Commonwealth announces changes to legal purchasing and tendering

23/05/2008

Attorney-General Robert McClelland has�foreshadowed�changes to�Australian�Government tendering and contracting for legal services. The changes,�outlined in a media release,�will include:

>> standard tendering and contracting documents for agencies and legal firms tendering for Commonwealth work; >>�a standard reporting format for legal expenditure by Commonwealth agencies; and >> amendments to the Legal Services Directions to promote alternative dispute resolution.

The attorney's media release also noted that amendments to the Legal Services Directions will provide that firms which undertake pro bono work against the Commonwealth must not be discriminated against by Commonwealth agencies in procurement.

23 May 2008