{"id":"law-officers-act-1978","name":"Law Officers Act 1978","slug":"law-officers-act-1978","collection":"act","jurisdiction":"nt","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":30233,"registerId":"nt-law-officers-act-1978-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-01","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Law Officers Act 1978","content":"NORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA\nLAW OFFICERS ACT 1978\nAs in force at 1 June 2023\nTable of provisions\nPart 1 Preliminary matters\n1 Short title ......................................................................................... 1\n2 Commencement .............................................................................. 1\nPart 2 Attorney-General\n5 Attorney-General for the Northern Territory ..................................... 1\n6 Powers and duties of Attorney-General ........................................... 1\n7 Reference to Attorney-General ........................................................ 2\nPart 3 Solicitor for the Northern Territory\n8 Solicitor for the Territory .................................................................. 2\nPart 4 Solicitor-General\nDivision 1 General matters\n13 Office of Solicitor-General................................................................ 4\n14 Functions of Solicitor-General ......................................................... 5\n15 Removal of Solicitor-General from office ......................................... 6\nDivision 2 Long service leave and superannuation\nentitlements of Solicitor-General\n15A Meaning of ordinary remuneration ................................................... 6\n15B Entitlement to long service leave ..................................................... 6\n15C Grants of long service leave ............................................................ 7\n15D Payment in lieu ................................................................................ 8\n15E Superannuation contributions .......................................................... 8\nPart 5 Signatures\n15F Judicial notice to be taken of signatures .......................................... 9\nPart 6 Transitional matters\n16 Transitional matters for Justice Legislation Amendment\nAct 2019 .......................................................................................... 9\n17 Transitional matters for Judicial and Other Officers'\nEntitlements Legislation Amendment Act 2023 ............................... 9\n\nLaw Officers Act 1978 ii\nENDNOTES\n\nNORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA\n____________________\nAs in force at 1 June 2023\n____________________\nLAW OFFICERS ACT 1978\nAn Act relating to the Attorney-General, Solicitor-General and to the\nSolicitor for the Northern Territory\nPart 1 Preliminary matters\n1 Short title\nThis Act may be cited as the Law Officers Act 1978.\n2 Commencement\nThis Act shall come into operation on 1 July 1978.\nPart 2 Attorney-General\n5 Attorney-General for the Northern Territory\nA person who is appointed to a Ministerial office under section 36 of\nthe Northern Territory (Self-Government) Act 1978 of the\nCommonwealth, and who is given the designation of \"Attorney-\nGeneral\" under section 34 of that Act or another designation as is\nspecified by instrument in writing by the Administrator to be the\nappropriate designation for the purposes of this section, is the\nAttorney-General for the Northern Territory for the purposes of this\nAct.\n6 Powers and duties of Attorney-General\nThe Attorney-General is to:\n(a) be the official legal adviser to the Territory and to the\nExecutive Council; and\n(b) see to the administration of law and justice for the Territory;\nand\n(c) advise the Territory on matters concerning Territory legislation\nincluding the drafting of legislation; and\n\nPart 3 Solicitor for the Northern Territory\nLaw Officers Act 1978 2\n(d) be responsible for the conduct of litigation on behalf of the\nTerritory and for this purpose may act through the Solicitor for\nthe Northern Territory or another person as the Attorney-\nGeneral determines; and\n(e) if the Attorney-General's name is on the local roll kept under\nthe Legal Profession Act 2006, be entitled to practise as a\nlegal practitioner as though the Attorney-General was holding\nan unrestricted practising certificate issued under that Act; and\n(f) have the powers, duties and prerogatives equivalent to those\nof the Attorney-General of England, whether by law or usage,\nas are capable of application to the Territory; and\n(g) have any other powers, duties and functions as are assigned\nby the Administrator.