Roles & Functions of the Branch

The Branch is responsible for the overall development and implementation of effective and efficient up-to-date legal information systems and services to support the department’s function of providing sound leadership and management to staff, a safe and equitable environment and for obtaining appropriate resources and facilities to enable staff to perform their functions.

It is entrusted with the responsibilities of providing the Department with the means and ways in which it could take advantage of modern technology to increase productivity and output in its day-to-day service to the Government and the people of Papua New Guinea.

Information Technology Section:

The Information Technology Sectionsupports the Department in providing and maintaining IT Services which includes administration of IT strategic planning, policy development, information services; procurement and distribution of computer hardware and software, network and technical support, website development and various legal information systems.

In particular the Section plans, implements and manages programs and specific applications systems, data communications, PCs and LAN (Local Area Networks). It identifies, procures, configures, distributes, and installs all IT hardware and software equipment and training of staff in computer skills, networking the buildings, and develops policies.

The Legal Library Section

The Library Section provides legal information services and resources both in paper form and electronic. The service provided covers Head office including the 3 branch libraries in the Constitutional Offices of Public Prosecutor, Public Solicitor, and the Constitutional & Law Reform Commission in Port Moresby and 14 branch libraries in the main regional centres in the country.

The Library Services supports and add value to the outputs of the Attorney-General, the Constitutional Office Holders, the Solicitor-General, the State Solicitor and the lawyers of the department.

The Law Officers and the lawyers of the Department collectively service a very wide variety of legal requirements. They cover the whole spectrum of legal work in the provision of sound legal advice, clearances and policies, effective litigation, prosecutions and legal assistance.

In addition, the lawyers of the Department carry significant workloads, both in terms of the number of cases, and in the potential impact on the national budget and law and order in the country.

The quality and standard of legal advices and opinions provided to the government-of-the-day, client departments and various court submissions in litigation work by the Legal Branches of the Department depend very much on the library and the materials contained therein.

In order for lawyers to deliver the best possible legal advice, opinions and court submissions, it is very important that the availability of accurate and reliable up-to-date legal information resources is very essential to improve the performance of lawyers and law officers. This also includes the Attorney-General who is the Principal Legal Adviser to the National Executive Council and to strengthen the democratic process.

The Library must therefore reflect this very wide range of interests and responsibilities by providing the most reliable and appropriate law materials and the information essential to support the lawyers in their work.

The Library Collection, and the Information Services provided by the Library Staff are therefore of crucial importance to the work of the Department.

Records Management & Archival Services

The Records & Archives Management Section is committed to executing records keeping & maintenance practices in order to meet the department's needs, accountability requirements and client expectations.

The DJAG records and information are coporate assets vital for both ongoing operations and also in providing valuable evidence of business decisions, activities and transactions.

The Records & Archives Management section is the custodian of the department's business records that are arranged in a systematic, timely and secured storage environment so that evidence of business activities can be provided for daily use and development.