Paralegals

The current year has seen the realisation of several long term goals in the paralegal area as reported the last two annual reports. These include the ongoing re-classification of paralegal grades to provide clear career progression, and improved training and access to continued professional development.

The consolidation of the re-structure of the paralegals, with a comprehensive review of processes, procedures and workloads has allowed for a stabilisation within the paralegal section. The focus on professional development and recruitment of paralegal staff with prior criminal law experience or undertaking relevant study has proved to be beneficial. The year is the first time in recent years where there has been almost no attrition of paralegal staff.

All paralegals permanently employed within the DPP have either obtained their Certificate III in Business and Legal Administration and are continuing with further qualifications to the Certificate IV level or are enrolled in a relevant tertiary degree. A further three paralegals have obtained their Diploma in Legal Administration with support from the Office.

The DPP currently employs six paralegals who hold law degrees obtained whilst they were employed within the Office (including a specialist paralegal engaged to assist in the Eastman Inquiry), with a further two paralegals expected to graduate from law degrees in the coming months. This program of focusing recruitment to provide a balance between law students and professional paralegals has proved to be mutually beneficial. The Office benefits from their advanced paralegal skills in the drafting of complex legal documents, providing support in instructing solicitor roles, proofing, and the employees benefit from “on the job” training and access to legal training and supervision.

The year has seen a further focus on the development of electronic records and the on-going project to develop and disclose briefs of evidence electronically, with the long term goal that the electronic disclosure of briefs will decrease the time taken to provide briefs to defence counsel and defendants and ultimately improve the efficiency of hearing and trial processes.

Magistrates Court

Some 3517 matters were completed during the year, with 2630 been found proved. Completed matters were down on last year and more in line with historical levels. A full complement of Magistrates supplemented by experienced Special Magistrates ensured a healthy completion rate. A note of caution is sounded in comparing the figures for completions to previous years, as a more rigorous standard to merging matters was applied this year. (See in this regard the note to the statistics later in this report. This applies to both the Magistrates Court and the Childrens Court.)

The number of accused committed to the Supreme Court for trial or sentence was down this year (166 this year, 254 last year). This no doubt reflects the legislation which recently took effect permitting the prosecution to elect to treat matters having a maximum penalty of up to five years as summary matters. In practice the prosecution exercises that election in relation to most matters within that category. As a consequence fewer matters such as assaults occasioning actual bodily harm, breaches of protection orders and the like are committed to the Supreme Court. The new legislation is thus working well.