| Expense | Amount |
|---|---|
|
External expenditure on solicitors |
$19,600,681.00 |
|
External expenditure on counsel |
$4,959,072.00 |
|
Other disbursements on external legal services |
$1,913,736.00 |
|
Total external legal services expenditure |
$26,473,489.00 |
Since 1 July 2018, the Legal Services Directions 2017 specifically encourages Commonwealth agencies to use all reasonable endeavours to select female barristers with relevant seniority, expertise and experience in the relevant practice area, with a view to:
- senior female barristers accounting for at least 25% of all briefs or 25% of the value of all brief fees paid to senior barristers
- junior female barristers accounting for at least 30% of all briefs or 30% of the value of all brief fees paid to junior barristers.
These targets support the objectives of the Law Council of Australia's Equitable Briefing Policy.
For the 2023-24 financial year, the ACCC recorded figures in relation to female counsel:
|
|
Female junior counsel |
Female senior counsel |
Total female counsel |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Indirect – number of briefs |
64% |
41% |
57% |
|
Direct – number of briefs |
83% |
0% |
63% |
Explanatory notes
The above figures are all GST exclusive.
The above figures do not include the ACCC’s internal legal services expenditure.
The above figures were prepared on an accrual basis.
Indirect briefing refers to counsel briefed through legal services firms retained by the ACCC. This contrasts with counsel briefed directly by the ACCC.