This last requirement called for a higher degree of corporate autonomy, ultimately, the withdrawal of the Legal Service from the Attorney General's Department and its reconstituting as a statutory authority. Rayne de Gruchy and Noela L'Estrange, both lawyers with impressive work histories, were recently appointed CEO and General Manager Business Development of the new body. We work hard at maintaining that expertise. About 50 per cent of the legal services market is presently open to the private sector, largely in the areas of commercial law and advocacy in the tribunals, but litigation is yet to be fully untied. But our ambiance is not one where a client would be expected to come to us and say - this is the outcome we want and we don't care how you achieve it.
Process is vital in government because there's a greater demand for accountability.
We always have to consider the broader interests involved. Even if you have only a fleeting connection with a program you have to consider that a client might end up before Parliament, getting grilled. Then they might run a case to encourage the legal sector to become more active in the area. You can't focus on the outcome alone. You have to consider the broader policy objectives.