\n7 Reference to Attorney-General\nA reference in an Act of the Territory, or in a regulation, by-law, or\nother instrument under an Act to the Attorney-General shall, unless\nthe contrary intention appears, be read as a reference to the\nAttorney-General for the Northern Territory referred to in section 5.\nPart 3 Solicitor for the Northern Territory\n8 Solicitor for the Territory\n(1) There is hereby established a Solicitor for the Northern Territory.\n(2) The Solicitor for the Northern Territory is a body corporate.\n(3) The Solicitor for the Northern Territory may act as solicitor for the\nfollowing, and is, for that purpose, entitled to practise as a legal\npractitioner in any court and entitled to all the rights and privileges\nof a legal practitioner:\n(a) the Crown in right of the Territory;\n(b) the Territory;\n(c) a person suing or being sued on behalf of the Territory;\n(d) a minister;\n(e) a body or authority established by a law of the Territory;\n\nPart 3 Solicitor for the Northern Territory\nLaw Officers Act 1978 3\n(f) an officer of, or a person employed by:\n(i) the Territory; or\n(ii) a body or authority established by a law of the Territory;\n(g) a person holding office under a law of the Territory;\n(h) the Australian Government Solicitor, by arrangement, as agent\non behalf of clients of the Australian Government Solicitor;\n(j) any other person, body or authority for whom the Attorney-\nGeneral requests it to act.\n(4) The CEO may do the following:\n(a) act personally in the name of the Solicitor for the Northern\nTerritory;\n(b) by signed written instrument, authorise an officer of the\nAgency who is a legal practitioner to act in the name of the\nSolicitor for the Northern Territory generally or as otherwise\nprovided for in the instrument.\n(5) An act or thing done in the name of the Solicitor for the Northern\nTerritory by, or under the direction or authority of the CEO or a\nperson authorised under subsection (4)(b) is taken to have been\ndone by the Solicitor for the Northern Territory.\n(6) A person who is authorised to act under subsection (4)(b):\n(a) is responsible to the CEO and, through the CEO, to the\nAttorney-General in relation to anything the person does under\nthe authorisation; and\n(b) must comply with any directions given by the CEO.\n(7) An act or thing done or omitted to be done by a person in the name\nof the Solicitor for the Northern Territory under a direction given by\nthe CEO is taken to have been done or omitted to be done, as the\ncase may be, by the CEO personally.\n(8) The CEO is, for the purpose of exercising powers and performing\nfunctions under this section, entitled to practise as a legal\npractitioner as if the CEO were the holder of an unrestricted\npractising certificate issued under the Legal Profession Act 2006.\n\nPart 4 Solicitor-General\nDivision 1 General matters\nLaw Officers Act 1978 4\n(9) Despite subsection (5) but subject to subsection (8), the CEO, or a\nperson authorised by the CEO under subsection (4)(b), is subject to\nthe duties and obligations to which the CEO or person would be\nsubject if the CEO or authorised person were a legal practitioner\nwhen:\n(a) the CEO or person does, or omits to do, an act or thing in the\nname of the Solicitor for the Northern Territory; or\n(b) another person does, or omits to do, an act or thing in the\nname of the Solicitor for the Northern Territory under the\ndirection or authority of the CEO or person.\n(10) A copy of every authorization under subsection (4) must be\npublished in the Gazette.\n(11) In any Act, instrument of a legislative or administrative character,\naward or other industrial determination or order, industrial\nagreement, other order (whether executive, judicial or otherwise),\ncontract, pleading in, or process issued in connection with, a legal\nor other proceeding, or any other instrument, a reference to the\nCrown Solicitor is to be construed as including a reference to the\nSolicitor for the Northern Territory.