VPRS 14002 Register of Crown Solicitors' Opinions

This series was used to record the opinions of the Crown Solicitor and others on matters referred to them by the Department of Crown Lands and Survey (VA 538), and recorded by the Correspondence Branch. Opinions were sought on matters such as the interpretation of Acts, the definition of Departmental authority, Officers' entitlements, objections to land applications, ownership disagreements, possible prosecutions, and the drafting of conditions and amendments relating to future Acts. Although most of the Opinions recorded were from the Crown Solicitor's Office, Opinions were also recorded from the Attorney General, and from other departmental heads.The majority of the series is handwritten however typed letters, newspaper clippings, and Government Gazette pages are also included. A two-column format is used throughout the series: Column one contains reference numbers, such as file numbers, correspondence numbers, and notes, such as relevant sections of Acts and other relevant cases. Column two contains the case name or question, a brief description of the case details as provided to the Crown Solicitor, and a copy of the Opinion received. Sometimes the judgements, the results of the case, or references to subsequent Opinions, are also provided. The name and job title/department of the signees are provided, along with the date of both the opinion and the letter or brief.Some volumes in this series, particularly in the P2 consignment, may have been prepared and used by specific Branches from a more central record. These duplicate volumes might have included only those opinions relevant to the specific duties of the Branch and were used for reference by officers in carrying out their duties.These Opinions or records relating to them may also be found in the records of Departments to which matters were referred, such as VA 667 Office of the Victorian Government Solicitor (previously known as the Office of the Crown Solicitor) in VPRS 12949 Opinions.