AGY-6285 | Public Solicitor's Division

Full description

The office of the Public Solicitor had been established under the Legal Assistance Act, 1943 (Act No.17, 1943). (1)

With the establishment of the Legal Services Commission under the provisions of the Legal Services Commission Act, 1979 (Act No.78, 1979), the Public Solicitor became the principal legal officer of the Commission responsible for administering the provision of legal services thorough the Public Solicitor's Division. (2)

In 1982 the Public Solicitor's Division within the Legal Services Commission was headed by the Public Solicitor, K P Shadbolt. The Division provided legal advice and services to members of the public in civil proceedings, criminal indictable proceedings, and criminal summary proceedings. The Division was located in the CAGA Centre in Sydney. It headed Legal Aid Offices located at Bankstown, Bondi Junction, Hurstville, Liverpool, Manly, Mount Druitt, Parramatta, Gosford, Newcastle and Wollongong. (3)

With the proclamation of the Legal Services Commission (Amendment) Act, 1985 (Act No.86, 1985) on 7 June 1985 (4), the Legal Services Commission became the Legal Aid Commission and the office of the Public Solicitor was abolished. (5)

Endnotes
(1) Legal Assistance Act, 1943 (Act No.17, 1943), s.3(1).
(2) Concise Guide, 2nd ed. "Legal Services Commission, later Legal Aid Commission"
(3) The Government of New South Wales Directory of Administration and Services: guide to the functions and services provided by State organizations. 3rd ed. NSW Government Information Service, 1982, pp.96-97.
(4) NSW Government Gazette, 7 June 1985, p.2512.
(5) Concise Guide, loc. cit.

REFERENCES
"Concise Guide" 2nd Edition. "Legal Services Commission, later Legal Aid Commission".