\n(12) In this section:\nCEO means the Chief Executive Officer.\nPart 4 Solicitor-General\nDivision 1 General matters\n13 Office of Solicitor-General\n(1) The Administrator may, by instrument in writing, appoint a person:\n(a) who has not attained the age of 72 years; and\n(b) who has been enrolled as a legal practitioner of the High\nCourt, or of the Supreme Court of a State or Territory of the\nCommonwealth, for not less than 5 years,\nto hold the office of Solicitor-General of the Northern Territory, for is\nthe period specified in the instrument of appointment, or without\nlimitation on the period of office, and, subject to Division 2, on the\nterms and conditions as the Administrator determines.\n\nPart 4 Solicitor-General\nDivision 1 General matters\nLaw Officers Act 1978 5\n(3) The Public Sector Employment and Management Act 1993 does\nnot apply to or in relation to the office of Solicitor-General or a\nperson holding that office.\n(4) The Minister may appoint a qualified person (including an employee\nas defined in the Public Sector Employment and Management\nAct 1993) to act from time to time as the Solicitor-General during\nthe absence from duty of the Solicitor-General or a vacancy in that\noffice.\n(8) A Solicitor-General may resign office by writing signed by the\nSolicitor-General and delivered to the Administrator.\n(9) Despite anything in the terms and conditions of appointment, a\nSolicitor-General retires from office on the day on which the\nSolicitor-General attains the age of 72 years, and the office of\nSolicitor-General then becomes vacant.\n14 Functions of Solicitor-General\nThe Solicitor-General:\n(a) may act as counsel for the Crown in right of the Northern\nTerritory of Australia and for any other person for whom the\nAttorney-General requests the Solicitor-General to act; and\n(b) may perform such other duties of counsel as the Attorney-\nGeneral directs; and\n(c) may exercise powers and perform functions conferred on the\nSolicitor-General by any law of the Territory or the\nCommonwealth; and\n(d) is, for the purpose of exercising powers or performing\nfunctions under this Act, entitled to practice as a legal\npractitioner as if the Solicitor-General were holding an\nunrestricted practising certificate issued under the Legal\nProfession Act 2006; and\n(e) except with the consent of the Attorney-General, must not\nengage:\n(i) in any other practice as a legal practitioner; or\n(ii) in any other paid employment.\n\nPart 4 Solicitor-General\nDivision 2 Long service leave and superannuation entitlements of Solicitor-General\nLaw Officers Act 1978 6\n15 Removal of Solicitor-General from office\nThe Administrator shall remove the Solicitor-General from office if,\nand only if, the Solicitor-General:\n(a) except by reason of temporary illness, becomes incapable of\nperforming the duties of the office; or\n(b) is guilty of misbehaviour; or\n(c) becomes bankrupt or insolvent, applies to take the benefit of\nany law for the relief of bankrupt or insolvent debtors,\ncompounds with creditors or makes an assignment of\nremuneration for their benefit.\nDivision 2 Long service leave and superannuation\nentitlements of Solicitor-General\n15A Meaning of ordinary remuneration\n(1) Subject to subsection (2), for this Division the Solicitor-General's\nordinary remuneration is the remuneration the Solicitor-General is\nentitled to receive for service as the Solicitor-General.\n(2) If the Solicitor-General has worked in a part-time capacity at any\ntime during a period of service to which an entitlement to long\nservice leave relates, the Solicitor-General's ordinary remuneration\nis to be determined on a pro rata basis, based on the hours for\nwhich the Solicitor-General was remunerated during the period of\nservice.\n15B Entitlement to long service leave\n(1) The Solicitor-General is entitled to 3 calendar months of long\nservice leave after completing 10 years of service.\n(2) After completing 10 years of service, the Solicitor-General is\nentitled to 9 calendar days of long service leave for each\nsubsequent year of completed service.