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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1993
MR MATHEWS ALSO EMPHASISED THAT THE PROJECTIONS HE MADE ALSO ASSUMED THAT IN THE RELATIVELY SHORT SPACE OF THE NEXT TWO YEARS, AT LEAST 50 SUITABLY QUALIFIED AND EXPERIENCED LOCAL OFFICERS WOULD JOIN THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT.
"IN THE LIGHT OF OUR CURRENT AND PAST EXPERIENCE, THAT WILL PRESENT A MAJOR CHALLENGE, HE SAID.
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HE ASKED COUNCILLORS NOT TO DOUBT HIS COMMITMENT ΤΟ THE LOCALISATION OF THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT.
HE BELIEVED THE MEASURES THAT HAD BEEN TAKEN, AND THAT WERE PROPOSED, WOULD BE EFFECTIVE.
THIS IS EVIDENT FROM THE EVER INCREASING NUMBER OF LOCAL COUNSEL AT MORE SENIOR LEVELS, FROM THE DROP IN THE WASTE RATE OF LOCAL COUNSEL, AND FROM THE LARGE RESPONSE ΤΟ OUR RECENT LOCAL RECRUITMENT EXERCISES, HE SAID.
TALKING ABOUT FURTHER MEASURES TAKEN BY THE DEPARTMENT ΤΟ ACHIEVE THE LOCALISATION TARGETS, MR MATHEWS SAID HE PROPOSED THAT THE DEVELOPMENT POSTS SCHEME, DESIGNED FOR SENIOR CROWN COUNSEL TO IMPROVE THEIR PROSPECTS OF PROMOTION TO THE DIRECTORATE, SHOULD CONTINUE IN BEING, BUT WITH 20 RATHER THAN 18 POSTS.
EACH OF WHICH SHOULD BE CAPABLE OF BEING REFILLED WHEN IT WAS VACATED BY A PARTICULAR DEVELOPEE.
HE FURTHER PROPOSED THAT A NEW SCHEME SHOULD BE INTRODUCED TO ENABLE SELECTED LOCAL COUNSEL AT THE DIRECTORATE RANK OF DEPUTY PRINCIPAL CROWN COUNSEL TO ACT AS DEPUTY LAW OFFICER ΤΟ GIVE THEM EARLY EXPOSURE TO THE WORK AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THESE VERY SENIOR POSTS.
AS FOR THE LEGAL TRAINER SCHEME, WHICH WAS INTRODUCED LAST YEAR AND ENABLED LOCAL MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAD COMPLETED THEIR LEGAL STUDIES IN THE TERRITORY'S EXCELLENT TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS TO RECEIVE THEIR PRACTICAL LEGAL TRAINING IN LEGAL DEPARTMENT, AND THEREAFTER TO MAKE THEIR CAREERS WITH THE DEPARTMENT, MR MATHEWS PROPOSED ΤΟ INCREASE THE NUMBER OF RECRUITS FROM 10 TO 15.
"THE COMBINED EFFECT OF THESE SPECIAL MEASURES WILL PROVIDE LOCAL COUNSEL AT ALL LEVELS, FROM LEGAL TRAINEE то DIRECTORATE OFFICER, WITH OPPORTUNITIES FOR SPECIAL TRAINING AND PROMOTION THAT ARE TO BE ENVIED.
"I AM CONFIDENT THAT THESE MEASURES WILL ENSURE THAT, IN FUTURE, VACANCIES IN MY DEPARTMENT CAN BE FILLED BY SUITABLY QUALIFIED LOCAL LAWYERS, EITHER FROM WITHIN OR OUTSIDE THE DEPARTMENT.
"THIS CONFIDENCE IS REINFORCED
BY THE RESPONSE то A LOCAL RECRUITMENT EXERCISE CONDUCTED IN JANUARY THIS YEAR AND ANOTHER CURRENTLY IN PROGRESS, WHICH IS FAR IN EXCESS OF ANY RESPONSE THAT HAVE HAD TO SIMILAR EXERCISES IN THE PAST," MR MATHEWS SAID.
WE
TURNING ΤΟ THE TOPIC OF JUDICIAL EFFICIENCY, MR MATHEWS REASSURED COUNCILLORS THAT THE GOVERNMENT ATTACHED GREAT IMPORTANCE TO THE EFFICIENT OPERATION OF THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM.
/THE CHIEF