Core Legal Capabilities Training Series
AGS is now offering a new Core Legal Capabilities training program for in-house Commonwealth lawyers.
The program aims to strengthen participants’ awareness of core legal topics relevant to Commonwealth legal practice. It is designed to provide practical guidance and share professional insights, with a particular focus on the distinct features of Commonwealth legal work and the steps government lawyers should take to effectively meet their professional obligations.
The program will cover the following topics:
- Statutory interpretation
- Commonwealth disputes
- Government transactions
- Commonwealth and Commonwealth bodies
- Privileges, immunities and handling of confidential information
- Administrative law
- Commonwealth finance law
- Policy development and legislative process
- Government contracts
- FOI and privacy
- Professional and ethical duties of Commonwealth lawyers
- Public sector employment
- Constitutional law.
The program consists of a one-hour online presentation, supported by an accompanying 20- to 30-minute podcast. Each legal topic will be delivered by senior AGS subject matter experts.
While the program is open to all in-house lawyers from Commonwealth agencies, including those from corporate Commonwealth entities, in-house government lawyers who are new, or relatively new, to Commonwealth legal practice (regardless of level) are encouraged to attend these sessions.
The following courses are scheduled between July and September 2026 and will be run twice (see Option 1 and Option 2 below):
Statutory interpretation
Option 1. Friday 31 July 2026 at 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm AEST
Option 2. Wednesday 12 August 2026 at 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm AEST
Commonwealth disputes
Option 1. Wednesday 19 August 2026 at 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm AEST
Option 2. Thursday 10 September 2026 at 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm AEST
Note: Option 1 and 2 cover the same content.
Who can attend
Australian government lawyers working in Commonwealth entities at all levels can register to attend.
Registration and costing information is available on the AGS website.