Crown Law Grade System

GRADE 1

(1)   Posts

  • Assistant Legal Officer

(2)   Scope of Work

  • Prepare Basic Briefs (Summary of Facts, proposed charges only) for Grade 2 to 5 cases
  • Prepare Summary of Facts for Grade 2 to 6 cases
  • Legal Research for Grade 2 to 6 cases
  • Provide Legal Opinions for Grade 2 to 6 cases
  • Deal with Less Complex Guardian Ad Litem matters
  • Complex translations for Grade 2 to 6 cases

(3)   Authority

  • Appear in Chambers for Guardian Ad Litem matters
  • Court Appearance only on strict instructions, with approval of Grade 5 or 6

GRADE 2

(1)   Post

  • Assistant Crown Counsels

(2)   Scope of Work

  • Criminal Trials:
    • Less Complex assault cases (GBH; Bodily Harm);
    • Less Complex sexual offenses (Indecent Assault)
    • Less Complex property offenses (Robbery, housebreaking, Theft, etc.);
    • Less Complex drug cases (Possession and Growing Illicit Drugs)
  • Brief Files for Grades 3 to 6 cases
  • Junior Counsel in Grades 3 to 6 cases
  • Provide Legal Opinions for Grades 5 and 6 work
  • Deal with Complex Guardian Ad Litem matters (divorces etc)

(3)   Authority

  • Recommend Plea Bargaining/ crown Offering No Evidence/ Adult Diversion on Grade 2 cases

GRADE 3

(1)   Post

  • Crown Counsels

(2)   Scope of Work

  • Criminal:
    • Complex assault cases (Manslaughter; Manslaughter by negligence etc);
    • Complex sexual offenses ( Ordinary Rape; Indecent Assault of women etc);
    • Complexproperty offences (Obtaining by False Pretenses; Large theft etc)
    • Complex drug cases (Possession, supplying light drugs etc)
    • Complex public policy cases (Fisheries undersized catch etc)
  • Civil
    • Complex claims against Police;
    • Complex tort cases;
  • Land:
    • Complex land disputes
  • Government Advice:
    • Complex legal advice
  • BriefFiles for Grades 4 and 5 cases
  • Junior Counsel in Grades 4 and 5 cases
  • Provide Legal Opinions for Grades 4 and 5 work
  • Deal with highly complex Guardian Ad Litem matters (divorces etc)

(3)   Authority

  • Recommend Plea Bargaining/ Crown Offering No Evidence/ Adult Diversion on Grade 3 cases and below
  • Jury Trials

GRADE 4

(1)   Posts

  • Assistant Senior Crown Counsels

(2)   Scope of Work

  • Criminal:
    • More Complex assault cases (Multiple Manslaughter, Multiple Manslaughter by negligence etc);
    • More Complex sexual offenses (Multiple Rape, Indecent Assault of children; Incest etc);
    • More Complex property cases (Robbery; Assault with intent to rob etc);
    • More Complex drug cases (Growing cannabis; making cannabis oil etc, Large Volume of Drugs etc);
    • More Complex fraud cases ( Counterfeit, Embezzlement, Falsification of Accounts etc);
    • More Complex public policy cases (Fisheries processing establishments)
  • Civil:
    • More Complex claims against Police;
    • More Complex torts cases
  • Land:
    • More Complex land disputes
  • Government Advice:
    • More Complex legal advice
  • Brief Files for Grades 5 and 6 cases
  • Junior Counsel in Grades 5 and 6 cases
  • Provide Legal Opinions for Grades 5, 6, and 7 work
  • Complex Mutual Assistance in Criminal matters
  • Complex Extraditions

(3)   Authority

  • Recommend plea Bargaining/Crown Offering No Evidence/ Adult Diversion on Grade 4 cases and below
  • Recommend Immunity from Prosecution
  • Recommend Mediation
  • Recommend Adult Diversion
  • Jury Trials
  • Court of Appeal
  • Sign Off Cabinet Submissions (with Grade 6 approval)

