Australian Government Solicitor
Encyclopedia
Australian Government Solicitor, previously known as Commonwealth Deputy Crown Solicitor, is a law firm
that provides legal services to the Government of Australia
, and occasionally to governments of the states and territories of Australia
. It was originally established as an office within the Government, headed by an individual Commonwealth Crown Solicitor, but was turned into a government business enterprise in 1999.
Some commonwealth legal work, in particular constitutional law, is 'tied' work, so that the Australian Government Solicitor is the only firm able to perform this work on behalf of the Commonwealth.
Some individuals who have previously served as Commonwealth Crown Solicitor include Charles Powers
and Fred Whitlam
.
Law firm
A law firm is a business entity formed by one or more lawyers to engage in the practice of law. The primary service rendered by a law firm is to advise clients about their legal rights and responsibilities, and to represent clients in civil or criminal cases, business transactions, and other...
that provides legal services to the Government of Australia
Government of Australia
The Commonwealth of Australia is a federal constitutional monarchy under a parliamentary democracy. The Commonwealth of Australia was formed in 1901 as a result of an agreement among six self-governing British colonies, which became the six states...
, and occasionally to governments of the states and territories of Australia
States and territories of Australia
The Commonwealth of Australia is a union of six states and various territories. The Australian mainland is made up of five states and three territories, with the sixth state of Tasmania being made up of islands. In addition there are six island territories, known as external territories, and a...
. It was originally established as an office within the Government, headed by an individual Commonwealth Crown Solicitor, but was turned into a government business enterprise in 1999.
Some commonwealth legal work, in particular constitutional law, is 'tied' work, so that the Australian Government Solicitor is the only firm able to perform this work on behalf of the Commonwealth.
Some individuals who have previously served as Commonwealth Crown Solicitor include Charles Powers
Charles Powers
Sir Charles Powers KCMG , Australian politician and judge, was a Justice of the High Court of Australia from 1913 to 1929....
and Fred Whitlam
Fred Whitlam
Harry Frederick Ernest "Fred" Whitlam was Australia's Crown Solicitor from 1936 to 1949, and a pioneer of international human rights law in Australia...
.