AUSTRALIA'S first legal officer has announced a review of the country's government-funded legal services.

Attorney General Nicola Roxon said the review will ensure the government is delivering the most cost-effective legal assistance services to those most in need.

“This review will help to ensure we continue to deliver the most cost-effective Commonwealth-funded legal assistance services to those most in need," Roxon said.

Applications are open for organisations to tender to complete the review.

The review will consider legal assistance as a national system and the progress made towards achieving the specific legal aid performance indicators set out in the National Partnership Agreement on Legal Assistance Services with the states and territories.

The review will be a collaborative project between the Commonwealth, states and territories, and will involve extensive consultation with service providers, presenting a strong evidence base to guide the future provision of legal assistance services in Australia.

All four Commonwealth legal assistance programs will be included in the review, namely Legal Aid Commissions, Community Legal Centres, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander legal services, and family violence prevention legal services

The review outcomes will contribute to the Government’s broader access to justice and COAG reform agendas, including closing the gap on Indigenous disadvantage, assisting those at risk of social exclusion and assisting to alleviate homelessness.

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“Labor has a strong tradition of providing better access to justice for Australian families,” Roxon said.

“Our commitment of more than $1.3 billion in legal assistance funding is the largest commitment in over a decade and is making a real difference around the country.