Update
Note the following administrative guidelines applicable from 1 July 2019:
- Administrative Guidelines on engaging Labour Hire in the
- Administrative Guidelines on engaging Professional Services in the
These guidelines contain updated decision-making and approval requirements for labour hire and professional services use.
Summary
This whole of Victorian Government closed panel offers quality, cost-effective legal services.
Lead organisation: Department of Justice and Community Safety
Conditions of use: Mandatory
Reference Number: ST 007 18-19
Arrangement: Closed panel
Start date: 1 July 2019
End date: 30 June 2022
Email: legalpaneladministration@justice.vic.gov.au for information on accessing Legal Services Panel Contract arrangements
Key benefits
- high quality, cost-effective and consistent legal services to government clients
- a panel arrangement, which means less administrative efforts on your end
- social justice benefits, pro bono services and equal opportunity practices such as the briefing of women barristers
What’s covered
The contract covers the following legal services:
- administrative law
- employment, industrial relations and equal opportunity
- prosecutions
- construction, infrastructure and major projects
- commercial and contracts
- intellectual property and information technology
- property
- planning and environment
- general litigation
- public inquiries
- personal injuries
- Coronial inquiries
See Schedule 2 (pp 63-64) of the Deed (35MB) for more information on the specifics of what these areas cover.
Check if your need is a Victorian Government Solicitors Office (VGSO) Exclusive service - if so you need to use the VGSO.
See Schedule 3 of Deed (pp 65-66) for a list of VGSO exclusive services.
Download the deed:
Supplier details
As this is a closed panel contract, there are 28 law firms that provide legal services. Each firm offers specific legal services. You may only approach a firm if it covers the area of service you need. You can read the full information below or download a PDF:
Government and administrative
Administrative law
- Allens
- Clayton Utz
- Corrs
- FOI Solutions
- HWL Ebsworth
- Maddocks
- Minter Ellison
- Moray & Agnew
- Norton Rose
- Russell Kennedy
- VGSO
Employment, industrial relations and equal opportunity
- Allens
- Clayton Utz
- Corrs
- DLA Piper
- Hall & Wilcox
- Herbert Smith Freehills
- K & L Gates
- Lander & Rogers
- Maddocks
- Minter Ellison
- Moray & Agnew
- VGSO
Prosecutions
- Maddocks
- Moray & Agnew
- Russell Kennedy
- VGSO
Commercial
Construction, infrastructure and major projects
- Allens
- Ashurst
- Clayton Utz
- Corrs
- Hall & Wilcox
- Herbert Smith Freehills
- Holding Redlich
- King & Wood Mallesons
- Maddocks
- Minter Ellison
- Norton Rose
- Pricewaterhouse Coopers
- Russell Kennedy
- White & Case
- VGSO
Commercial and contracts
- VGSO
- Allens
- Ashurst
- Clayton Utz
- Corrs
- DLA Piper
- Gilbert & Tobin
- Hall & Wilcox
- Herbert Smith Freehills
- Hive Legal
- HWL Ebsworth
- King & Wood Mallesons
- Lander & Rogers
- Maddocks
- Minter Ellison
- Pricewaterhouse Coopers
- Russell Kennedy
- White & Case
- VGSO
Intellectual property and information technology
- Clayton Utz
- FAL Lawyers
- Minter Ellison
- Norton Rose
- Piper Alderman
- Russell Kennedy
- VGSO
Property
Property
- Clayton Utz
- Hall & Wilcox
- Harwood Andrews
- Holding Redlich
- Hunt & Hunt
- Moray & Agnew
- Norton Rose
- Russell Kennedy
- VGSO
Planning and environment
- Ashurst
- Clayton Utz
- Hall & Wilcox
- Harwood Andrews
- HWL Ebsworth
- Maddocks
- Norton Rose
- Russell Kennedy
- VGSO
General litigation
General litigation
- Allens
- Corrs
- Holding Redlich
- Minter Ellison
- Moray & Agnew
- Norton Rose
- Russell Kennedy
- Thomson Geer
- VGSO
Public inquiries
- Allens
- Clayton Utz
- Corrs
- Minter Ellison
- Norton Rose
- Russell Kennedy
- VGSO
Personal injuries
- Hall & Wilcox
- HWL Ebsworth
- Lander & Rogers
- Minter Ellison
- Moray & Agnew
- Norton Rose
- Russell Kennedy
- Sparke Helmore
- Thomson Geer
- VGSO
Coronial inquiries
- Maddocks
- Minter Ellison
- Moray & Agnew
- Norton Rose
- Russell Kennedy
- VGSO
Join this contract
This contract is applicable only for departments and specified entities according to s.16 of the Public Administration Act.
To join this contract and access more information:
Step 1. Get approval from the contract manager
Contact the panel's contract manager to join this contract. They will let you know if you are approved.
Use this contract
The Service Level Agreement (SLA) covers the rules of use of the Legal Services Panel.
The SLA outlines:
- service standards
- key performance indicators
- reporting needs for Panel firms
- roles and responsibilities for all parties using this contract
The SLA is in Annexure C of the Deed of Standing Offer.
Consider the likely legal cost of the service you need. Your aim should always be value for money and to encourage competition within the panel.
You also need to consider the area of law as only certain firms can undertake services in specific areas of law.
You can do this by:
- apply purchasing rules guidelines within your organisation
- use the transaction guidelines
- show through reports that the legal services you received were good value for money
If the estimated cost of the service is:
- $0-$49,999: You need at least 1 written quote for this service.
- $50,000-$199,999: You need at least 3 written quotes for this service.
- $200,000+: You need to offer all firms a chance to quote for this service or offer a tender.
The firms that make up the Legal panel must follow the:
- Pro Bono guidelines (Schedule 7 pp 73-76)
- Model Litigant Guidelines (Schedule 8 pages 76-80)
- Victorian Bar Equal Opportunity Model Briefing Policy
The Exemption Policy (Annexure 2 to the Deed of Standing Offer page 85) sets out the rules and process for approval to use a non-panel firm.
To use regional firms for less than $50,000, the need must be outside the metropolitan area and the regional provider must offer the same service for better or equivalent cost as panel firms. If you use a regional firm that meets these rules, you don’t need approval under the Exemption Policy.
Department contract managers
If you use this contract nominate an organisation contract manager. The role of the agency contact manager is to:
- be the main point of contact with Legal Services relating to the contract
- discuss operating arrangements for the Panel within the organisation
- assist staff with purchasing legal services using this contract
- arrange internal client satisfaction surveys to be completed
Reviewed 22 August 2019