Unit of competency Outline
Date retreived
23/07/2026 9:53 PM AWST
23/07/2026 9:53 PM AWST
Whilst all efforts are made to provide accurate and timely information from the relevant source/documentation, please be aware that the information supplied may not be the most current version. The accuracy of the detail has not been confirmed by the Department and therefore should not be relied upon without first confirming the contents.
Provide support in criminal law matters
Provide support in criminal law matters
Unit of competency
National Code
DEFPL024
DEFPL024
State Code
AVV87
AVV87
TGA Status
Replaced
Replaced
DTWD Status
Replaced
Replaced
State Implementation and Classification
Approved Date
Field of Education
090905 - Criminal Law
Original Release Date
Nominal Hours
0
Description
This unit covers the competency required to analyse information and to prepare documents in criminal law matters.This unit includes researching case histories and assisting the instructing legal officer to prepare for criminal law matters and service discipline proceedings.
Notes
Elements and Performance Criteria
1. Plan and prepare for the provision of support in criminal law
- 1.1 Instructions that require the provision of support in criminal law are received and acted upon
- 1.2 Circumstances are analysed and discipline issues are interpreted and clearly defined
2. Prepare and process documents involved in criminal law matters
- 2.1 Documents are identified, prepared and processed in accordance with legal practices and procedures
- 2.2 Documents are despatched in accordance with legal practices and procedures
- 2.3 Incoming documents are checked for completeness and timely delivery, and sender is contacted where insufficient information or deadlines are not honoured
- 2.4 Requests for information are reviewed with instructing legal officer and identified documents are retrieved, copied and despatched in accordance with legal practices and procedures
3. Perform research to support instructing legal officer
- 3.1 Files are reviewed and research requirements are determined in conjunction with instructing legal officer
- 3.2 Relevant documents and exhibits are retrieved and processed
- 3.3 Precedent and case law are retrieved, researched and reviewed, and summaries are made where appropriate
- 3.4 Summaries are forwarded to instructing legal officer and explanations are presented where necessary
4. Assist instructing legal officer to prepare for trial or service discipline proceedings
- 4.1 Relevant trial/tribunal is identified and appropriate files are prepared
- 4.2 Communications from client, police and other authorities and details of client’s charge and bail status are communicated to instructing legal officer
- 4.3 File is discussed with instructing legal officer, and work is planned and diarised
- 4.4 Availability of legal officers is canvassed and details are forwarded to instructing legal officer to facilitate engagement
- 4.5 Opposing party’s legal representative is contacted on behalf of instructing legal officer and relevant information is exchanged
- 4.6 Briefs for legal officers are prepared in conjunction with instructing legal officer and delivered
- 4.7 Liaison and communication between instructing legal officer and other parties is facilitated
- 4.8 Reminders of pending critical dates are forwarded to relevant persons
5. Conduct trial/tribunal and post trial/tribunal administration
- 5.1 Relevant trial/tribunal administrative instruction is prepared/processed
- 5.2 Trial/tribunal participants are notified of relevant details
- 5.3 Court/tribunal personnel are notified
- 5.4 Post trial/tribunal, all documents are collected and archived as appropriate, outcomes are processed, accounts are prepared and relevant reviewing authority is notified
The Range Statement relates to the Unit of Competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording in the Performance Criteria is detailed below.
