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Crown Solicitor's Office
Briefing counsel
When briefing counsel, the CSO considers whether counsel’s chambers have adopted the NSW Bar Associations Best Practice Guidelines.
The CSO briefs in accordance with the NSW Government Equitable Briefing Policy for Women Barristers.
Counsel rates
The Attorney General sets rates for legal representation, including for junior and senior counsel. These rates are regularly updated.
Briefs to Senior Counsel are governed by Premier’s Memorandum C2018-06.
Senior counsel rates
The Attorney General’s rates for senior counsel are the maximum rates payable. There is no entitlement to the maximum rate.
Junior counsel rates
Rates for engagement of junior counsel are set by the Crown Solicitor. For consistency, the Crown Solicitor has applied the Attorney General’s rates as the maximum payable to junior counsel in all matters. There is no entitlement to the maximum rate.
The CSO will generally pay the maximum rates set out in the table below to junior counsel:
| Year of appointment | Daily Rate | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $1,000 | $135 |
| Year 2 | $1,200 | $160 |
| Year 3 | $1,300 | $175 |
| Year 4 | $1,400 | $185 |
| Year 5 | $1,500 | $200 |
| Year 6 | $1,600 | $215 |
| Year 7 | $1,700 | $225 |
| Year 8 | $1,800 | $240 |
| Year 9 | $1,900 | $255 |
| Year 10 | $2,000 | $265 |
| > 10 Years | $2,365* | $315.40 |
* The daily maximum is rounded to nearest dollar.
Counsel database
To be added to the Crown Solicitor’s Counsel Database, please download and complete the Counsel Database Addition form (DOCX, 195.6 KB) and email it along with a one-page CV, to crownsol@cso.nsw.gov.au.
Last updated:
22 Apr 2024
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Informed by lessons of the past, Department of Communities and Justice is improving how we work with Aboriginal people and communities. We listen and learn from the knowledge, strength and resilience of Stolen Generations Survivors, Aboriginal Elders and Aboriginal communities.
You can access our apology to the Stolen Generations.