NSW WC: Accessing legal assistance at no costs to eligible injured workers

There for few scopes of funding available to eligible injured workers from ILARS: 

• Obtain preliminary but comprehensive advice about their rights and entitlements. This will include whether an injured worker is entitled to a claim or not.  
• Access legal assistance to investigate their rights and entitlements under the relevant workers compensation legislations and if applicable, explore earl resolution of disagreements or disputes with the insurer with the assistance of a lawyer.  
• Access legal representations to have their dispute of a statutory benefits claim resolved by agreement or determined in the Personal Injury Commission by a Member.  
• Access legal representations to pursue appeals both within the Personal Injury Commission, or where appropriate, to higher courts such as the Supreme Court of NSW.  
• The legal costs that ILARS may grant include costs for professional legal fees and any associated disbursements.  

Disbursements are expenses incurred by a Lawyer in relation to a claim for compensation. This may include clinical notes, medical records, medical reports from your treating doctors, records from physiotherapists, and independent medical examination reports.  

In certain circumstances, IRO may also pay for reasonable travel and associated expenses (accommodation, meals etc.).  

If a Counsel (barrister) is briefed to appear on your behalf as an advocate at a teleconference, hearing etc., then Counsel’s fees will also be paid for by IRO.  

In conclusion, for all eligible injured workers, you can access legal advice relating to your statutory benefits claim at no costs to you. Do not wait and seek legal advice today regarding your work-related injury.