the legal representative must complete the ‘Amounts Payable to Solicitor’ section of your Statement of Claim form prior to submitting it to the Tribunal. Legal representatives should also attach any receipts and invoices for solicitors disbursements claimed.
Legal Cost Guidelines
The Chief Magistrate has published the below guidelines to aid the Tribunal in determining the amount of legal costs to be paid, for both preparation and appearance fees. See Guideline 1 of 2024.
Finding a Lawyer
The Law Institute of Victoria (LIV) online Directory Service and Legal Referral Service can assist you to locate legal professionals in your area or within a specific area of law. The LIV's phone and online Legal Referral Service provides free referrals to solicitors all over Victoria. Referrals are made according to practice area, geographic location, preferred language and other specific requirements.
Looking for Legal Help (liv.asn.au)
The VLS is a free service to victims of crime offering legal information, legal advice and referrals, including advice and support to victims of crime seeking financial assistance through VOCAT. The VLS is delivered in partnership between Victoria Legal Aid, Community Legal Centres (CLC’s) and Aboriginal Legal Services across the state.
The VLS Helpline operates Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, and is contactable on 1800 531 566. The VLS can also be contacted via the VLA Legal Help Chat at the VLA website www.legalaid.vic.gov.au or through the Victims of Crime Helpline 1800 819 817.