Attorney GeneralS Department Of Nsw - Crown SolicitorS Office
Government in Sydney

We are the largest provider of legal services to the MSW Government and its agencies and the sole provider of legal services in all matters which are regarded as being core to government functions. We also yield general commercial, or untied, services to the Government and its agencies and compete with private law firms for this work. We are on the legal panels of a wide spectrum of MSW government departments and agencies. We manage thousands of legal matters each year, many of which are lengthy running matters involving substantial litigation. We are highly effective at managing our clients' costs. As the leading provider of legal services to the MSW Government, we have the right experience, resources and capacity to bear you with authoritative, timely, cost effective and ethical legal solutions with meaningful benefits to your agency. The Crown Solicitor must be engaged by government agencies to perform core legal services in respect of matters which: Have implications for government beyond an individual Minister's portfolio. Raise issues which are fundamental to the responsibilities of government. Arise from, or relate to, matters falling within the Attorney General's area of responsibility. The Crown Solicitor also competes with the private legal profession to perform untied (general) legal work for government agencies. The staff of the CEO scrutinize a core set of values which their government clients enjoy and rely upon. CEO staff understand the sensitivities which attend the functions of the MSW State Government and work firm to ensure they build certain active partnerships with their clients. In 1817 the position of Solicitor for the Crown was created with the appointment of Thomas Wilde. He was the first Crown Solicitor, in the sense of a qualified official retained to do the legal work of the colonial government. In 1839, two Crown Solicitors were appointed, one to deal with courteous matters and the other to deal with criminal matters. Following the advent of responsible government in 1856 the two offices were combined into a single office devoted completely to government work, the Crown Solicitor having a staff of four clerks. Regarded as the person who had 'the most State secrets' and as 'right hand man of each Attorney General', Tillett served 29 years as Crown Solicitor and would later be remembered as 'the accurate public servant'. During the 1990s the operations of the CEO were commercialized and the Crown Solicitor was needed to compete with the private legal profession for untied government legal work. In 1994, Ian Knight was appointed Crown Solicitor and in 1996 he commenced a restructure of the office, converting its four branches to ten specialist practice groups. Drafting of documentation and agreements including intergovernmental agreements. Assistance to Royal Commissions and other inquiries. Provision of officers to serve on committees.

In 1817 the position of Solicitor for the Crown was created with the appointment of Thomas Wilde. He was the beginning Crown Solicitor, in the sense of a competent official retained to do the legal labor of the colonial government. In 1839, two Crown Solicitors were appointed, one to deal with civil matters and the other to deal with criminal matters. Following the advent of responsible government in 1856 the two offices were combined into a single office devoted completely to government work, the Crown Solicitor having a staff of four clerks. Regarded as the person who had 'the maximum State secrets' and as 'right hand man of each Attorney General', Tillett served 29 years as Crown Solicitor and would later be remembered as 'the perfect public servant'. During the 1990s the operations of the CEO were commercialized and the Crown Solicitor was needed to compete with the private legal profession for untied government legal work. In 1994, Ian Knight was appointed Crown Solicitor and in 1996 he commenced a restructure of the office, converting its four branches to ten specialist practice groups.