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

Legal services purchasing

The Office of Legal Services Coordination (OLSC) is responsible for administration and policy in relation to Australian Government legal services including in relation to the Legal Services Directions issued by the Attorney-General under the Judiciary Act 1903.

See also 'OLSC Guidance Notes' which include guidance relevant to legal services purchasing.

 

ANAO Report 2005

The ANAO tabled its report on legal services arrangements in the Australian Public Service in Parliament on 20 June 2005.  This report examined the efficiency and effectiveness of the procurement and management of legal services by Australian Government Departments and agencies and the role of OLSC. 

The report made six recommendations to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the legal services arrangements within the Australian Public Service and three recommendations to enhance OLSC's role in administering the Legal Services Directions and assisting Departments and agencies on relevant legal issues.  The Australian Government Attorney-General's Department has expressed support for the recommendations subject to some additional comments (see the attachment to the report) and is working with the ANAO and other Departments and agencies in implementing those recommendations. 

 

ANAO Better Practice Guide on Legal Services

The ANAO has release a "Better Practice Guide on Legal Services".  This guide covers areas including contract management and procurement, governance and management of core functions.  Preparation of this Better Practice Guide follows the ANAO’s 2004-05 audit report on legal services arrangements, which identified ways to manage legal services in order to get the best value from them. This guide aims to help agencies adopt better practice in managing their legal service arrangements, including arrangements for planning and reviewing those services.

 

Purchasing legal services

This information provides Australian Government departments and agencies (agencies) with general guidance on some of the issues relevant to the acquisition of legal services, particularly through competitive tendering and contracting processes.  An updated version of this guide will be prepared following the tabling of the ANAO report on legal services purchasing in the Australian Public Service.

 

Guidelines for legal work not charged for by the Australian Government Attorney-General's Department

These guidelines describe legal work undertaken without charge for Departments and agencies in respect of policy functions for which they are responsible.

 

AGD Presentations