ODPP members restrict workloads to the "reasonable"

As directed by members, the Association's ODPP Departmental Committee met last week to determine the next step in our campaign for more staff - both lawyers and clerks - at the Office.

Delegates determined a clear course of action to restrict the workloads of members to a reasonable level.

As a result, members are directed -

1. All members - to work contract hours only and to return all matters not able to be done within contract hours to management.
2. Level 2 and 3 lawyers - to have a ceiling of 25 active matters in the city and 20 active matters in the country, subject to 1. (above), i.e. if the work involved in the matters held would entail working more than contract hours (irrespective of whether the number is less than the ceiling), those matters should be returned to management.
3. Level 1 lawyers in the metropolitan region - to instruct Crown Prosecutors/Trial Advocates in no more than one trial per week.
4. Level 1 lawyers on country circuit - not to appear in "short matters".
5. Not to process any confiscation matters.
6. Not to on take on any summary child sexual assault matters from the Police.
7. Not to do any advisings generally, including Singh protocols.
8. Not to do any "elections".
9. Not to do any any duties outside position description/performance management workplan core responsibilities (eg level 1 lawyers are not to do All Ground Appeals in the District Court and clerks are not to do work outside their position description)

   . Sydney Office
   

10. Level 1, 2 and 3 lawyers - not to take "split short matters.
11. Level 1, 2 and 3 lawyers - not to take short matters allocated after 1pm on the day before the hearing of the matter.
12. Not to take more than 15 Supreme Court bail matters in a court list on any one day.

The Association will, of course, continue to advise members of any significant responses from the Office and/or Government, and take action appropriate to developing circumstances as determined by members and delegates.

Previous ODPP Industrial Bulletin, May 7
Previous ODPP News Item, May 7