The Duty Barristers Scheme commenced in July 2008. A Duty Barristers Scheme Committee has been formed to oversee the Scheme. A database of more than 100 volunteer barristers has been established.

The Scheme is administered by the Bar Office. It is estimated that the Scheme has already provided many hundreds of thousands of dollars of legal assistance to unrepresented litigants on a pro bono basis.

The Duty Barristers Scheme has been able to provide counsel to assist the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal on an ad hoc basis. Discussions are in progress with a view to further expanding the scheme to assist the County Court. Duty barristers are rostered to appear in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Courts on a daily basis and Dandenong on Mondays.

The Duty Barristers Scheme was awarded a Victoria Law Foundation Distinguished Pro Bono Service Award in August 2008 and a Law Council of Australia National Lawyers Award in November 2008.

Persons seeking assistance must be refereed to the Scheme via either the Court or the VLA, and must meet the Duty Barristers Scheme Criteria.