\n(3) The Solicitor-General may accrue service in a full-time or part-time\ncapacity or in a combination of those capacities.\n(4) The Solicitor-General does not accrue service when the\nSolicitor-General is:\n(a) on leave without pay; or\n\nPart 4 Solicitor-General\nDivision 2 Long service leave and superannuation entitlements of Solicitor-General\nLaw Officers Act 1978 7\n(b) absent from work because of an injury for which the\nSolicitor-General is receiving workers' compensation\npayments.\n15C Grants of long service leave\n(1) The Solicitor-General may take long service leave with the approval\nof the Attorney-General.\n(2) The Solicitor-General may, in respect of an entitlement to long\nservice leave, be granted a period of long service leave that is:\n(a) equal to the period of the entitlement and paid the\nSolicitor-General's ordinary remuneration during the period of\nleave; or\n(b) twice as long as the period of the entitlement and paid the\nSolicitor-General's ordinary remuneration at half pay during\nthe period of leave; or\n(c) at least half as long as the period of the entitlement and paid:\n(i) during the period of leave – the Solicitor-General's\nordinary remuneration; and\n(ii) in respect of the remainder of the entitlement – a lump\nsum that is equal to the Solicitor-General's ordinary\nremuneration that would have been paid to the\nSolicitor-General if the entitlement had been taken as\nleave.\nExample for subsection (2)(c)\nA Solicitor-General entitled to 3 months of long service leave may elect to take\n2 calendar months of long service leave and be paid a lump sum in lieu of taking\nthe third month of the entitlement as long service leave. The Solicitor-General is\npaid the Solicitor-General's ordinary remuneration during the 2 month period of\nleave and a lump sum that is equal to the remuneration the Solicitor-General\nwould have been paid during a third month of long service leave.\n(3) During a period of leave mentioned in subsection (2)(b), the\nSolicitor-General accrues service and service-based entitlements at\nhalf of the ordinary rate of accrual.\nNote for subsection (3)\nA service-based entitlement may include an entitlement to leave, including\nrecreation or long service leave.\n(4) Long service leave may be granted in months and tenths of a\nmonth but may not be granted for a period of leave that is less than\n7 days.\n\nPart 4 Solicitor-General\nDivision 2 Long service leave and superannuation entitlements of Solicitor-General\nLaw Officers Act 1978 8\n(5) Weekends, public holidays and other days on which the\nSolicitor-General would not have ordinarily been required to work\nare part of long service leave and do not extend the period of leave.\n(6) The Solicitor-General may not be granted periods of long service\nleave that are separated by a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday.\n15D Payment in lieu\n(1) The Solicitor-General is entitled to payment in lieu of long service\nleave on cessation of employment as follows:\n(a) if the Solicitor-General has completed 10 or more years of\nservice – payment in lieu of the Solicitor-General's unused\nentitlement to long service leave at the date of cessation;\n(b) if the Solicitor-General has completed a total of 9 years of\nservice – payment for 67.5 calendar days of long service\nleave;\n(c) if the Solicitor-General has completed a total of 8 years of\nservice – payment for 45 calendar days of long service leave;\n(d) if the Solicitor-General has completed a total of 7 years of\nservice – payment for 22.5 calendar days of long service\nleave.\n(2) The Solicitor-General is not entitled to payment in lieu under\nsubsection (1)(b) to (d) if the Solicitor-General is removed from\noffice under section 15(b).\n(3) If the Solicitor-General dies, the Solicitor-General's personal\nrepresentative is entitled to be paid any amount that would have\nbeen payable to the Solicitor-General under this section.\n(4) Payment of an entitlement under this section is to be based on the\nSolicitor-General's ordinary remuneration.