Administrative Law

DLA Phillips Fox's Administrative Law team works with government agencies to create greater public confidence in government administration by developing a more coherent and consistent decision making framework.

With many of our lawyers coming from government backgrounds, we understand the pressures that apply to public agencies and their staff.

We deliver:

• Practical solutions – our lawyers have a deep understanding of the broader legal and policy framework for decision making. We work closely with our clients, develop an understanding of their objectives and constraints, and devise practical solutions. 
• Extensive experience – we assist in the application of administrative law to all levels of government. We understand government accountability regimes and the range, breadth and import of the legislation involved in government decision making.
• Training – in addition to drafting guidelines, procedures and defending challenged decisions, our lawyers work proactively with our clients, training those involved in decision making.

We provide a wide range of assistance, including:

• Assisting in the development of government programs and processes.
• Preparing delegations, authorisations, instructions and guidelines to ensure a coherent framework for processing decisions.
• Advising on the scope of legislative and administrative powers.
• Providing pro forma documentation to increase efficiency and accuracy.
• Drafting proposed decisions, and detailed reasons for decisions that clearly show appropriate consideration of all relevant factors and the following of appropriate processes. 
• Robustly defending government decisions that are challenged in a court or tribunal.