International legal services and cooperation
The Attorney-General's Department works with other departments and agencies, the legal profession and peak legal bodies to improve the performance of Australia’s legal and related services internationally.
In international legal services, Australia’s objective is to encourage and facilitate the internationalisation of legal services by encouraging the practice of foreign law by foreign lawyers as a recognised aspect of legal practice in Australia.
In international legal cooperation, the Department promotes mutual understanding of each other’s legal systems and institutions between Australia and countries in the Asia-Pacific region and elsewhere.
This includes:
- Working with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to engage in international market access negotiations at the bilateral, regional and multilateral levels to reduce barriers to global trade in legal services
- undertaking and supporting activities both internationally and within Australia to improve and promote enduring links between the legal sectors of Australia and countries of the Asia-Pacific region and elsewhere
- developing and implementing Government policy to promote the interests of Australia’s legal and related services internationally; and
- monitoring and reviewing domestic and international developments, and conducting relevant research in legal and related services.
The Attorney-General has also established an International Pro Bono Advisory Group to help promote and support international pro bono work by Australian lawyers.