Government of Jamaica
The Office of the Parliamentary Counsel (OPC) is the Law Office of the Government charged with the responsibility for the preparation of draft legislation. It consists of a cadre of attorneys-at-law headed by the Chief Parliamentary Counsel and supported by administrative and secretarial staff.
Role and Mission
The role and mission of the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel is:
a. to facilitate the Government in the task of governing by preparing draft legislation in fulfilment of its Legislative Programme and in pursuance of policy decisions at the Ministry level; and
b. to give counsel to Parliament in the exercise of its law-making powers by advising on draft Bills which it seeks to enact.
Duties
In carrying out these functions the OPC draft Bills and subsidiary legislation on instructions from client Ministries, advise Ministries on points of law relevant to proposed legislation, examine and comment on all Cabinet Submissions related to legislation, attend Legislation Committee (a Sub-Committee of Cabinet) and, when necessary, sittings of Parliament or Committees when Bills are being taken.
