---
title: "Appeal to the Defence Force Discipline Appeal Tribunal: time limit and filing checklist"
url: "https://ailawframework.com/precedents/military-and-defence-law/dfdat-appeal-checklist"
type: "precedent"
site: "AI Law Framework"
id: "a64-dfdat-appeal-checklist"
area_id: "A64"
kind: "checklist"
ai_level: "yellow"
version: 1
task_ids: ["A64-H20261018-8"]
law_stated_as_at: "2026-10-18"
---

# Appeal to the Defence Force Discipline Appeal Tribunal: time limit and filing checklist

> A checklist for an appeal or application for leave to appeal to the Defence Force Discipline Appeal Tribunal: the 30-day period in s 21 of the Defence Force Discipline Appeals Act 1955 (Cth), Form 1, extensions, filing…

Canonical page: https://ailawframework.com/precedents/military-and-defence-law/dfdat-appeal-checklist  
Law stated as at: 2026-10-18

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

A checklist for an appeal or application for leave to appeal to the Defence Force Discipline Appeal Tribunal: the 30-day period in s 21 of the Defence Force Discipline Appeals Act 1955 (Cth), Form 1, extensions, filing under the Practice Direction, and grounds.

## Key facts

- Kind: Checklist. Steps or checks to work through and tick off.
- Practice area: [Military & Defence Law](https://ailawframework.com/precedents/military-and-defence-law.md)
- Jurisdictions: Australia, Commonwealth
- AI level: Yellow. AI can help in set ways. A lawyer checks specific points before use.
- Law stated as at: 2026-10-18
- Status: Maintained. Checked on 2026-10-18 against the 2 authorities it cites, for Australia and Commonwealth.

## When to use it

Use when a convicted ADF member is considering an appeal to the Appeal Tribunal. Start immediately after conviction, because the 30 days runs from the earlier of notification of the automatic review result and the last day of 30 days after conviction.

## Used for these tasks

- [Prepare an appeal to the Defence Force Discipline Appeal Tribunal](https://ailawframework.com/practice/military-and-defence-law.md#A64-H20261018-8)

## How AI may be used

AI may calculate the dates and check the filing for completeness against the Practice Direction; the lawyer settles the grounds and decides whether to seek leave or an extension.

**AI may:**

- Calculate both dates in s 21 and identify the earlier
- Check the Form 1 and attachments against the Practice Direction
- Build the record index

**AI must not:**

- Must not write the grounds of appeal for filing
- Must not draft or outline any statement by the member

**The lawyer checks:**

- Correct period calculated from the right event, and an extension application prepared if late
- Whether leave is required and the grounds settled
- Filed with the Registrar by a method the Practice Direction permits

## Authorities

- [Defence Force Discipline Appeals Act 1955 (Cth) s 21 (appeal or application for leave within 30 days)](https://20.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/viewdb/au/legis/cth/consol_act/dfdaa1955251/s21.html)
- [Defence Force Discipline Appeal Tribunal, Practice Direction (filing with the Registrar; Form 1 for appeals, leave and extensions; the s 21 period)](https://www.defenceappeals.gov.au/practice-directions)

## 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/military-and-defence-law/dfdat-appeal-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.*