What is an IRO Lawyer?
An IRO lawyer is an Australian legal practitioner who has been approved by the Independent Review Office (“IRO”) to provide legal advice to injured workers in New South Wales.
What you need to know?
After being approved, an IRO lawyer is able to apply to the IRO for grants of funding under the Independent Legal Assistance and Review Service (ILARS) to fund the legal costs of an injured eligible worker.
How can the funding be used?
The grant of funding from ILARS can be used to obtain legal advice from an IRO lawyer:
- about your rights and entitlements following a work injury (whether or not your claim has been accepted), including assistance completing any claim forms
- in relation to the workers compensation scheme itself and your obligations as an injured worker
- to challenge decisions made by workers compensation insurers (where there are prospects of success)
- to assist in getting reasonable and necessary medical expenses approved by insurers
- to investigate and make a claim should a worker suffer a permanent impairment following an injury
- if necessary, to bring disputes or claims for lump sum compensation to the Personal Injury Commission for resolution
Will it cost me anything?
- No.
- Your approved IRO lawyer will explain ILARS during your initial conference and generally complete the application for funding with you. Once approved, your IRO lawyer can generally also obtain your clinical notes from your treating doctors and if necessary, medico-legal reports on your behalf without any charge to you.
Who else may obtain IRO funding for a claim?
IRO funding may also be obtained by dependents, or beneficiaries of an estate, for a worker who has lost their life at work. The dependents or beneficiaries may then make a legal claim on behalf of the deceased.
Who is not eligible for IRO funding?
IRO funding is not available for exempt workers, which includes police officers, firefighters, paramedics, coal miners and workers suffering a dust disease. If you are unsure if you are an exempt worker, we urge you to contact our office at your earliest convenience to confirm your entitlements under workers compensation.
Author: Amanda Robinson
