ILARS funding guidelines
The ILARS Funding Guidelines set out the requirements and processes for grants of funding administered by the Independent Review Office (IRO) through the Independent Legal Assistance and Review Service (ILARS).
The Guidelines provide information on:
- How funding applications are assessed, approved and managed
- The obligations of approved lawyers when applying for and using funding
- Administrative and procedural requirements
The ILARS Funding Guidelines replaced the WIRO Funding Policy (issued on 2 September 2019 and amended on 1 July 2020) and came into effect on 1 March 2021.
The Guidelines should be read in conjunction with the Amending Instrument issued on 1 July 2026, which forms part of the current regulatory framework and should be considered alongside the Guidelines.
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Key Documents
The following resources support the interpretation and application of the ILARS Funding Guidelines:
ILARS Funding Guidelines issued in 2021
Amending instrument: ILARS Funding Guidelines issued in 2026
ILARS Funding Guidelines Practice Notes
Application Forms
The following forms are used when applying for ILARS funding:
ILARS Grant Application Form (pdf)
ILARS Grant Application Form – Industrial Deafness (Hearing Loss) (pdf)
Practice Guides and Additional Guidance
IRO publishes guidance materials from time to time to assist Approved Lawyers in specific areas of practice and funding applications.
Current guidance includes:
Course: Understanding the ILARS Amending Instrument
ILARS Industrial Deafness (Hearing Loss) Claims Practice Guide
Work Capacity Decisions - Information for WIRO Approved Lawyers