AGS provides a range of publications for Australian Government lawyers, researchers, academics, students and the public.
Express Law
Express law is a subscription email service that provides quick legal updates on court decisions or other legal developments that may impact on particular matters, the way you conduct business or policy planning. Express law is provided as an early, interim view for general information only.
Last week in Parliament
Last week in Parliament is a subscription email service produced following each Parliamentary sitting week. It summarises key events in the Commonwealth Parliament in the previous week and includes links to the most significant documents.
Legal briefing
Legal briefing provides concise information on significant legal developments. Each issue usually covers a single topic, written by lawyers with specialist expertise, providing valuable information and advice to Australian Government clients, state courts and tribunals, state government departments and libraries.
Constitutional cases
Constitutional cases helps you to stay informed on current and developing litigation in key cases in Australia. While most issues focus on matters before the High Court, there is also coverage on cases in the Federal Court and other courts and tribunals. Results of judgments and appeals are reported, as are trends and other points of special interest in Commonwealth litigation.
Subscribe to receive future AGS publications (for Australian Government agencies and employees only).
Changes to our publications range
We’ve changed our publications range to streamline the number of publications we produce, giving readers a more convenient way to view quality content.
What’s changed
Topics previously covered in the below publications will now be included in our Legal briefing publications.
We have also changed the name of Litigation notes to Constitutional cases. This name change better reflects the nature of the topics covered in the publication.
Summary of changes
What will happen to older publications currently on the website
We’re reviewing older publications on our website to determine if they are still relevant and current.
The current Commercial notes, Fact sheets, and Information law updates will be republished in the Legal briefing format. Those that are out of date will be archived.
The current Litigation notes will be republished in the Constitutional law format. Those that are out of date will be archived.
Updating your bookmarks
If you’ve subscribed to these publications (Commercial notes, Fact sheets, Information law updates, Litigation notes), we’ll email you to let you know when a publication has been updated to a new format.
The email will include a website link to the updated publication. We suggest you bookmark the new website link to ensure you have easy access to the new version.
Newsletters
Other publications
Our general publications are of interest to the public, students, researchers, public servants and legal practitioners:
Books
The Australian Constitution pocket edition
The pocket edition of Australia's Constitution is a handy reference for the public, students, researchers and legal practitioners. The booklet includes an overview and notes by the Australian Government Solicitor. It is published jointly by AGS and the Parliamentary Education Office.
You can purchase copies from the Parliamentary Education Office.
Sawer's The Australian Constitution
The Australian Government Solicitor (AGS) has now published the 4th edition of the highly-regarded and easy to read introduction to the Australian Constitution, originally written by Professor Geoffrey Sawer AO. This edition has been updated by former AGS Chief General Counsel Guy Aitken KC and Robert Orr PSM KC. The book provides a broad overview of the genesis of our Constitution, how it has developed, and how it works today.
It has maintained the lively spirit of earlier editions, and remains an accessible, general guide for students, teachers, citizens, politicians, public servants, lawyers and anyone interested in learning about the foundations of the Australian system of government. It clearly draws together legal and historical themes, and importantly focuses on how the Constitution operates in practice. Commentary on current issues has been included, such as freedom of speech and other constitutional rights, cooperation between the Commonwealth, states and territories, and proposals for constitutional change.
The full text of the Constitution and related major constitutional materials are also included.
If you would like to buy bulk copies of Sawer’s, please contact AGSpublications@ags.gov.au.