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Inquests - State law matters Legal aid is available to all applicants for inquests into deaths where representation is a preliminary step to civil proceedings for which aid is available or where the public interest would be advanced by representation of the applicant. A grant of legal aid for this type of matter is subject to Means Test A, Merit Test A, exclusions from state matters and state civil law general guidelines. In all matters regard will be had to the prospects of the applicant being granted leave to be represented at the inquest. Where the death to which the inquest relates occurred in the custody of the police, or in a prison, mental hospital, child care centre, community welfare facility or juvenile detention centre questions of public interest will generally be considered to have arisen. In considering the benefit/detriment aspects of Merit Test A and the reasonableness of granting legal aid consideration will be given to the applicant's relationship to the deceased and the likelihood of the interests of the deceased's family being represented at the inquest if legal aid were not granted. |
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