Introduction
The Crown Law Office (CLO) provides independent legal advice to the Government of NewSouth Wales and represents the State in a broad range of civil and criminal matters. The 2020/2021 Annual Report documents the Offices response to unprecedented pressures caused by the COVID19 pandemic, while maintaining core services and delivering strategic reforms.
Key themes for the year were: continuity of service under remoteworking conditions, accelerated digital transformation, and a renewed focus on legislative reform to support a resilient postpandemic economy.
Governance and Structure
The CLO is headed by the Attorney General and overseen by a Board of Commissioners. During 2020/2021 the Board added two independent members to strengthen expertise in technology law and indigenous affairs.
Organisationally, the Office is divided into four principal divisions:
- Legal Services Division provides advice to government departments and represents the State in litigation.
- Policy & Reform Division leads legislative drafting and statutory review.
- Strategic Initiatives Division manages major projects such as the digital casemanagement system.
- Corporate Services Division delivers HR, finance and IT support.
All divisions adopted a hybrid work model in July 2020, enabling staff to work safely from home while retaining essential onsite functions.
Performance Highlights
Legal Services
The Legal Services Division handled 1,340 matters, a 7% increase from the previous year, despite reduced court sittings. Notable successes included:
- Winning a landmark environmental case that upheld the States carbonreduction targets.
- Securing a $45million settlement for victims of the 2019 bushfires.
- Providing timely advice on emergency health orders that helped manage the pandemics spread.
Legislative Reform
Strategic reforms delivered in 2020/2021:
- Enactment of the COVID19 Recovery Act, which introduced temporary tax relief and regulatory flexibilities for small businesses.
- Revision of the Data Protection Framework to align with the Australian Privacy Principles.
- Completion of the Indigenous Heritage Protection Amendment, strengthening consultation processes.
Digital Transformation
The Strategic Initiatives Division launched the CLO Cloud platform, moving 85% of case files to a secure, cloudbased environment. This resulted in a 30% reduction in document retrieval time and improved collaboration across divisions.
Financial Summary
The Office operated within a budget of AUD124.5million for the year. Key financial outcomes:
- Operating expenditure: AUD112.3million (down 3% YoY, mainly due to reduced travel and facilities costs).
- Capital investment: AUD8.7million dedicated to the CLO Cloud project and upgraded cybersecurity measures.
- Savings: AUD3.9million realised through contract renegotiations and the shift to remote working.
Audit findings confirmed compliance with public sector financial management standards, and no material weaknesses were identified.
Future Outlook and Priorities
Looking ahead, the Crown Law Office will focus on three strategic priorities:
- Enhancing access to justice expanding online disputeresolution tools for minor civil matters.
- Strengthening resilience embedding businesscontinuity planning across all divisions to prepare for future disruptions.
- Advancing legislative quality adopting AIassisted drafting to improve clarity and reduce turnaround time.
These initiatives are expected to deliver measurable improvements in service delivery, fiscal efficiency and stakeholder satisfaction.
