Legal Services Amendment (Multi-use List) Direction 2018

Administered by Attorney-General's Department

Legislation au F2018L00937 Not in force Legislative Instrument

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Legal services amendment (Multi-use list) Direction 2018 EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

 

Issued by authority of the Attorney-General

in compliance with section 15G of the Legislation Act 2003

INTRODUCTION

Under section 55ZF of the Judiciary Act 1903 (Judiciary Act), the Attorney-General may issue Legal Services Directions applying generally to Commonwealth legal work (as defined in that section).

The power to issue legal services directions was conferred having regard to the Attorney‑General’s responsibility, as First Law Officer, for legal services provided to the Commonwealth and its agencies.

OUTLINE

The Legal Services Directions 2017 (Directions) were issued under section 55ZF of the Judiciary Act. They are a legislative instrument for the purposes of the Legislation Act 2003 (Legislation Act). This Direction is also a legislative instrument for the purposes of the Legislation Act.

This instruction amends the Directions to:

  • give effect to transitional arrangements for the procurement of legal services upon the expiry of the Legal Services Multi-use List (LSMUL) on 30 June 2018
  • raise the threshold value for a ‘major claim’ in Appendix C from $25,000 to $100,000, and
  • set targets for Commonwealth entities in relation to briefing female barristers.

 

Consultation

There is a general obligation on the rule-maker under section 17 of the Legislation Act 2003 to be satisfied that any consultation that is appropriate and reasonably practical has been undertaken before a legislative instrument is made.

The proposed amendments to the Directions regarding the expiry of the LSMUL, a replacement procurement model and raising of the threshold value for a ‘major claim’ arise from recommendations in the Secretary’s Review of Commonwealth Legal Services (Review). The development of these Review recommendations was informed by extensive consultations with Commonwealth entities, the legal sector and industry.

The Secretary of the Attorney-General’s Department received unanimous support from the Secretaries’ Equality and Diversity Council for the Commonwealth to adopt targets in line with the Law Council of Australia’s Equitable Briefing Policy. A proposal for the Commonwealth to adopt such a policy by amending the Directions was put to the General Counsel Working Group, comprising of General Counsel and Heads of Legal from Commonwealth entities with the most significant external legal spend.

 

Regulation Impact Statement

The Office of Best Practice Regulation (OBPR) has advised that a Regulation Impact Statement is not required (OBPR ID 23913).

Statement of Compatibility with Human Rights

Before this instrument was made, its impact on human right was assessed using tools and guidance published by the Attorney-General’s Department.  This Legislative Instrument is fully compatible with human rights and freedoms recognised or declared in the international instruments listed in section 3 of the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011.

 

This instrument is compatible with human rights because it promotes:

  • the freedom of discrimination in employment as engaged by Article 11 of the Convention on the Elimination of All forms of Discrimination against Women,
  • protection against discrimination on the ground of sex as engaged by Article 26 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and
  • the right to fair wages and equal remuneration for work of equal value as engaged by Article 7 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

The LCA’s Equitable Briefing Policy aims to bring about cultural change within the legal profession’s gender briefing practices by encouraging genuine consideration of women barristers.


Attachment A

NOTES ON SECTIONS

Section 1  Name of legislative instrument

This section provides for the legislative instrument to be named as the Legal Services Amendment (Multi-Use List) Direction 2018. The legislative instrument may be cited by that name.

 

Section 2  Commencement

This section provides for the legislative instrument to commence on 1 July 2018.  

 

Section 3 Authority

This section identifies the Act that authorises the making of the legislative instrument as the Judiciary Act 1903.

 

Section 4  Schedules

Schedule 1 – Legal Services Directions 2017

Amendments were required to remove references to the Legal Services Multi-Use List (LSMUL) which expired on 30 June 2018, consequently Commonwealth entities can no longer purchase legal services using the LSMUL. Legal services procurement will be akin to ordinary procurement undertaken in accordance with the Commonwealth procurement framework.

Paragraph 12.3A

Due to the expiry of the LSMUL, paragraph 12.3A was repealed. The paragraph required an approved Commonwealth company or an approved government business enterprise to comply with paragraph 9A when purchasing legal services from the LSMUL.

Paragraph 15

The definition of approved Commonwealth company and approved government business enterprise have been repealed, the terms are redundant due to the removal of paragraph 4(1), see below.

Appendix C – Handling monetary claims

Paragraph 3

Paragraph 3 of the Appendix C imposes a threshold above which monetary claims are considered major claims and dealt with by specific rules. Previously this threshold was $25,000 and it has been raised to $100,000.  Settlements for amounts not exceeding $100,000 may now be approved by the accountable authority of a non‑corporate Commonwealth entity, or the accountable authority’s delegate, once satisfied that the settlement is in accordance with legal principle and practice.  Settlement of any matters reported as significant under paragraph 3 will continue to require the approval of the Attorney‑General regardless of the monetary value.

Appendix D – Engagement of counsel

Paragraph 4D

Paragraph 4D outlines the reasonable endeavours that are to be made by the Commonwealth in selecting counsel.  Subparagraph 4D(d) has been inserted to encourage consideration of female counsel with relevant seniority, expertise and experience in the relevant practice area when selecting counsel, with a view to particular targets in relation to briefing female barristers.

