XN000022-1988-12-14 — Page 34

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1988

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FUNDS APPROVED FOR BOOSTING LOCALISATION IN LEGAL DEPT

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THE GOVERNMENT WILL SPEND $30.4 MILLION FROM NOW ΤΟ 1991-1992 TO BOOST LOCALISATION IN THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S CHAMBERS.

中帔

THIS FOLLOWS THE FINANCE COMMITTEE'S ACCEPTANCE TODAY {WEDNESDAY) OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A "DOUBLE-LADDER' PROMOTION SCHEME FOR LOCAL CROWN COUNSEL (CC) TO SENIOR CROWN COUNSEL (SCC).

THE "DOUBLE-LADDER" IS A MEANS BY WHICH LOCAL CC, WHO WOULD OTHERWISE NOT BE CONSIDERED READY FOR PROMOTION TO SCC BUT WHO HAVE IDENTIFIED POTENTIAL TO RISE WITHIN THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S CHAMBERS, CAN REACH THE SCC POST EARLIER.

THESE COUNSEL WOULD THEN GAIN THE BENEFITS OF THE HIGHER RANK INCLUDING HOUSING WHICH THEY AT PRESENT DO NOT ENJOY.

"IT IS EXPECTED THAT ON OR AFTER REACHING THIS LADDER, COUNSEL SELECTED WILL BEGIN TO TAKE ON THE FUNCTIONAL DUTIES OF THAT RANK, AND DO SO INCREASINGLY AS TIME PROGRESSES UP TO THE POINT AT WHICH THEY MAY LEAVE THE LADDER BY PROMOTION, WHICH WILL PROBABLY BE AFTER THREE YEARS IN MOST CASES, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID.

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THE SCHEME WAS RECOMMENDED BY AN INTER-DEPARTMENTAL WORKING GROUP CHAIRED BY THE SOLICITOR GENERAL, MR FRANK STOCK, SET UP IN 1986 TO EXPLORE THE BEST MEANS OF ACHIEVING LOCALISATION IN THE DEPARTMENT.

FEW

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S CHAMBERS IS ONE OF THE DEPARTMENTS WITH A HIGH PERCENTAGE OF OVERSEAS OFFICERS.

GOVERNMENT

IN 1987-88, THE OVERALL BALANCE BETWEEN LOCAL AND OVERSEAS COUNSEL STOOD AT 40:60.

THE WORKING GROUP ADVISED THAT FURTHER MEASURES TOWARDS LOCALISATION WERE JUSTIFIED.

AFTER EXAMINING A NUMBER OF PROPOSALS, IT RECOMMENDED THAT "DOUBLE-LADDER" SCHEME WAS A VIABLE OPTION GIVEN THE TARGET OF 50 CENT LOCALISATION OF LOCAL COUNSEL AT THE SCC LEVEL BY 1992.

THE PER

AT PRESENT, ONLY 18 OUT OF A TOTAL STRENGTH OF 91 SCC ARE EMPLOYED ON LOCAL TERMS OF SERVICE.

IN THE FIRST YEAR OF IMPLEMENTATION ABOUT 13 "DOUBLE-LADDER" POSTS ARE LIKELY TO BE CREATED, AND ABOUT EIGHT EACH YEAR THEREAFTER, SUBJECT TO A MAXIMUM OF 30 ON THE LADDER AT ANY ONE TIME, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

/ON THE