\n15E Superannuation contributions\n(1) The Territory must, in respect of each quarter in a year, make a\ncontribution for the benefit of the Solicitor-General to a complying\nsuperannuation fund, complying superannuation scheme or an RSA\nthat is equal to the minimum amount necessary to avoid an\nindividual superannuation guarantee shortfall within the meaning of\nthe Superannuation Guarantee (Administration) Act 1992 (Cth).\n\nPart 6 Transitional matters\nLaw Officers Act 1978 9\n(2) The contributions must be made in compliance with the choice of\nfund requirements in Part 3A of the Superannuation Guarantee\n(Administration) Act 1992 (Cth).\n(3) In this section:\ncomplying superannuation fund, see section 7 of the\nSuperannuation Guarantee (Administration) Act 1992 (Cth).\ncomplying superannuation scheme, see section 7 of the\nSuperannuation Guarantee (Administration) Act 1992 (Cth).\nquarter means a period of 3 months beginning on 1 January,\n1 April, 1 July or 1 October.\nRSA, see section 8 of the Retirement Savings Accounts Act 1997\n(Cth).\nPart 5 Signatures\n15F Judicial notice to be taken of signatures\nJudicial notice is to be taken in all courts of the signatures of the\nAttorney-General, the Solicitor-General and a person signing in the\nname of the Solicitor for the Northern Territory.\nPart 6 Transitional matters\n16 Transitional matters for Justice Legislation Amendment\nAct 2019\nIf the person who held office as Solicitor-General immediately\nbefore the commencement of section 6 of the Justice Legislation\nAmendment Act 2019 resigns office on or after the day the person\nturns 70 years old and before the day the person turns 72 years\nold, the reference to the age of 72 years in section 13(5) is taken to\nbe a reference to the exact age of the person on the day the\nresignation takes effect.\n17 Transitional matters for Judicial and Other Officers'\nEntitlements Legislation Amendment Act 2023\n(1) An authorisation under section 8(4) that is in effect immediately\nbefore the commencement is taken to be an authorisation made\nunder section 8(4)(b) as in force after the commencement.\n\nPart 6 Transitional matters\nLaw Officers Act 1978 10\n(2) Despite their repeal, section 13(5) to (7), as in force immediately\nbefore the commencement, continue to apply to and in relation to a\nperson who was appointed to be the Solicitor-General before the\ncommencement.\n(3) For section 13(5), as saved by subsection (2), the Solicitor-General\nis taken to have been appointed as a Supreme Court Judge under\nsection 32(1)(c) or (d) of the Supreme Court Act 1979 on the day\nthe Solicitor-General was appointed to be the Solicitor-General.\n(4) Part 4, Division 2, as inserted by the amending Act, does not apply\nto a person who was appointed to be the Solicitor-General before\nthe commencement.\n(5) In this section:\namending Act means the Judicial and Other Officers' Entitlements\nLegislation Amendment Act 2023.\ncommencement means the day on which section 30 of the\namending Act commences.\n\nENDNOTES\nLaw Officers Act 1978 11\nENDNOTES\n1 KEY\nKey to abbreviations\namd = amended od = order\napp = appendix om = omitted\nbl = by-law pt = Part\nch = Chapter r = regulation/rule\ncl = clause rem = remainder\ndiv = Division renum = renumbered\nexp = expires/expired rep = repealed\nf = forms s = section\nGaz = Gazette sch = Schedule\nhdg = heading sdiv = Subdivision\nins = inserted SL = Subordinate Legislation\nlt = long title sub = substituted\nnc = not commenced\n2 LIST OF LEGISLATION\nLaw Officers Ordinance 1978 (Act No. 61, 1978)\nAssent date 1 July 1978\nCommenced 1 July 1978\nLaw Officers Act (No. 2) 1978 (Act No. 117, 1978)\nAssent date 9 November 1978\nCommenced 9 November 1978\nTransfer of Powers (Law) Act 1978 (Act No. 1, 1980)\nAssent date 7 January 1980 (s 3)\nCommenced 7 January 1980\nAmending Legislation\nTransfer of Powers (Law) Act 1979 (Act No. 2, 1980)\nAssent date 7 January 1980\nCommenced 7 January 1980\nLaw Officers Amendment Act 1981 (Act No. 24, 1981)\nAssent date 25 March 1981\nCommenced 25 March 1981\nStatute Law Revision Act (No. 2) 1982 (Act No. 54, 1982)\nAssent date 8 October 1982\nCommenced 8 October 1982\nStatute Law Revision Act 1985 (Act No. 49, 1985)\nAssent date 1 October 1985\nCommenced 1 October 1985\nLaw Officers Amendment Act 1986 (Act No. 5, 1986)\nAssent date 30 April 