Lawyers responsible for preparing each file before it gets to trial.

Including:

• making decisions about whether there is enough evidence to support the charges & providing advice to SAPOL about the charges

• meeting with victims to provide information about the criminal justice court process

• appearing in court on hearings prior to trial

• negotiating with defence prior to trial, including decisions about possible resolutions

• making sentencing submissions when there is a guilty plea before trial.

ODPP solicitors prepare the file ready for trial, which is then provided to an allocated prosecutor just before trial.

In addition to our general solicitor teams and junior solicitor team, we have a number of specialised teams for particular file types:

• Vulnerable Witness Teams - focused on files involving children and other vulnerable victims and witnesses.

• Domestic Family Sexual Violence Team – a new team established in response to the Royal Commission into Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence.

• Circuit Team – focused on files involving offences that occurred in the Port Augusta and Mount Gambier regional areas.

• Commercial, Crime and Confiscations Team – a team involved in the conduct of fraud, cybercrime and corruption matters as well as the confiscation of assets obtained through proceeds of crime.

• Serious and Complex Crime Team – this team focuses on files generated by Operation Ironside as well as other large and complex extraordinary files.

There are paralegals allocated to each solicitor team within the ODPP.

Lawyers that specialise in running trials in the District and Supreme Courts.

This involves:

• preparing the evidence before trial

• meeting with prosecution witnesses to prepare for trial

• appearing in court to present evidence during a trial

• negotiating with defence at trial, including decisions about potential resolutions

• making sentencing submissions when the defendant is found guilty after trial.

Prosecutors are also sometimes referred to as ‘counsel’ or ‘trial counsel’. The ODPP has an internal team of experienced prosecutors and may also engage barristers from the Independent Bar as needed.

We have a variety of administrative staff that provide essential operational and administrative support so that our office can operate effectively.

Roles include, but are not limited to:

• law clerks and specialist law clerks

• reception staff, secretaries, data entry and other administration officers

• human resources, wellbeing and management roles

• financial services, information management, and workplace health and safety roles

• project coordination and support roles

• corporate services and executive support roles.

Allocated to provide trauma-informed support and information for some victims and prosecution witnesses who may need assistance due to the impact of the offending, their age, or other personal circumstances.

Access more information about the Witness Assistance Team.