The Department's overarching strategic plan sets out the Department's objectives and describes how the objectives can be achieved. The strategic plan provides a rational basis on which priorities are determined and will be updated to ensure that resources are well targeted and used efficiently, having regard to changing environment.

LONG TERM AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

• to operate an independent, efficient and cost-effective legal aid service;

• to ensure that no one with reasonable grounds for taking or defending proceedings is prevented from doing so because of lack of means;

• to ensure that in the interests of justice, no one charged with a criminal offence or with meritorious grounds of appeals is deprived of legal representation because of lack of means; and

• to improve the quality and accessibility of legal aid services to the public while achieving maximum cost-effectiveness.

In achieving the above objectives, the Department will, where appropriate, conduct reviews on different aspects of legal aid services from time to time taking into account the views and suggestions of the Legal Aid Services Council ("LASC"), users of the services and other stakeholders.

PRIORITY AREAS

Processing of legal aid applications

The Department will continue to look for ways to enhance the efficiency, speed and transparency in processing legal aid applications while ensuring that decisions in granting or refusing legal aid are reasonable and consistent.

Assignment

The Department will select suitable counsel or solicitors on the Legal Aid Panel or in-house lawyers to act for aided persons in the absence of suitable nomination by the aided persons having regard to the paramount interests of the aided persons, type and complexity of the case in question.

Monitoring of assigned-out cases

The Department will ensure that assigned-out cases are conducted effectively and satisfactorily in terms of costs and progress and that continuance of legal aid in these cases are fully justified.

In-house litigation

The Department will ensure that its litigation service is delivered in an efficient, highly professional and cost-effective manner.

Customer service

The Department attaches great importance to customer service and will continue to nurture a customer-focused approach in the delivery of its service and provide staff with adequate training to enhance their customer service skills.

Information system

The Department will keep abreast of developments in information technology and look for ways to enhance the efficiency of the operation of the Department and the quality of its services through the use of advanced information technology.

Publicity

The Department will continue to enhance public awareness and understanding of legal aid services, and to increase transparency of the operation of the Department.

Staff

The Department will continue to develop and maintain a highly motivated, dynamic, well trained and committed workforce with the highest standards of professional excellence and ethics.

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