Sayed v National Australia Bank Limited

In *Sayed v National Australia Bank Limited*, the applicant, an unrepresented litigant, sought legal assistance from the court. The dispute involved the applicant's interaction with National Australia Bank Limited. The matter came before Macfarlan JA of the Court of Appeal of New South Wales.

The central legal issue before the court was whether the applicant, as an unrepresented litigant, should be referred to a barrister or solicitor on the Pro Bono Panel for legal assistance, pursuant to rule 7.36 of the Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 1999 (NSW). The court was not required to determine any substantive issue of principle in the underlying dispute.

Macfarlan JA considered the applicant's request for legal assistance. Applying rule 7.36 of the UCPR, which provides for the referral of unrepresented litigants to the Pro Bono Panel, the court determined that such a referral was appropriate in this instance. The court found no impediment to making the referral, as the rule was designed to assist litigants in circumstances such as these.

The court ordered that the applicant be referred to the registrar for referral to a barrister or solicitor on the Pro Bono Panel for legal assistance.