Some lawyers work exclusively for the government. This can be:

• local government such as municipal councils;
• state or territory governments; or
• the federal government.

The roles these lawyers undertake are wide ranging. At a local government level lawyers may be employed to undertake policy work for the council or prosecution of local council offences.

At a state level there are a number of fields lawyers work in. For example they can be policy advisers in government departments or drafters (writers) of legislation. They can also work for statutory authorities such as the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Legal Aid, the Workers Compensation authority or the Motor Accidents Compensation authority in each state or territory.

At the federal or Commonwealth level lawyers may be engaged by a statutory authority that oversees a federal area of responsibility such as employment law or the prosecution of federal offences. For example:

• the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP);
• the National Crime Authority;
• the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC); or
• Fair Work Australia.

What all these lawyers have in common is that they work for the government not for individual members of the public. They are not permitted to take on private work and charge a fee as other lawyers do in private practice. They are also bound by the various statutes (legislation) relevant to the work they do. With the exception of Legal Aid lawyers it is important to remember that a government lawyer’s ‘client’ is the government authority who employs them, not members of the public. They are however still subject to the same rules of professional conduct and the duty to the court that applies to all lawyers.

This Legal Guide on Government Lawyers provides practical information to the general public on a selection of government lawyers you might come into contact with and general advice on ways to resolve problems with them. Before making important decisions it is advisable to obtain legal advice specific to your situation. LegalEagle’s™ free directory profiles all lawyers in Australia. You can use it to Find a Lawyer near you.

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Warning: Information provided through LegalEagle™ is for general guidance. It is not legal advice. Laws and procedures referred to may change and differ between states, territories and nationally. There may also be important exceptions or qualifications. Only a lawyer providing formal legal advice can assess your particular circumstances to determine how the law will apply.