GRADE 5

(1)   Post

  • Senior Crown Counsel

(2)   Scope of Work

  • Criminal:
    • High Profile Criminal Cases
    • Very Complex High Crimes (Sedition etc);
    • Very Complex assault cases (Multiple Murders etc);
    • Very complex sexual cases (Serious Violent Rape, Carnal knowledge of child, Child abuse etc);
    • Very Complex property cases (Aggravated robbery causing major injury, money laundering etc);
    • Very Complex drug cases (hard drugs, large volume, international syndicates etc)
    • Very Complex public policy cases (fisheries foreign fishing vessels etc);
    • Very Complex criminal defamation (King, Ministers, Royal Family etc);
    • Very Complex Contempt of court cases ( Interfering Scandalizing etc)
  • Civil:
    • Very Complex constitutional cases;
    • Very Complex judicial review cases
    • Very Complex civil actions against Government
  • Land:
    • Very Complex land disputes relating to Hereditary Estates
  • Government Advice:
    • Very complex Constitutional advice
    • Very Complex statutory interpretation
  • Draft:
    • Amending Legislation; Regulations;
    • Notices, Appointments, Authorizations, Proclamations
    • Documents from the Throne/ Cabinet/ PM/ Ministers
    • Contracts
    • International Treaties
  • Legal Opinions for Grades 5 and 6 work
  • Appear as Amicus Curiae
  • Appear as intervener
  • Appear in Mediation
  • Very Complex Mutual Assistance in Criminal matters
  • Very complex Extraditions

(3)   Authority

  • Propose/ Endorse Crown Offering No Evidence Recommendation
  • Propose/ Endorse Immunity from Prosecution Recommendation
  • Propose/ Endorse Mediation Recommendation
  • Propose/ Endorse Adult Diversion Recommendation
  • Approve Plea Bargaining on Grade 2, 3, and 4 cases
  • Approve Indictments on Grades 2,3, and 4 cases
  • Approve Pleadings in Civil and Land Cases for Grade 4 cases
  • Jury Trials
  • Court of Appeal
  • Sign Off Cabinet Submissions (with consultation with Grade 6)

GRADE 6

(1)   Post

  • Solicitor General

(2)   Scope of Work

  • Criminal:
    • Highly Complex High Profile cases
    • Highly Complex High Crimes (Treason, Sedition);
    • Highly Complex assault cases (Serious Multiple Murders);
    • Highly Complex fraud cases (involving public figures, money laundering);
    • Highly Complex Contempt of Court cases (High Profile);
    • Highly Complex public policy cases
  • Civil:
    • Highly Complex Constitutional cases
    • Highly Complex Judicial Review cases
    • Highly Complex civil actions against Government
  • Land:
    • Highly Complex Land Disputes relating to Hereditary Estates
    • Highly Complex Land Disputes relating to the King’s land
  • Government Advice:
    • Highly Complex Advice involving Constitutional issues
    • Highly Complex Public Service Commission advice
    • Highly Complex legal advice
  • Draft:
    • Amending Legislation and Regulations
    • Notices, Appointments, Authorizations, Proclamations
    • Documents from the Throne/ Cabinet/ PM/ Ministers
    • Government Contracts
    • International Treaties
  • Legal opinions for Grade 7 work
  • Appear as Amicus Curiae
  • Appear as Intervener
  • Appear in Mediation
  • Public Relations
  • Deal with Diplomatic Corp
  • Highly Complex Mutual Assistance in Criminal matters
  • Highly Complex Extraditions

(3)   Authority

  • Recommend to Attorney General Crown Offering No Evidence
  • Recommend to Attorney General Immunity from Proscution
  • Recommend to Attorney General Mediation
  • Recommend to Attorney General Adult Diversion
  • Approve Indictments on Grades 2, 3, and 4 cases
  • Approve Pleadings in Civil and Land Cases for Grade 4 cases
  • Jury Trials
  • Court of Appeal
  • Sign off Cabinet Submissions
  • (Management and Administration of CLD)

GRADE 7

(1)   Post

  • Hon Attorney General

(2)   Scope of Work

  • First Law Officer of the Crown (Principal Prosecutor, Legal Advisor amd Legislative Drafter)
  • Public Relations on Legal Issues
  • Parliamentary Debates on Legal Issues
  • Supervise Crown Law criminal workload, civil litigation, land cases
  • Supervise Crown Law legislative drafting
  • Supervise Crown Law legal advice
  • Answer Parliamentary Questions
  • Direct Community Law Initiatives
  • Public Relations
  • Diplomatic Corp

(3)   Authority

  • Approve Crown Offering No Evidence
  • Approve Immunity from Prosecution
  • Approve Mediation/ Settlement
  • Approve Adult Diversion
  • Approve Payment of Civil and Land Judgements