Legal System Publications

Office of Legal Services Coordination - Guidance Note 9: This guidance note is to be read in conjunction with the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet’s Guidance on Caretaker Conventions.

Office of Legal Services Coordination - Guidance Note 10: Commonwealth entities are to be mindful of the potential trauma that survivors of institutional child sexual abuse may experience during the claims and litigation process.

Office of Legal Services Coordination - Guidance Note 7: A Commonwealth agency is obliged to ‘use its best endeavours to assist the tribunal to make its decision’. What does this mean?

Office of Legal Services Coordination - Guidance Note 4: The Attorney-General and Attorney-General’s Department are responsible for constitutional law under the Administrative Arrangements Order. Section 32 is to ensure that the Attorney-General’s Department is aware of advice and requests for advice about constitutional law issues.

Office of Legal Services Coordination - Guidance Note 17: guidance on applying the framework for entities to provide financial assistance to current and former entity employees, current and former accountable authorities and statutory office-holders of entities, and persons currently or formerly employed as a member of a Minister’s staff under the Members of Parliament (Staff) Act 1984.

Office of Legal Services Coordination - Guidance Note 15: Practical guidance to help entities comply with obligations under Part 7 of the Legal Services Directions when engaging counsel to undertake Commonwealth legal work, including counsel selection, briefing requirements, rate negotiation and approvals of counsel rates above the daily rate thresholds.

Office of Legal Services Coordination - Guidance Note 13: Entities are obliged to seek the approval of the Attorney-General (or their delegate) when objecting to the jurisdiction of state and territory courts, or when submitting or objecting to the exercise of compulsory powers, or decision-making powers, by a state or territory body.

Office of Legal Services Coordination - Guidance Note 14: entities have obligations when settling monetary claims. This includes monetary claims reported as significant and claims brought by or against a person to which Part 9 of the Legal Services Directions applies (Assistance to eligible Commonwealth employees and officials in legal proceedings etc).

Office of Legal Services Coordination - Guidance Note 19: What does ‘receive service on behalf of the Commonwealth’ mean and how does an appointment under section 63 of the Judiciary Act work?

Office of Legal Services Coordination - Guidance Note 18: Office of Legal Services Coordination - Guidance Note 18: Under the Legal Services Directions, Commonwealth agencies have various obligations, including an obligation to act as a model litigant.

Office of Legal Services Coordination - Guidance Note 16: information to support entities in considering pro bono performance when selecting external legal services providers.

Office of Legal Services Coordination - Guidance Note 12: Practical guidelines for corporate Commonwealth entities (CCEs) when a constitutional issue emerges in litigation to which it is a party. These guidelines will help CCEs comply with obligations under section 50 of the Legal Services Directions.

Office of Legal Services Coordination - Guidance Note 11: Accountable authorities of non-corporate Commonwealth entities are obliged to actively pursue debts.

The table of concordance maps provisions under the Legal Services Directions 2017 against provisions in the new Legal Services Directions.

This application form is used to apply for financial assistance for legal representation costs and disbursements related to participation in the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion.

These guidelines contain information about applying for legal financial assistance under the Legal financial assistance scheme for witnesses to the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion.

Statement to advise of the outcomes of the Administrative Review Council's meeting on 13 February 2026. This included steps to commence an inquiry into Systemic Issue Notice No 1 2025, progress of the Social Security Inquiry and updates on the outcomes of the Migration Inquiry public consultation.

The Administrative Review Council Annual Report 2024–25 is the first annual report of the re-instated Administrative Review Council. It covers the financial year ending 30 June 2025.

The National Justice Reinvestment Unit (NJRU) will be delivered by an Aboriginal Community Control or First Nations-led organisation from mid-to-late 2026. The design, functions and responsibilities of the NJRU have been developed through co-design with Commonwealth-funded justice reinvestment initiatives and stakeholders. The documents on this page contain further details.

Statement to advise of the outcomes of the Administrative Review Council’s sixth meeting on Monday, 24 November 2025, including consideration of Systemic Issue Notice No 1 2025, update on the progress of the Migration Inquiry and Social Security Inquiry consultation, acceptance of a notification of a systemic issue by a member of the public, and progress of the Statement of Position responding to the broad issue raised by Systemic Issue Notice No 1 2024.