ADF LOSOCS Policy - DFRT Decisions & Determinations - Legal Task Journals - LOCPDC Forms - LOCPDC Policy Decisions

Introduction of the Legal Officers' Specialist Officer Career Structure (LOSOCS)
In February 2000, the Defence Force Remuneration Tribunal (DFRT) approved the introduction of the Legal Officer’s Specialist Career Structure (LOSOCS) from 16 March 2000. In supporting the introduction of the LOSOCS, the ADF recognised the need for legal officers in the ADF to be part of a specialist stream. The most important feature of the LOSOCS is the introduction of legal competency levels (CL or LL), which range from CL 1 (for a newly admitted lawyer) to CL 5. Now, a legal officer’s salary is dependent upon rank, CL and salary increment.

LOSOCS Policy
The LOSOCS policy was last revised on 21 Mar 11 and may need further revision once the draft DI(G) - Management of the Specialist Officer Career Structure (SOCS) is finalised.

Legal Officer Career & Professional Development Committee (LOCPDC)
A legal officer's career is now managed by the Service career manager with the assistance of the LOCPDC. The LOCPDC is chaired by the Director General (DGADFLS) and its membership comprises the military HOC within Defence Legal, Director of Legal Reserve Management (DLRM), the National Practice Manager (NPM), the Director the Military Law Centre (DMLC), the Special Adviser, Defence Legal and the representatives of the single Service career managers.

The DGADFLS has delegated from the Chief of the Defence Force (CDF) the power to determine CL. The DGADFLS uses the LOCPDC to advise him on such matters and to enable him to make recommendations in relation to requests to join the LOSOCS as well as deal with all other applications by LOSOCS members.
An ADF legal officer must satisfy certain criteria to gain a particular CL and is required to make an application to the LOCPDC to advance to a higher CL.