What we do

The CSO is here to be the NSW Government's most trusted legal advisor.

Our principal objective is to advise and represent agencies so that they can deliver the NSW Government's policies, programs and projects in a lawful, effective and efficient manner.

The CSO is the sole provider of legal services in all matters regarded as core legal work (refer to Premier's Memorandum 2016-04). A matter constitutes core legal work when the best interests of the NSW Government as a whole require a single source of authoritative legal advice and central management, or when it relates to the statutory or common law functions of the Attorney General.

The Crown Solicitor also competes with the private sector to deliver non-core legal work to government agencies. As part of its non-core work, the CSO delivers services under several legal services panel arrangements.

Legal services provided by the CSO include:

• legal advice
• representation in litigation
• representation at inquests and other inquiries
• property and commercial transactions
• drafting documents and agreements, including intergovernmental agreements
• assisting Royal Commissions and other inquiries
• provision of officers to serve on committees
• preparing publications
• training and information for government agencies.