10Functions of the Commission

#### 10 Functions of the Commission 10 Functions of the Commission > > (1) The principal function of the Commission is to provide legal aid and other legal services in accordance with this Act. > > > (2) The Commission in the exercise of its principal function may— > > > > > (a) determine— > > > > > > > (i) the persons or classes of persons in respect of whom legal aid may be granted, and > > > > > > > (ii) the matters or classes of matters in respect of which legal aid may be granted, > > > > > (b) determine priorities in the provision of legal aid as between— > > > > > > > (i) different persons or different classes of persons, and > > > > > > > (ii) different matters or different classes of matters, > > > > > (c) (Repealed) > > > > > (d) specify principles, including the imposition of means tests, to be applied in determining applications for legal aid, > > > > > (e) specify the circumstances, if any, in which contributions shall be paid by legally assisted persons and the means of calculating any such contributions, > > > > > (f) establish and conduct such local offices as it considers appropriate, > > > > > (g) liaise and co-operate with persons engaged or interested in the provision, in New South Wales or elsewhere, of legal aid otherwise than under this Act, > > > > > (g1) (Repealed) > > > > > (h) give assistance and make grants, on such terms and conditions as it thinks fit, to persons or bodies within New South Wales for the provision by those persons or bodies of legal aid, > > > > > (i) enter into agreements for the provision of legal aid to citizens of New South Wales in proceedings outside New South Wales with bodies which exercise, outside New South Wales, functions similar to those of the Commission, > > > > > (j) bring to the attention of the public, by publishing advertisements or otherwise, the services provided by the Commission, > > > > > (k) collect and publish information in respect of the functions of the Commission and in respect of other schemes of legal aid provided in New South Wales, > > > > > (l) undertake research into all aspects of legal aid including the investigation and assessment of different methods of financing and providing legal aid, > > > > > (m) initiate and carry out educational programmes designed to promote an understanding by the public, or by sections of the public, of their rights, powers, privileges and duties under the laws of New South Wales, and > > > > > (n) make reports and recommendations to the Minister on such matters relating to the functions of the Commission as the Minister requests or as the Commission considers appropriate. > > > (3) The Commission may exercise such other functions as are conferred or imposed on it by or under this or any other Act. > > > (4) The Commission may do all such supplemental, incidental and consequential acts as may be necessary or expedient for the exercise of its functions. > > > (5) Persons may be employed in the Public Service under the [Government Sector Employment Act 2013](/view/html/inforce/current/act-2013-040) to enable the Commission to exercise its functions. > > > > Note— > > > > Section 59 of the [Government Sector Employment Act 2013](/view/html/inforce/current/act-2013-040) provides that the persons so employed (or whose services the Commission makes use of) may be referred to as officers or employees, or members of staff, of the Commission. Section 47A of the [Constitution Act 1902](/view/html/inforce/current/act-1902-032) precludes the Commission from employing staff. > > **s 10:** Am 1984 No 153, Sch 16; 1985 No 86, Sch 1 (9); 1987 No 9, Sch 1 (4); 1997 No 50, Sch 1 \[3\]; 2006 No 2, Sch 4.33 \[2\]; 2014 No 33, Sch 3.16 \[1\].