Statement of expectations of Australian Government lawyers
Last updated: February 2026
Purpose
The 'Statement of expectations of Commonwealth government lawyers' is informed by the 2017 Secretary's Review of Commonwealth Legal Services. The AGLS Board prepared it in consultation with government lawyers.
The statement's purpose is to acknowledge the unique demands placed on government lawyers and reinforce the importance of complementing technical legal proficiency with a broad understanding of the context in which they operate. The statement will raise awareness of the core expectations of government lawyers and provide guidance on how government lawyers should approach their duties with a whole-of-government focus.
The statement is intended to complement the General Counsel Charter (recommendation 2 of the Secretary's Review) and the definition of government lawyer for the purposes of AGLS membership.
The General Counsel Charter reinforces the requirement for General Counsel to support professional development of government lawyers and build a professional identity. The statement is one avenue to support General Counsel and government lawyers in the delivery of legal services and management of legal risk in their entity.
What is this statement for?
This is a statement of expectations of all Australian Government lawyers.
This statement is intended to guide and support us in performing our roles as Australian Government lawyers, and to complement the General Counsel Charter.
Obligations of government lawyers
Our obligations as Australian Government lawyers arise from different sources, which include:
- The ethical standards and conduct rules for admission to the legal profession, and registration, in each State and Territory.
- The Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013
- The Judiciary Act 1903 and the Legal Services Directions 2025
- The rules, policies and procedures governing each of our entities.
For those of us who are public servants, we have additional responsibilities under the APS Values and Code of Conduct in the Public Service Act 1999.
Our expectations of ourselves
As Australian Government lawyers, we do the following:
- We recognise our paramount duty is to the courts and to the proper administration of justice – this is a duty we share with all Australian legal practitioners.
- We act consistently with the public interest by supporting the Attorney-General as First Law Officer to uphold the rule of law.
- We conduct ourselves with integrity, objectivity and independence.
- We provide legal services competently, diligently and as promptly as reasonably possible.
- We act in our client’s best interests. This includes assisting our agency to understand the law and how to achieve the Australian Government’s objectives lawfully.
- We deliver high-quality and solutions-focused legal advice to Government.
- We are focused on continuing to improve the efficiency, consistency and quality of Commonwealth legal services to support delivery of the Government’s commitments.
- Because we are part of one Australian Government Legal Service, we collaborate and consult with each other to provide high quality legal solutions.
- We drive and foster innovation in delivering our services.
- We are committed to our own wellbeing, and continuous learning and professional development, and that of our colleagues.
- Recognising that generally our client is the Commonwealth, when we provide our advice to, or identify and manage legal risk for, our entity we do so with a whole-of-government focus.
- We recognise that Australian Government lawyers working for corporate Commonwealth entities may have distinct obligations to a client with a separate legal existence to the Commonwealth. However, as much as possible, we work together with a whole-of-government focus.
Review
The AGLS Board will review this statement at least every two years.
The statement may be amended by resolution of the AGLS Board if it is endorsed by the Secretary of the Attorney-General’s Department (AGD).
Effective date
This statement was approved by the AGD Secretary on 16 February 2026.