Australian Government: Attorney-General's Department
Australian Government: Attorney-General's DepartmentAchieving a Just and Secure Society

Legal Services Directions 2005 and Guidance Notes

The Legal Services Directions were first issued in 1999 following amendments to the Judiciary Act 1903 (Cth) empowering the Attorney-General to issue directions that apply to ‘Commonwealth legal work’ as defined. The Directions were then revised and reissued in 2005 as a statutory instrument with the force of law.

You can access the Legal Services Directions from the Comlaw website.

Current Guidance Notes:

  1. The Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act 1975: Obligation to Assist the Tribunal

  2. Use of in-house lawyers for court litigation

  3. Breach of the Legal Services Directions 2005

  4. Recovery of Costs

  5. Principles of constitutional litigation involving Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act 1997 (Cth) bodies

  6. Handling litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) during the caretaker period
  7. Reporting on significant issues

  8. Reporting of legal services expenditure
  9. Appointment to accept service under s63 of the Judiciary Act 1903 (Cth)

  10. Advice on constitutional law matters (paragraph 10A of the Legal Services Directions 2005)

  11. Briefing the Solicitor-General

Contact us

Office of Legal Services Coordination
Attorney-General’s Department
3-5 National Circuit
BARTON ACT 2600

Telephone: (02) 6141 3642
Email: olsc@ag.gov.au