1986\nCommenced 3 May 1986 (Gaz S20, 30 April 1986)\n\nENDNOTES\nLaw Officers Act 1978 12\nLaw Officers Amendment Act (No. 2) 1986 (Act No. 48, 1986)\nAssent date 10 December 1986\nCommenced 19 December 1986 (Gaz S87, 17 December 1986)\nLaw Officers Amendment Act 1988 (Act No. 6, 1988)\nAssent date 21 March 1988\nCommenced 21 March 1988\nPublic Sector Employment and Management (Consequential Amendments) Act 1993\n(Act No. 28, 1993)\nAssent date 30 June 1993\nCommenced 1 July 1993 (s 2, s 2 Public Sector Employment and\nManagement Act 1993 (Act No. 11, 1993) and Gaz S53,\n29 June 1993)\nStatute Law Revision Act 1999 (Act No. 27, 1999)\nAssent date 18 June 1999\nCommenced 18 June 1999\nStatute Law Revision Act 2005 (Act No. 44, 2005)\nAssent date 14 December 2005\nCommenced 14 December 2005\nLegal Profession (Consequential Amendments) Act 2007 (Act No. 7, 2007)\nAssent date 17 May 2007\nCommenced s 10: 1 July 2007 (Gaz G26, 27 June 2007, p 3);\nrem: 17 May 2007 (s 2(2))\nFinancial Management Amendment Act 2009 (Act No. 15, 2009)\nAssent date 18 June 2009\nCommenced 18 June 2009\nJustice Legislation Amendment (Age of Retirement) Act 2013 (Act No. 5, 2013)\nAssent date 14 March 2013\nCommenced 2 April 2013 (Gaz S14, 2 April 2013)\nJustice Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (Act No. 1, 2019)\nAssent date 22 February 2019\nCommenced 23 February 2019(s 2)\nStatute Law Revision and Repeals Act 2019 (Act No. 33, 2019)\nAssent date 6 November 2019\nCommenced pts 2 and 3: 11 December 2019 (Gaz G50,\n11 December 2019, p 2); rem: 7 November 2019 (s 2)\nJudicial and Other Officers' Entitlements Legislation Amendment Act 2023 (Act No. 14,\n2023)\nAssent date 31 May 2023\nCommenced 1 June 2023 (s 2)\n3 SAVINGS AND TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS\ns 7 Law Officers Amendment Act 1986 (Act No. 5, 1986)\n\nENDNOTES\nLaw Officers Act 1978 13\n4 GENERAL AMENDMENTS\nGeneral amendments of a formal nature (which are not referred to in the table\nof amendments to this reprint) are made by the Interpretation Legislation\nAmendment Act 2018 (Act No. 22 of 2018) to: ss 1, 6, 8, 13 and 14.\n5 LIST OF AMENDMENTS\nlt amd No. 54, 1982, s 2; No. 48, 1986, s 4\npt 1 hdg ins No. 14, 2023, s 31\nss 1 – 2 amd No. 54, 1982, s 2\npt 2 hdg ins No. 14, 2023, s 32\ns 3 rep No. 48, 1986, s 5\ns 4 amd No. 54, 1982, s 2\nrep No. 48, 1986, s 5\ns 5 amd No. 54, 1982, s 2; No. 14, 2023, s 40\ns 6 amd No. 117, 1978, s 4; No. 54, 1982, s 2; No. 48, 1986, s 6; No. 7, 2007,\ns 16; No. 14, 2023, s 40\ns 7 amd No. 117, 1978, s 3; No. 1, 1980, s 4; No. 54, 1982, s 2; No. 44, 2005,\ns 35\npt 3 hdg ins No. 14, 2023, s 33\ns 8 amd No. 24, 1981, s 2; No. 54, 1982, s 2\nsub No. 5, 1986, s 4; No. 48, 1986, s 7\namd No. 28, 1993, s 3; No. 27, 1999, s 15; No. 7, 2007, s 16; No. 14, 2023,\ns 34\ns 9 amd No. 49, 1985, s 4\nrep No. 48, 1986, s 7\ns 10 amd No. 54, 1982, s 2\nrep No. 5, 1986, s 5\ns 11 amd No. 54, 1982, s 2\nrep No. 48, 1986, s 7\ns 12 amd No. 48, 1986, s 8\nrep No. 14, 2023, s 35\npt 4 hdg ins No. 14, 2023, s 36\npt 4\ndiv 1 hdg ins No. 14, 2023, s 36\ns 13 ins No. 5, 1986, s 6\namd No. 6, 1988, s 2; No. 28, 1993, s 3; No. 27, 1999, s 15; No. 7, 2007,\ns 16; No. 15, 2009, s 16; No. 5, 2013, s 6; No. 1, 2019, s 7; No. 33, 2019,\ns 49; No. 14, 2023, s 37\nss 14 – 15 ins No. 5, 1986, s 6\namd No. 7, 2007, s 16; No. 14, 2023, s 40\npt 4\ndiv 2 hdg ins No. 14, 2023, s 38\nss 15A – 15E ins No. 14, 2023, s 38\npt 5 hdg ins No. 14, 2023, s 38\ns 15F ins No. 14, 2023, s 38\npt 6 hdg ins No. 14, 2023, s 38\ns 16 ins No. 1, 2019, s 8\ns 17 ins No. 14, 2023, s 39","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"Yes. The Act has been expanded and updated from its original 1978 form to include detailed employment entitlements and administrative mechanics that were not part of the original text. Notable scope changes in later amendments include: (a) detailed long service leave and superannuation entitlements for the Solicitor‑General (ss 15A–15E) that impose specific financial obligations on the Territory; (b) explicit delegation and publication procedures for the Solicitor for the Northern Territory (s 8(4)–(11)); and (c) repeal or modification of provisions that previously linked the Solicitor‑General’s appointment to other statutory offices (transitional saving of earlier judge‑appointment connections appears in s 17). These additions shift the Act from merely defining offices and broad duties to specifying employment‑style terms and operational administration for those offices, enlarging the statute’s practical footprint and fiscal implications."