Once a person has been granted legal aid, a Public Defender may be briefed to advise or appear in a matter through the Legal Aid Commission, the Aboriginal Legal Services, a private solicitor or any community based legal group.
Public Defenders are available to represent clients charged with serious criminal offences anywhere in New South Wales, if they have been granted legal aid.
Services
Public Defenders:
represent accused persons, usually before a judge and a jury, in District Court and Supreme Court trials
appear in arraignments and sentence matters in the District Court and Supreme Court
appear in some murder committals in the Local Court
appear in appeals in the Court of Criminal Appeal and the High Court
contribute to the reform of the law through submissions to the Attorney General and participate on committees within the criminal justice system
Public Defenders also assist solicitors and members of the Bar with advice on criminal law practice and procedure.