Office of Legal Services Coordination
Tender Notification
Applications for inclusion on the Commonwealth Legal Services Multi-Use List
The Australian Government Attorney-General’s Department (AGD) is establishing a legal services multi‑use list (LSMUL) which will be used by most Australian Government departments, agencies and bodies to purchase legal services.
AGD is seeking applications from interested legal service providers. Applications are due by 5.00pm on Friday 24 February 2012.
Application materials, and details on the industry briefings that will be held in a number of locations, are available from the AGD website. For more information email lsmul@ag.gov.au.
Compliance with Legal Services Directions 2005 - statistical data
The Legal Services Directions 2005 provide the framework for the Commonwealth’s handling of claims and litigation. The Office of Legal Services Coordination investigates reports of non-compliance with the Directions.
The Legal Services Directions 2005 may be found at the Commonwealth's Comlaw website.
In 2009-10, the Attorney-General’s Department received notification of 43 possible breaches of the Legal Services Directions. Those substantiated were mainly related to a failure to provide a certificate of compliance within 60 days of the end of the financial year, failure to report legal services expenditure within 60 days of the end of the financial year, and a failure to consult appropriately with other agencies (see Table 1).
In 2010-11, the Attorney-General’s Department received notification of 40 possible breaches of the Legal Services Directions. Those substantiated were mostly in relation to failure to provide a certificate of compliance within 60 days of the end of the financial year and failure to report legal services expenditure within 60 days of the end of the financial year (see Table 1).
| Year | Matters carried forward | Established breaches | Examined and found not to involve breaches | Matters still under investigation at year end |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009-10 | 16 | 24 | 30 | 5 |
| 2010-11 | 5 | 18 | 10 | 17 |
The Office of Legal Services Coordination (OLSC) supports the Attorney-General in the performance of his First Law Officer role. OLSC works to ensure that Commonwealth agencies receive consistent and well coordinated legal services that are of a high standard, that uphold the public interest and that are sensitive to their context of Commonwealth interests which are broader than those of any one agency.
OLSC is also responsible for managing the Commonwealth’s involvement in the 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission. OLSC is working closely with relevant agencies and departments to facilitate the Commonwealth’s full cooperation with this important inquiry.
Our areas of responsibility
Other matters relating to legal services:
- Commonwealth Legal Services Expenditure 2009-2010
- Guidelines for Legal Work Undertaken Without Charge
- Learning from experience - Lateral Economics report on Commonwealth Legal Services Purchasing
- Legal Assistance to Ministers
- Litigation Involving the Commonwealth
- Review of Commonwealth legal services procurement
- Service of Court Documents on the Commonwealth
Downloads
- Significant Issues Reporting Template [DOC 32KB]
- Significant Issues Reporting Template [PDF 12KB]
- Legal Services Reform Information Session Slides [DOC 1.1MB]
- Legal Services Reform Information Session Slides [PDF 244KB]
OLSC E-mail Distribution List
OLSC maintains an e-mail distribution list for information about the Legal Services Directions and related topics. To be added to that list, please e-mail olsc@ag.gov.au.
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