All government lawyers in different ministries will now work under the Office of the Attorney General, announced Prime Minister Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Schmidt on Friday.

This change will come into effect from Monday. The same day, Mauga will be sworn in as the AG.

Laaulialemalietoa said this will save money and strengthen the AG's office.

He said Attorney General Mauga Precious Chang will oversee which cases these lawyers will handle daily.

He said in the past, some of these lawyers could not deal with legal matters some ministries have faced, and this was another reason why the AG must have control over these issues.

There has been a shortage of lawyers at the AG’s Office, and this has led to many cases being assigned to private lawyers. The shortage of lawyers had led to all prosecution of domestic violence cases being handed to the Samoa Police. A move that the Samoa Police had said was overloading them.

In 2024, of the 26 vacant positions advertised for the AG’s Office in the PSC's circular, 25 were legal positions and one administration position.

The positions varied from principal state solicitor for civil litigation and opinions division and of the commercial international laws division to senior state solicitor, principal legislative drafter, legal consultant, principal and senior public prosecutor.