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple cross‑references to Commonwealth statutes (Legal Profession Act 2006; Superannuation Guarantee (Administration) Act 1992; Retirement Savings Accounts Act 1997) increasing interpretive reliance on external regimes (see ss 6(e), 14(d), 15E).","Separate parts with distinct legal effects: Part 2 (Attorney‑General functions), Part 3 (Solicitor for the Territory corporate/operational rules), Part 4 Div 1 (Solicitor‑General appointment and duties), Part 4 Div 2 (detailed entitlements) — creates discrete rule sets to apply depending on office (multiple decision points).","Detailed, numeric entitlements and conditional options for long service leave (ss 15A–15D) including pro‑rata calculations, half‑pay accrual rules and payment‑in‑lieu tiers (numeric thresholds for 7–10+ years).","Delegation, authorisation and publication requirement for Solicitor for the Territory (s 8(4)–(11)) with associated supervisory duties (s 8(6)) — conditional delegation logic (who may act and when).","Transitional provisions that preserve older rules for incumbents (ss 16–17) produce different legal regimes depending on appointment date, adding application complexity.","Limited number of defined terms in the Act but several key definitions and interpretive sections (e.g., CEO in s 8(12); ordinary remuneration in s 15A) affecting calculation and operation."],"plain_english_summary":"This Act establishes the Attorney‑General, the Solicitor for the Northern Territory (Crown Solicitor) and the Solicitor‑General, defining their roles, powers and governance. It makes the Attorney‑General the Territory’s chief legal adviser, creates a corporate Crown solicitor that can act through authorised officers, and sets appointment, removal, leave, remuneration and superannuation rules for the Solicitor‑General. It matters because it fixes who gives and controls legal advice for the Territory, centralises litigation work, and creates explicit fiscal and employment obligations for government."},"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[],"contradictions":[]},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The legislation has grown significantly beyond its original 1978 purpose of simply establishing the offices. The original Act was quite brief, focusing mainly on the Attorney-General and Solicitor for the Territory. Over time, it has absorbed: (1) the Solicitor-General role (added 1986), (2) detailed corporate governance rules for the Solicitor for the NT, (3) complex employment conditions for the Solicitor-General that mirror judicial entitlements rather than public service conditions (2023 amendments), and (4) numerous transitional provisions handling the evolution of these roles. The 2023 amendments in particular represent a major shift in scope—transforming the Solicitor-General from a standard statutory office into a quasi-judicial position with bespoke long service leave and superannuation rules, effectively creating a separate employment category distinct from both the public service and the judiciary but borrowing features from both."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple nested definitions and cross-references to other Acts (e.g., Northern Territory (Self-Government) Act 1978, Legal Profession Act 2006, Superannuation Guarantee legislation)","Complex corporate structure for the Solicitor for the Northern Territory (body corporate with CEO delegation powers and deeming provisions in sections 8(4)-(9))","Detailed conditional logic for long service leave entitlements in Division 2 (pro-rata calculations, half-pay options, accrual rules during half-pay leave, minimum 7-day grants)","Transitional provisions with retrospective and prospective application (section 17 saving old appointment rules while applying new entitlements only to new appointees)","Interaction between general public service law and specific exclusions (e.g., section 13(3) explicitly excludes Solicitor-General from Public Sector Employment and Management Act 1993)","Deeming provisions that treat actions by delegates as actions by the principal (e.g., section 8(5), (7))"],"plain_english_summary":"This law sets up the three main legal officers for the Northern Territory government: the Attorney-General, the Solicitor for the Northern Territory, and the Solicitor-General.