 

The note following paragraph 4D has been amended to encourage Commonwealth agencies to publish information annually which will allow an assessment of whether in relation to briefing senior female barristers and junior female barristers targets in subparagraphs (d)(i) and (ii) are being met.  The note also references that online Guidance material will be available to assist agencies.

 

Appendix F - Procurement of Commonwealth legal work

Paragraph 1

The definition of LSMUL was removed from the Definitions for Appendix F.

Paragraph 3

Paragraph 3 has been repealed as the expiry of the LSMUL has made a Commonwealth entity’s obligation to use the LSMUL obsolete.

Paragraph 4

Paragraph 4(1) is obsolete due to the expiry of the LSMUL. The provision enabled OLSC to approve a Commonwealth company or government business enterprise to access the LSMUL. Paragraph 4(2) is also redundant as it required the above entities to comply with relevant guidance material issued by the Department when using the services of an LSMUL provider.

Paragraph 5

Amendments to Paragraph 5 have removed references to the LSMUL, approved Commonwealth company and approved government business enterprise . The requirement of Commonwealth entities (other than a government business enterprise) to take into account a legal services provider’s involvement in pro bono legal work remains as defined in paragraph 2 of Appendix F. 

Paragraph 8

Amendments to Paragraph 8 have removed references to the LSMUL, approved Commonwealth company and approved government business enterprise. The requirement continues to require a Commonwealth entity (other than a government business enterprise) to provide all reasonable assistance to the Attorney-General or the Attorney-General’s Department in response to an inquiry about procurement of legal services from an external legal services provider.

Paragraph 9

Paragraph 9 has been repealed to remove the obligation that a contract between a Commonwealth entity and an LSMUL provider requires that the provider report to OLSC

(a) in a form approved by OLSC and

(b) not later than 30 days after the end of each financial year.

 

Overview

The Legal Services Amendment (Multi-use List) Direction 2018 was enacted to address the expiration of the Legal Services Multi-use List (LSMUL) on 30 June 2018 and to implement necessary transitional arrangements for the procurement of legal services. Issued under section 55ZF of the Judiciary Act 1903, the Direction also aims to increase the threshold value for a 'major claim' in Appendix C from $25,000 to $100,000, and to set targets for Commonwealth entities in relation to briefing female barristers. This legislative instrument was developed in response to the Secretary's Review of Commonwealth Legal Services, which involved extensive consultations with Commonwealth entities, the legal sector, and industry. Additionally, the Direction aims to promote gender equality in the legal profession by aligning with the Law Council of Australia's Equitable Briefing Policy, which seeks to encourage genuine consideration of women barristers for briefing. The policy objective is to foster cultural change within the legal profession’s gender briefing practices and to ensure that the Commonwealth’s procurement of legal services remains compatible with human rights and freedoms recognised or declared in international instruments.

Scope and Application

The Legal Services Amendment (Multi-Use List) Direction 2018 applies to all Commonwealth entities as defined under the Judiciary Act 1903. This includes all Commonwealth departments, agencies, and instrumentalities, which are required to comply with the provisions of this legislative instrument when procuring legal services. The Act affects the procurement process for Commonwealth legal services, particularly following the expiry of the Legal Services Multi-Use List on 30 June 2018. The Amendment raises the threshold for 'major claims' from $25,000 to $100,000 and sets targets for briefing female barristers. These amendments are made to ensure a transition to a new procurement model and to promote gender equity in the selection of counsel. The amendments also remove the requirement for Commonwealth entities to use the Legal Services Multi-Use List, thereby aligning procurement practices with the general Commonwealth procurement framework. The amendments do not exclude any specific entities or types of legal services from their scope, meaning all Commonwealth entities must adhere to the new standards and practices outlined in the Direction.

Key Provisions

The Legal Services Amendment (Multi-Use List) Direction 2018 primarily focuses on transitional arrangements following the expiry of the Legal Services Multi-Use List (LSMUL) on 30 June 2018. This Direction, issued under section 55ZF of the Judiciary Act 1903, amends the Legal Services Directions 2017 to reflect these changes. Section 4 of the Direction repeals and replaces parts of the previous Directions, removing references to the LSMUL and modifying procurement rules for Commonwealth entities (sections 12.3A, 15, 4(1), 4(2), 5, and 8 of Schedule 1). It also raises the threshold for major monetary claims from $25,000 to $100,000 (section 3 of Appendix C) and introduces targets for briefing female barristers (section 4D of Appendix D). The obligations imposed by this Direction include ensuring that Commonwealth entities comply with the new procurement framework following the LSMUL’s expiry. Specifically, Commonwealth entities must now undertake ordinary procurement in line with the Commonwealth procurement framework (section 4 of Schedule 1). They are also required to make reasonable endeavours to consider female counsel with relevant seniority, expertise, and experience when selecting counsel, aiming to meet particular targets for briefing female barristers (section 4D of Appendix D). Additionally, Commonwealth entities must provide all reasonable assistance to the Attorney-General or the Attorney-General’s Department in response to inquiries about procurement of legal services from external providers (section 8 of Appendix F). Breaches of the provisions set out in this Direction may result in civil or criminal consequences, although specific penalties are not detailed within the Direction itself. The Direction ensures that Commonwealth entities adhere to the new legal services procurement requirements and targets for gender diversity in legal engagements, failing which they may face scrutiny or legal action for non-compliance with the outlined obligations.

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Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.