The Law Handbook 2024

1230 Index complaints about 59–60 cost limits 60 time limits 59–60 conditional costs agreement 57 conditional fees 57 consent 56 contingency fees 57 costs agreement 56, 57 court proceedings, in 58 damages claims 933 disbursements 55, 56 disclosure statement 55–6 disputing bill 58 estimate, obtaining 53, 56 excessive 58 fair and reasonable 56 fixed fees 57 group costs orders 57 GST 55, 56 holding lien 55 interest on unpaid bill 58 item-by-item charging 57 itemised bill 56, 58 requesting 56, 58 lawyer’s obligations 54 lump sum bill 58 negligence claims 933 no-win, no-fee 57 paying 58 payment in advance 57–8 professional costs 56 solicitor-client costs 933 subscription fees 57 suing for 58 time costing 56–7 time for complaint about 58, 59 time for payment 58 understanding 56 updated disclosure 56 value-based costing 57 VCAT proceedings 58 VLA cost ceilings 69 Lawyers for Forests 1044, 1052 lay-by sales 701 Leadership Plus 793 leases goods see consumer leases residential see tenancy stamp duty 407 leave see employment conditions legal aid 62–75 advice directory 88–94 community information centres 94 community legal centres 62, 70–1, 88–93 criminal matters 65 debt problems 364 financial counselling 74, 364 free information 62 help going before court 65 interpreters 62, 74–5 Justice Connect see Justice Connect Law Aid 71 Legal Help line 62, 63, 79, 86, 88, 93, 364 Magistrates’ Court registrars 73 private lawyers 71, 94 Probate Office 74 providers 62 State Trustees 74 Tenants Victoria 74 trade unions 73 universities 74, 94 Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service 62, 71, 92, 728 Victorian Legal Aid see Victoria Legal Aid what is 62 legal capacity 675–7, 787 advance care directive, to make 857 bankrupts 677 cognitive impairment 676, 788 corporations 677 disability and 787, 788 incorporated associations 612, 622 mental illness 676 consent to treatment of 826–7 minors 352, 676–7 prisoners 677 legal documents 27–8 affidavit 27–8 document signing stations (DSS) 27 honorary justices 28 justice of the peace 27 public notaries 27, 28 signing 28 statutory declaration 27 witnessing 27, 28 Legal Help line 62, 63, 79, 86, 88, 93, 171, 364 Legal Practitioners’ Liability Committee (LPLC) 545 legal professional privilege owners corporations and 609 legal representation 52–61, 76 child protection applications 47 Children’s Court 40, 47 contacts 61 lawyers see lawyers legal aid see legal aid; Victoria Legal Aid right of access to 805 VCAT hearings 724 Legal Services Board see Victorian Legal Services Board and Commissioner Leongatha: Rural Financial Counselling Service 394 letters of administration 904, 912 application procedure 912 duties of administrator 905 LGBTIQA+ Family Law Legal Advice Clinic 292 Liberty Victoria 1014 libraries 11, 12 copying of copyright works 764 document signing stations (DSS) 27 information for self-representation 79 Law Library of Victoria 11 State Library of Victoria 12, 79, 87 VLA public law library 12, 62, 79 licensing and registration 729 applications 729 BLA see Business Licensing Authority businesses 729 conveyancers 544 copyright 761–2 estate agents 551, 561 insurance brokers 956 private security guards 1052 liens buying car subject to 630 lawyer’s holding lien 55 Lifeline: Crisis Support 238 limitation of actions child abuse, personal injury resulting from 933 family provision claims 905 long stop limitation period 932 manufacturer’s liability 711 personal injury damages 932–3 adults 932 child abuse, from 933 disabled persons 932 discoverable date 932 extensions 933 legal incapacity 932 minors 932 renter 526 statute barred debt 344, 346–7, 352 linked credit providers 448, 712–13 Australian Consumer Law provisions 712–13 car trader 643 consumer guarantees 712–13 credit cards 713 liability for loss 448 linked credit contract, meaning 712 tied credit contract 448 Linkt Assist 130 litigation guardian 791 littering offences 1033 loan see credit contract; guarantee; mortgage Local Community Insurance Services (LCIS) 1046, 1052 local councils abatement notices 1040 claims against, County Court 19 complaint bodies 730 discrimination 989 Environmental Health Officer 730 food safety issues 730 noise laws 591, 592 pollution, dealing with 1040 protests, permits for 1047 websites 11 Local Government Inspectorate 730 Loddon Campaspe Community Legal Centre 88 long service leave 1056 low-income tax offset (LITO) 398 M Mabo decision 4, 7, 8 magistrates addressing 13 bail, grant of 197 complaints about 23 jury service ineligibility 24 Magistrates’ Court 13–18 addressing magistrate 13 appeal from 19–21 arbitration 17–18 Assessment and Referral Court (ARC) List 15, 37, 791, 807–8 bail 197, 212–13 children, proceedings relating to 267–8