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Legal Aid News Issue 17 << Back to index CEO heads new department On 8 August 2001 Margaret Allison was appointed Director-General of the new Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care. Margaret left her position with Legal Aid on 24 August to take up this appointment. Bill Grant, Deputy Director-General, Attorney General's Department is acting as Chief Executive Officer until a permanent appointment is made. "It is with very mixed feelings that I leave the agency in this important period of its development," Margaret said in an email to staff. "In an environment of constant change, such as characterises the modern public sector, there is no 'good' time to leave an agency as some service innovation or reform will always be happening. I had for one, intended to introduce some targeted client survey and review processes this financial year, and I would hope that this is still done, in order to improve our awareness of what clients see as important and how we market our services. "You may be assured that the Government has a high level of confidence in the strategies and directions of the Legal Aid Commission, and values the huge contribution we make to the provision of legal services to the most disadvantaged members of our community. "I look forward immensely to the challenge of taking up my new position but will always continue to take a great interest in the work and future of Legal Aid." Margaret Allison: "I will follow with interest the work of the Commission as it continues to deliver accessible, equitable and efficient services to clients throughout the State." NEW PRESIDENT will build stronger links Director, Family and Civil Law, Kim Cull will be taking leave from Legal Aid for a year to take up her new position as President of the NSW Law Society. She will commence her new duties on 1 January 2002. Although Kim is the first government lawyer to become President, the bulk of her earlier career was spent in private practice, first as a partner with an Armidale firm and later as a consultant with Tress Cocks and Maddox, specialising in the area of professional indemnity insurance. Kim joined the Legal Aid Commission in August 2000 when the civil and family law practices were merged following an organisational restructure. She has practised in family law, criminal law, commercial and civil litigation and acted for various local government bodies. Kim has a particular interest in access to justice issues and wishes to see the expertise of Commission staff and their work appropriately recognised in the wider community. "My view of the delivery of legal services is a partnership between Legal Aid and the private profession and I am keen to promote this attitude," she says. "The Commission is well placed to accurately assess client needs and I consider a mixed model of test cases, media work, law reform contribution and education programs can best promote the delivery of quality legal services. In my role as President I hope to promote the work of government lawyers. In my relatively short time at the Commission, I have been overwhelmingly impressed by the commitment and quality of our staff." Of her work with the Legal Aid Commission, Kim says, "I have spent the first 12 months attempting to 'consolidate' the new structure and to chart the future directions of the two program areas. Business plans for both areas are close to finalisation and clarification of accountabilities, particularly for regional staff, are now completed. I have focused on appointing people to permanent positions to provide stability for our inhouse practices. Improvements in technology and software have been slow in the genesis but for the family law program have now been approved." Upon her return, Kim plans to continue the development of each program area and increase the expansion of Commission achievements through its leadership in the program areas and law reform initiatives. "Liaison with external agencies should increase through my involvement with the Law Society and I very much look forward to my return to the Commission at the beginning of 2003." Kim Cull attending a recent family law conference.
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