CHIEF STATE SOLICITOR'S OFFICE

Functions of the Chief State Solicitor's Office

The functions of the CSSO include:

• The provision of a solicitor service in all civil courts in which any Government Department or other State authority is involved.
• Conveyancing of State property and related property law services.
• The furnishing of legal advice on the various subjects that are submitted by Government Departments and the drafting of the necessary accompanying legal documents.
• The preparation and presentation of all prosecutions initiated by Ministers or Government Departments.
• Acting as Agent of the Government before the European Court of Justice (ECJ).
• Acting for the State in enquiries under the Tribunals of Enquiry (Evidence) Act, 1921 and supplying legal staff to act for the Tribunals.
• Representing the State and State Authorities in taxations of costs before the Taxing Masters.
• Advising and preparing commercial contracts for Government clients.
• Advising and representing the State parties in asylum and refugee law cases.
• Acting for the State in extraditions, European arrest warrant proceedings, mutual assistance cases, and also cases involving the transfer of sentenced prisoners.

Prosecution of Crime

Generally, the solicitor service for the prosecution of crime is provided by the DPP through the Chief Prosecution Solicitors Office. In the case of prosecutions arising outside of Dublin the solicitor service continues to be provided by the local State solicitor service. It is anticipated that responsibility for the provision and management of the local State solicitor service will transfer soon from the CSSO to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.