Criminal Lawyers Melbourne

• Our office accepts cases funded by Legal Aid grants, and is a member of Victoria Legal Aid’s section 29A referral panels for both summary and indictable matters (ie matters proceeding in both the Magistrates’ Court and in all superior courts).

  Grants of Aid in matters proceeding to superior courts can only be made to practitioners on the indictable panel. To be considered for inclusion on this panel it was necessary to satisfy Victoria Legal Aid that Dr Marich:

  • Is admitted as a practitioner of the Supreme Court of Victoria, has signed the High Court Roll and holds a current practising certificate under the Legal Practice Act, and
  • Is a criminal law specialist with an extensive current practice in the area of indictable crime.

  Eligibility for Aid in an individual case is a complicated issue, and is best resolved by a discussion with our office. We offer a free first telephone consultation so that you can find out some basic information about the charges you are facing, and what to do next. Your matter will be kept in the strictest of confidence. Contact us now by telephone or email to discuss your matter in more detail.

  Essentially it is necessary to satisfy Victoria Legal Aid that your criminal law or traffic case is sufficiently serious to qualify for a grant of Aid, and that you satisfy the means test (which measures your income and assets against the estimated cost of obtaining the legal services that you need). If you wish to apply for bail, plead not guilty to one or more charges, or appeal a decision, further preconditions must be met.

  VLA may also grant assistance for coroner’s inquests if:

  1. there is a reasonable likelihood that the applicant will be charged with a serious offence, for example, murder, manslaughter or culpable driving; or
  2. it is in the public interest for the applicant to be represented.

  VLA may grant assistance for hearings under the Crimes (Mental Impairment and Unfitness to be Tried) Act; and provide assistance to a person to oppose an Application by the Secretary of the Department of Justice for an Extended Supervision Order pursuant to the Serious Sex Offenders Monitoring Act 2005 (Vic).

  Further information can be obtained from the Victoria Legal Aid website at http://www.vla.vic.gov.au/panels.htm and http://www.vla.vic.gov.au/handbook.htm.

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