Legal Services Commission Structure

The Legal Services Commission has a board of management made up of ten Commissioners who determine policy and hear appeals from persons who have been refused legal aid.

The day-to-day operations of the Commission are carried out under the supervision of the Director. The organisation employs approximately 190 staff across eight offices in South Australia. The head office is at 82-98 Wakefield Street, Adelaide, and there are metropolitan offices located at Elizabeth, Holden Hill, Port Adelaide and Noarlunga, and regional offices at Whyalla, Port Augusta and Mount Barker.

Legal assistance is provided through two programs - the Representation Program and the Access Services Program. These two service delivery programs are supported by a Support Services Program.

The Representation Program includes the inhouse criminal law and family law representation and the assignments function.

The Access Services Program includes advice, minor assistance, community legal education and library services.

The Support Services Program includes finance, information systems, administration and secretarial functions.

Organisational chart

The Commissioners are:

• the Chairman, who must be a person holding judicial office or a legal practitioner of not less than five years standing
• one person nominated by the State Attorney-General to represent the interests of assisted persons (after consultation with the South Australian Council of Social Service Incorporated)
• three people nominated by the State Attorney-General
• three people nominated by the Law Society of South Australia
• one staff member nominated by the employees of the Commission
• the Director of the Commission.