events

5 Mar 2012

Start Time
3:30 PM

Finish Time
5:00 PM

Venue
ACT: Robert Garran Office, 3-5 National Circuit, Barton

Cost
Free

Networking for success – building stronger government legal practices

Government departments and agencies across the globe are responding to the increased demand for professional, effective and efficient in house legal services. In 2011, New Zealand established a Government Legal Service to support ongoing improvement in capability, efficiency and value in the management and delivery of government legal services. In 2012, the Australian Government will establish a Government Legal Network for government lawyers with similar goals. This session will provide an overview of the New Zealand experience in establishing a model for supporting government legal practice through training, development and networking programs and will look at the objectives and framework of Australia’s Government Legal Network.

About the Speakers:

Phillip Griffiths: Phillip is a former Vice President of the New Zealand Corporate Lawyers Association (CLANZ) and is currently the programme director of the New Zealand Government Legal Services programme (GLS). New Zealand Government departments, through their Chief Legal Advisors, and the offices of the Attorney-General and the Solicitor-General, have initiated a programme of work to support ongoing improvement in capability, efficiency and value in the management and delivery of government legal services. Philip has broad experience in the legal sector (both public and private sector) including roles as managing partner, general counsel and legal management consultant.

Janean Richards: Assistant Secretary, Office of Legal Services Coordination, Attorney-General's Department. Janean is the Assistant Secretary of the Office of Legal Services Coordination (OLSC) in the Commonwealth Attorney-General's Department. OLSC is responsible for supporting agency and legal service provider compliance with the Legal Services Directions 2005. OLSC also has responsibility for progressing the suite of reforms to the delivery and procurement of legal services for government, including the Government Legal Network. Janean previously managed the delivery of legal services as General Counsel at Comcare and as General Counsel at the Australiam Customs and Border Protection Service. Prior to joining the APS, Janean was the Commercial Dispute Resolution Partner at Deacons Lawyers, and was formerly Commonwealth Government Practice Partner at Dibbs Barker Gosling.

Registration