---
title: "Checklist: code a service to the National Legal Assistance Data Standards before reporting"
url: "https://ailawframework.com/precedents/legal-aid-and-community-legal-practice/nlap-service-coding-checklist"
type: "precedent"
site: "AI Law Framework"
id: "a54-nlap-service-coding-checklist"
area_id: "A54"
kind: "checklist"
ai_level: "green"
version: 1
task_ids: ["A54-E20261018-3"]
law_stated_as_at: "2026-10-22"
---

# Checklist: code a service to the National Legal Assistance Data Standards before reporting

> Close-of-file check that a legal assistance service is coded to the service types and hearing types in the National Legal Assistance Data Standards Manual, version 3.

Canonical page: https://ailawframework.com/precedents/legal-aid-and-community-legal-practice/nlap-service-coding-checklist  
Law stated as at: 2026-10-22

Site index for agents: https://ailawframework.com/llms.txt

## Key facts

- Kind: Checklist. Steps or checks to work through and tick off.
- Practice area: [Legal Aid & Community Legal Practice](https://ailawframework.com/precedents/legal-aid-and-community-legal-practice.md)
- Jurisdictions: Australia, Commonwealth, New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania, Australian Capital Territory, Northern Territory
- AI level: Green. The tool writes the first draft inside a template you have already tested. You check it. Without that test, first drafting starts at Yellow.
- Law stated as at: 2026-10-22
- Status: Maintained. Checked on 2026-10-22 against the 2 authorities it cites, for 10 jurisdictions.

## When to use it

Use before a community legal centre or legal aid body reports services under the national data standards. It codes the service. It does not describe the client's case.

## Used for these tasks

- [Code the centre’s service records to the national data standards before reporting](https://ailawframework.com/practice/legal-aid-and-community-legal-practice/code-the-centre-s-service-records-to-the-national-data-standards-before.md)

## How AI may be used

AI may suggest a service type from the centre's closed-file codes, using the manual's list. A person checks a sample before the report is sent.

**AI may:**

- Match a closed file's existing activity code to the service-type names published by CLCs Australia
- Flag a duty-lawyer or dispute-resolution file that has been given a hearing type other than no hearing or not applicable
- Count files with a blank service type or a blank hearing type

**AI must not:**

- Must not invent a service type that is not in the manual
- Must not put the client's story, name or unique facts into the reporting fields
- Must not treat a state legal aid grant stage as if it were a national service type

**The lawyer checks:**

- The manual used is version 3, effective 1 July 2021, or a later version if the department has replaced it
- Community education resources and community education activities are not coded as one service
- Duty lawyer and dispute resolution use the hearing-type value the manual requires for those services
- A sample of coded files has been checked against the file before the extract is reported

## Authorities

- [Attorney-General's Department, National Legal Assistance Data Standards Manual, version 3, effective 1 July 2021 (PDF and DOCX on the publications page)](https://www.ag.gov.au/legal-system/publications/national-legal-assistance-data-standards-manual)
- [CLCs Australia, Data standards (Manual version 3 from 1 July 2021; hearing types include mentions and bail; duty lawyer and dispute resolution are not hearing types)](https://clcs.org.au/services/data/data-standards/)

## Full text and drafting notes

The full text and the drafting notes are not part of this public page. Signed-in firm accounts can read them at https://ailawframework.com/precedents/legal-aid-and-community-legal-practice/nlap-service-coding-checklist and through the signed-in MCP connector https://ailawframework.com/mcp/firm.

*Practice guidance for planning and review. Confirm current primary sources and the requirements of the actual matter. This is general information, not legal advice.*