LEGAL PROFESSION REGULATIONS 2007
NORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA
LEGAL PROFESSION REGULATIONS 2007
As in force at 1 April 2023
Table of provisions
Part 1.1 Preliminary matters
1 Citation ............................................................................................ 1
Part 1.2 Interpretation
2 Definitions ........................................................................................ 1
3 Default determination of associate's home jurisdiction .................... 2
Part 2.1 Reservation of legal work and legal titles
4 Presumptions about taking or using name, title or description ........ 2
Part 2.2 Admission of local lawyers
5 Information on roll of persons admitted ........................................... 3
Part 2.3 Legal practice by Australian legal
practitioners
6 Compliance certificate ..................................................................... 3
7 Categories of local practising certificate .......................................... 3
8 Exemption from requirement to apply for grant or renewal of
practising certificate ......................................................................... 4
9 Application for local practising certificate ......................................... 5
10 Timing of application for renewal of local practising certificate ........ 6
11 Continuing legal education .............................................................. 7
12 Completion of periods of supervised legal practice ......................... 7
13 Statutory condition regarding practice as a barrister ....................... 8
14 Address for notice of offence ........................................................... 8
15 Requirements for professional indemnity insurance for
interstate legal practitioners ............................................................. 8
16 Register of local practising certificates ............................................ 9
17 Government lawyers – general exemption from certain
conditions ...................................................................................... 10
Part 2.6 Incorporated legal practices and multi-
disciplinary partnerships
18 Prohibited non-legal services and businesses of incorporated
legal practice ................................................................................. 11
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19 Notice of ceasing provision of legal services ................................. 11
20 Disqualifications and prohibitions .................................................. 11
21 Prohibition on conduct of managed investment scheme by
incorporated legal practice............................................................. 13
22 Multi-disciplinary partnership ......................................................... 13
Part 2.7 Legal practice by foreign lawyers
23 Scope of practice ........................................................................... 14
24 Trust money and trust accounts .................................................... 15
25 Professional indemnity insurance .................................................. 15
26 Fidelity cover ................................................................................. 15
27 Application of Part 35 of Act .......................................................... 16
28 Locally-registered foreign lawyer not covered by Fidelity Fund ..... 16
29 Application for local registration – show cause event .................... 17
30 Register of locally-registered foreign lawyers ................................ 17
31 Refund of fees ............................................................................... 18
Part 2.8 Complying community legal centres
32 Complying community legal centre ................................................ 19
Part 3.1 Trust money and trust accounts
Division 1 Preliminary matters
33 Operation of this Part ..................................................................... 19
34 Definitions ...................................................................................... 20
35 Barrister receiving money on behalf of other persons ................... 20
Division 2 Computerised accounting systems
36 Application of Division ................................................................... 20
37 Copies of trust records to be printed.............................................. 20
38 Chronological record of information to be made ............................ 21
39 Requirements regarding computer accounting systems ................ 21
40 Back-ups........................................................................................ 22
Division 3 General trust accounts
41 Establishment of general trust account .......................................... 22
42 Receipting of trust money .............................................................. 23
43 Deposit records for trust money..................................................... 24
44 Direction for non-deposit of trust money in general trust
account .......................................................................................... 25
45 Manner of withdrawal of trust money ............................................. 25
46 Payment by cheque ....................................................................... 26
47 Payment by electronic funds transfer ............................................ 28
48 Recording transactions in trust account cash books...................... 29
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49 Trust account receipts cash book .................................................. 29
50 Trust account payments cash book ............................................... 30
51 Recording transactions in trust ledger accounts ............................ 31
52 Journal transfers ............................................................................ 33
53 Reconciliation of trust records ....................................................... 34
54 Trust ledger account in name of law practice or legal
practitioner associate ..................................................................... 35
55 Notification requirements regarding general trust accounts........... 35
Division 4 Controlled money
56 Maintenance of controlled money accounts................................... 36
57 Receipt of controlled money .......................................................... 37
58 Deposit of controlled money .......................................................... 38
59 Manner of withdrawal of controlled money .................................... 38
60 Withdrawal of controlled money must be authorised ..................... 39
61 Register of controlled money ......................................................... 40
Division 5 Transit money
62 Information to be recorded about transit money ............................ 42
Division 6 Trust money generally
63 Trust account statements .............................................................. 42
64 Trust account statements for sophisticated clients ........................ 43
65 Register of Investments ................................................................. 44
66 Trust money subject to specific powers ......................................... 45
67 Register of powers and estates in relation to trust money ............. 45
68 Withdrawing trust money for legal costs ........................................ 46
69 Keeping of trust records ................................................................ 47
70 Retaining other records and information ........................................ 47
71 Statements regarding receipt or holding of trust money ................ 48
Division 7 External examinations
72 Requirement for external examinations ......................................... 49
73 Law practice closing down, closing office or ceasing to receive
or hold trust money ........................................................................ 49
74 Carrying out examination ............................................................... 50
Division 8 Provisions relating to ADIs
75 Conditions on approval of ADIs ..................................................... 50
