32Notice to practitioner about proposed decision

32 Notice to practitioner about proposed decision Before making a decision about a private legal practitioner under section 31E (4) (b) or (c), the commission must— (a) give written notice to the practitioner setting out the reasons for the proposed decision; and (b) allow the practitioner a reasonable opportunity to be heard on the proposed decision. 32AA Payments to private legal practitioners (1) This section applies if a private legal practitioner performs legal services in a matter for a legally assisted person under this Act. (2) The private legal practitioner must give the commission an invoice for the legal services provided in the matter. (3) The commission may issue directions about the giving of invoices. (4) The commission must pay the invoice in accordance with the fees decided under section 31C (Fees for services of private legal practitioners). (5) If the private legal practitioner does not give the commission an invoice for the services in accordance with any directions issued under subsection (3), the commission is not obliged to pay the legal practitioner for the legal services.

(6) The commission is not obliged to pay for legal services provided for a person before the person applies for legal assistance. (7) However, the commission may pay for legal services mentioned in subsection (6) if the legal practitioner has given the chief executive officer notice that the person intends to apply for legal assistance for the services.