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The Office of Legal Services (OLS) is the University’s internal legal office. We provide a comprehensive legal service to the University.
Our primary role is to ensure that the management and staff of the University are sufficiently well advised and informed of legal requirements and issues in order to maximize the quality of decision making within the University and to protect its resources and reputation.
Please note: OLS does not provide personal legal advice to University staff or students. For personal advice you may consider contacting a private lawyer or your local community legal centre.
Service Commitment
We have a service-oriented and proactive approach to our work and our aim is to provide our services in a timely and value-adding manner.
We are committed to achieving and maintaining the following minimum standards of service:
We will -
- Respond to your enquiries in a prompt and friendly manner.
- Strive to respond to all communications within the shortest feasible time.
- Communicate with you in a clear and concise manner, using plain English.
- Communicate with you using the most effective and efficient method of communication.
- Keep you informed at all times of progress of work which we are doing for you.
Scope of Legal Services
Some examples of the legal services that we provide include:
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Drafting, reviewing and negotiating legal agreements such as funding agreements, research agreements, leases and licences, access agreements, student placement and exchange agreements, service agreements, memoranda of understanding and consultancy agreements; |
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Providing legal advice and opinions on a variety of legal and compliance issues, including copyright, patents and trademarks, privacy, freedom of information and privacy laws; |
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Interpretation of and advice on legislation affecting the University, including University Statutes, By-laws and rules; |
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Management of litigation, disputes and external complaints involving the University; |
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Designing legal structures for the University’s arrangements and providing legal support and advice on negotiation strategies; and |
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Negotiation of operational agreements and arrangements that contain obligations of the University. |
Various areas of the University have primary responsibility for certain matters and will be your initial point of contact. These other areas will refer such matters to OLS as required to obtain legal advice:
- Compliance and Risk matters – Risk Management and Audit Assurance (RMAA).
- Industrial Relations, Occupational Health and Safety and Personnel matters – Human Resources.
- Insurance Related matters – Finance and Business Services Centre, Strategic Procurement.
- Property and Facilities matters – Facilities and Services.
- Research grants – Office of Research and Innovation (ORI).
- Student related matters – Student Services Centre.
- Complaints – Governance Services
When should the OLS be involved?
There are certain legal matters which should be referred to the OLS for review and advice and other legal matters which may not need to be referred to the OLS (Exempt Matters).
Details of which matters should be referred to the OLS and which matters will be Exempt Matters (not requiring referral to Legal Services) are set out in the OLS Service Guidelines. If you are unsure whether your agreement or issue should be referred to the OLS then please contact Legal Services to discuss.
The OLS should always be involved when the University seeks advice from external lawyers. For further information in this regard see the OLS Service Guidelines and our Common Queries.
How to involve OLS in a matter?
If you would like to request our services, please direct your enquiry together with any associated documentation or background information to the University's General Counsel by email or telephone or alternatively e-mail: legalservices@ecu.edu.au. Click HERE for the University's General Counsel contact details.
To assist you with preparing your request for legal advice, you are encouraged to complete one of the following forms which can be downloaded from our website:
When we receive a new request for legal services we will register a new matter, allocate it to a lawyer for attention and deal with your matter quickly and efficiently.
If your matter is urgent, please indicate this to us in your instructions.
If you are unsure about how to proceed, how to complete the form or would like to make an appointment to discuss your matter with one of our lawyers please contact Jacqui Channing on telephone number: 6304 2629 (available Monday to Thursday) or email us on legalservices@ecu.edu.au.
OLS Service Guidelines and Common Queries
Please refer to the OLS Service Guidelines, and our Common Queries for further information about the following matters and other frequently asked questions:
- What happens after OLS receives a request for Legal Services?
- Guidance on the execution of agreements/contracts/other documents.
- Guidance on record keeping requirements.
- What standard/template documents are available from the OLS and guidance on how to use those documents.
- Guidance on using external lawyers for University legal matters.
- Guidance on what to do if you are served with or receive court documents.
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