\n\n**What it does:**\n\n*   **Attorney-General (Part 2):** This is the Territory's top legal advisor. The Act says the Attorney-General must:\n    *   Give legal advice to the government and the Executive Council (the group of senior ministers who advise the Administrator);\n    *   Oversee the administration of law and justice;\n    *   Help draft new laws;\n    *   Handle court cases for the Territory (either personally or through the Solicitor for the Northern Territory);\n    *   Automatically get the right to practise as a lawyer if they are on the local legal roll;\n    *   Hold the same traditional powers as the Attorney-General of England (where possible).\n\n*   **Solicitor for the Northern Territory (Part 3):** This is a government body (a \"body corporate\") that acts as the Territory's lawyer. It can represent:\n    *   The Crown (the government);\n    *   The Territory itself;\n    *   Ministers and government bodies;\n    *   Government employees;\n    *   The Australian Government Solicitor (by arrangement);\n    *   Anyone else the Attorney-General asks them to help.\n    \n    The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) runs this office and can authorise other lawyers to act on its behalf. Importantly, the Solicitor for the Northern Territory is a separate legal entity, meaning it can sue and be sued in its own name.\n\n*   **Solicitor-General (Part 4):** This is a senior barrister (court advocate) appointed by the Administrator. They must have at least 5 years' experience as a lawyer and must retire at 72. They can only be removed for serious reasons (incapacity, misbehaviour, or bankruptcy). Their job is to:\n    *   Act as counsel (a barrister) for the Crown and others requested by the Attorney-General;\n    *   Perform other legal duties as directed;\n    *   Get automatic practising rights like the Attorney-General.\n    \n    **Division 2** (added in 2023) gives the Solicitor-General specific entitlements to long service leave (3 months after 10 years, then extra days per year) and superannuation contributions, treating them more like a senior judge than a regular public servant.\n\n*   **Signatures (Part 5):** Courts must officially recognise the signatures of these three law officers without needing extra proof.\n\n*   **Transitional rules (Part 6):** These handle changes when the law is updated, such as preserving old appointments or adjusting retirement ages for existing office-holders.\n\n**Who it affects:**\n\n*   The Northern Territory government and its ministers;\n*   Anyone working for or suing the Territory (since the Solicitor for the Northern Territory handles the legal work);\n*   The legal officers themselves (setting their powers, duties, and job security);\n*   The public, indirectly, by ensuring the government has proper legal representation and advice.\n\n**Why it matters:**\nThis Act is the legal backbone of how the Northern Territory government handles its legal business. It ensures there are clear, independent legal advisors who can give frank advice to government, represent the Territory in court, and maintain the rule of law. The 2023 amendments were particularly significant because they moved the Solicitor-General out of the standard public service system and gave them judicial-style benefits, recognising the independence and seniority of the role."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/law-officers-act-1978","history":"/api/acts/law-officers-act-1978/history","analysis":"/api/acts/law-officers-act-1978/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/law-officers-act-1978/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/law-officers-act-1978/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/law-officers-act-1978/documents"}}