Justice Minister Judith Collins officially opened the Tauranga Public Defence Service (PDS) office today.
The PDS provides an in-house legal aid service through the use of salaried staff who work alongside contracted legal aid lawyers.
'The Public Defence Service is an important component of the cost-effective, high quality legal aid system this government is working towards,” says Judith.
Tauranga is the eighth PDS office to open.
The PDS was piloted in Auckland and Manukau courts in 2004 and, after its success, was rolled out to cover all courts in Auckland (four offices), Wellington, Hamilton and Dunedin.
Judith says the PDS is only being established in areas where it can successfully operate alongside the private bar, where it can provide choice and allow benchmarking of quality and cost.
'The PDS delivers quality defence services to some of the most vulnerable New Zealanders.
'It is well regarded by judges, prosecutors and court staff. And it is cost-effective and delivers great value for money.”
3 comments
But will it reduce the huge legal aid bill?
Posted on 02-03-2012 16:54 | By Gee Really
Interesting to see that some lawyers are getting about $400,000 a year from legal aid. Wow. Hope this actually reduces that cost to reasonable earnings like most of us get.
unequal access to justice
Posted on 03-03-2012 18:55 | By accessto justice
"High quality legal aid system"? You have to be joking. Or lying to the public. The PDS now does 50% of the criminal legal aid work. The Tauranga PDS has three lawyers doing the work of twenty lawyers. Collegiality between the independent bar and the PDS, now that is a downright lie. All you have to do is observe at the district court. Defence lawyers being employed by the government (PDS) are underfunded in contrast to the prosecution lawyers who are also paid by the government. This is just the start of the rich having proper access to Justice and the poor lucky to get a lawyer who has time to properly prepare their defence. And as for the comment above which i presume comes from the Adams Horsley figures recently publicised. Thats 400 grand for four lawyers. Less GST. Less salaries. Less cost of practice. Less income tax.
ANother Mess Waiting to Happen
Posted on 03-03-2012 20:00 | By MikkiT
So when you are being prosecuted by the Crown/Government, unless you can afford to pay your own lawyer you will have a legal aid lawyer who is also paid by the Crown/Government. Fair and Just?
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