Instructions may include:
charge sheet
conduct record
documentary material, exhibits and evidence
oral or written correspondence, including from the command structure, commanding officer or an individual
record of evidence
record of prior convictions
summary of matter
witness statements
Criminal law may include:
DFDA which has jurisdiction over service personnel and incorporates the Commonwealth Crimes Act and Commonwealth Evidence Act
relevant state/territory criminal law including:
Common Law for NSW, Victoria and SA
Criminal Codes (Queensland, WA)
Criminal Code (Tasmania)
Crimes Act 1900 (ACT, NSW)
Crimes Act 1958 (Victoria)
Criminal Law Consolidation Act 1935 (SA)
Documents may include:
account
adjournment letters
affidavit court/tribunal forms
confirming/reporting letters to client outlining results of court/tribunal hearing
court/tribunal reminder letters
summons/orders
Legal practices and procedures may include:
engaging experts
equity
instructing legal officer supervisory procedures
practice notes
protocol for accommodating special client needs e.g. case manager, social worker, parole officer
protocol for contacting clients e.g. translator, interpreter
recording information
security/confidentiality/privacy procedures
verifying and authorising information
Trials and service discipline proceedings may include:
general courts martial
magistrates/local trials
restricted courts martial
summary hearings (subordinate, commanding officer, superior)
Relevant documents and exhibits may include:
artefacts
briefs
clinical reports
charge sheet (form)
conduct record (form)
defendant’s statement of claims
expert reports
further and better particulars
hospital discharge summaries
medical reports
photographs/videos
plaintiff’s statement of claims
pleading documents
service history
witness statements/affidavits
writ of summons
Trial/tribunal may include:
courts or tribunals
criminal jurisdictions
criminal matters such as:
assault
homicide
manslaughter
property offences (theft, larceny)
service discipline offences
sexual assault
defences such as:
automatism
denial
duress
ignorance of the law
insanity
intoxication
irresistible impulse
mistake of fact
necessity
self defence
superior orders
hearings such as:
defence force magistrate
general courts martial
restricted courts martial
summary (subordinate, commanding officer, superior)
Critical dates may include:
appointments
arrest conditions
meeting bail conditions
summary hearings/court/tribunal dates
Relevant details may include:
date
time
venue
Instructions may include:
charge sheet
conduct record
documentary material, exhibits and evidence
oral or written correspondence, including from the command structure, commanding officer or an individual
record of evidence
record of prior convictions
summary of matter
witness statements
Criminal law may include:
DFDA which has jurisdiction over service personnel and incorporates the Commonwealth Crimes Act and Commonwealth Evidence Act
relevant state/territory criminal law including:
Common Law for NSW, Victoria and SA
Criminal Codes (Queensland, WA)
Criminal Code (Tasmania)
Crimes Act 1900 (ACT, NSW)
Crimes Act 1958 (Victoria)
Criminal Law Consolidation Act 1935 (SA)
Documents may include:
account
adjournment letters
affidavit court/tribunal forms
confirming/reporting letters to client outlining results of court/tribunal hearing
court/tribunal reminder letters
summons/orders
Legal practices and procedures may include:
engaging experts
equity
instructing legal officer supervisory procedures
practice notes
protocol for accommodating special client needs e.g. case manager, social worker, parole officer
protocol for contacting clients e.g. translator, interpreter
recording information
security/confidentiality/privacy procedures
verifying and authorising information
Trials and service discipline proceedings may include:
general courts martial
magistrates/local trials
restricted courts martial
summary hearings (subordinate, commanding officer, superior)
Relevant documents and exhibits may include:
artefacts
briefs
clinical reports
charge sheet (form)
conduct record (form)
defendant’s statement of claims
expert reports
further and better particulars
hospital discharge summaries
medical reports
photographs/videos
plaintiff’s statement of claims
pleading documents
service history
witness statements/affidavits
writ of summons
Trial/tribunal may include:
courts or tribunals
criminal jurisdictions
criminal matters such as:
assault
homicide
manslaughter
property offences (theft, larceny)
service discipline offences
sexual assault
defences such as:
automatism
denial
duress
ignorance of the law
insanity
intoxication
irresistible impulse
mistake of fact
necessity
self defence
superior orders
hearings such as:
defence force magistrate
general courts martial
restricted courts martial
summary (subordinate, commanding officer, superior)
Critical dates may include:
appointments
arrest conditions
meeting bail conditions
summary hearings/court/tribunal dates
Relevant details may include:
date
time
venue
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit
Assessment must confirm the ability to:
analyse information
prepare documents in criminal law matters
research case histories
assist the instructing legal officer to prepare for trials and service discipline proceedings
The candidate must at all times comply with legislative requirements, policy and standards, and demonstrate an awareness of access, equity and diversity principles and practices.
Consistency in performance
Competency should be demonstrated in a range of actual or simulated workplace contexts.
Context of and specific resources for assessment
Context of assessment
Competency should be assessed in the workplace or in a simulated workplace environment.
Specific resources for assessment
Access is required to appropriate documentation and resources normally found in the work environment.
Assessment must confirm the ability to:
analyse information
prepare documents in criminal law matters
research case histories
assist the instructing legal officer to prepare for trials and service discipline proceedings
The candidate must at all times comply with legislative requirements, policy and standards, and demonstrate an awareness of access, equity and diversity principles and practices.
Consistency in performance
Competency should be demonstrated in a range of actual or simulated workplace contexts.
Context of and specific resources for assessment
Context of assessment
Competency should be assessed in the workplace or in a simulated workplace environment.
Specific resources for assessment
Access is required to appropriate documentation and resources normally found in the work environment.
Replaced By
| State Code | National Code | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| BBD17 | DEFDPL011 | Provide support in criminal law matters | Unit of competency |
