Can an Australian consular officer recommend lawyers or provide legal advice?
No. While consular officials can provide the detainee with a list of lawyers and general information about the legal system of the country they are being detained in, consular staff are not lawyers and cannot provide legal advice or make recommendations as to which lawyer a person should choose. T his long-standing practice is consistent with the approach taken by Australia’s consular partners, including the United States and United Kingdom. The role of Australian consular officers is to ensure that Australians have sufficient information to organise their own legal representation.