76 Report by ADI to Law Society ........................................................ 50
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Division 9 Miscellaneous matters
77 Disclosure of accounts used to hold money entrusted to legal
practitioners ................................................................................... 51
78 Exemptions .................................................................................... 51
Part 3.2 Advertising legal services for personal
injury claims
79 Exemptions from the application of Part 32 of the Act ................... 52
80 Prescribed persons for section 288(2)(b) of the Act ...................... 52
Part 3.3 Costs disclosure and assessment
80A When does matter have substantial connection with this
jurisdiction...................................................................................... 53
80B Disclosure of costs to clients – form .............................................. 53
80C Exceptions to requirement for disclosure ....................................... 53
80D Interest on unpaid legal costs ........................................................ 54
80E Reference to client......................................................................... 54
80F Proceedings for conditional costs agreement ................................ 54
80G Notice of client's rights – form ........................................................ 54
80H Application for costs assessment .................................................. 54
80J Circumstance in which assessor may not refuse to issue
certificate ....................................................................................... 55
80K Supplementary information for certificate of determination –
sections 345 and 346 of Act .......................................................... 55
80L Application for review of determination .......................................... 56
80M Circumstance in which availability of certificate not contingent
on payment of reviewer's costs ..................................................... 56
80N Supplementary information for certificate of determination –
section 357 of Act .......................................................................... 56
Part 3.4 Professional indemnity insurance
81 Exemptions .................................................................................... 57
82 Prescribed requirements for professional indemnity insurance ..... 57
Part 3.5 Fidelity cover
83 Determination for funding from Fidelity Fund ................................. 58
84 Annual contributions ...................................................................... 58
85 Levies ............................................................................................ 58
86 Caps on payment .......................................................................... 59
87 Fidelity protocols............................................................................ 59
88 Interstate legal practitioner becoming authorised to withdraw
from local trust account: notification .............................................. 60
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Part 4 Complaints and discipline
89 Register of Disciplinary Action ....................................................... 60
Part 7.1 Regulatory bodies
90 Application of Associations Act 2003 ............................................. 61
Part 9 Miscellaneous matters
91 Fees, contributions and levies ....................................................... 61
Part 10.2 Transitional matters
92 Definition........................................................................................ 61
93 Supervised legal practice .............................................................. 61
94 Local practising certificates............................................................ 62
95 Notification requirements regarding general trust accounts........... 62
96 Members constituting Law Society ................................................ 62
96A Investigations into professional conduct ........................................ 62
Schedule 1 Entitlement to take or use names, titles
and descriptions
Schedule 2 Continuing professional development
scheme
Part 1 Interpretation
1 Definitions ...................................................................................... 67
Part 2 CPD scheme
Division 1 Basic concepts about CPD activities and CPD
points
2 CPD activity ................................................................................... 68
3 CPD points .................................................................................... 69
Division 2 Basic concepts about CPD obligation
4 CPD obligation............................................................................... 69
5 Starting legal practice during CPD year ......................................... 69
Division 3 Basic concepts about accruing and claiming
CPD points
6 Claiming CPD points for CPD year ................................................ 70
7 Fraction of CPD point .................................................................... 71
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Division 4 Accruing and claiming CPD points for CPD
activities
8 Preparing or giving presentation at seminar .................................. 71
9 Attending seminar or multimedia or website based program ......... 71
10 Private study – audio and video material ....................................... 71
11 Preparing or giving lecture ............................................................. 71
12 Published article ............................................................................ 72
13 Participating in committee.............................................................. 72
14 Completing specialist accreditation examination ........................... 73
15 Undertaking post-graduate studies ................................................ 73
Part 3 Miscellaneous matters
16 Certificate about compliance with CPD obligation ......................... 73
17 Exemption...................................................................................... 74
18 Law Society may require information about CPD obligation .......... 74
Part 4 Transitional matters for Legal Profession
Amendment Regulations 2012
19 Application of amendments ........................................................... 75
Part 5 Transitional matter for Legal Profession
Amendment Regulations 2023
20 Claiming CPD point for activity undertaken before 2023 CPD
year ............................................................................................... 76
Schedule 2A Forms
Schedule 3 Fees, contributions and levies
ENDNOTES
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NORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA
____________________
As in force at 1 April 2023
____________________
LEGAL PROFESSION REGULATIONS 2007
Regulations under the Legal Profession Act 2006
Part 1.1 Preliminary matters
1 Citation
These Regulations may be cited as the Legal Profession
Regulations 2007.
Note
The Part numbering of these Regulations follows the Part numbering of the Legal
Profession Act 2006. Accordingly, regulations in each Part of these Regulations
relate to the corresponding Part in the Act. As not every Part of the Act has
corresponding regulations, the Part numbering of these Regulations is not
sequential.
Part 1.2 Interpretation
2 Definitions
In these Regulations:
court box, for a law practice or other entity, means:
(a) a box located at the Supreme Court and labelled with the
name of the law practice or other entity and to which
documents can be delivered; or
(b) any other receptacle, approved by the Chief Justice, to which
a person can deliver documents to the law practice or other
entity.
employee, of an entity, means a person who is employed or
engaged under a contract of service or contract for services in or by
the entity whether or not:
(a) the person works full-time, part-time, or on a temporary or
casual basis; or
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(b) the person is a law clerk, articled clerk or graduate clerk.
entity means a person or body.
named month means one of the 12 named months of the year
starting with January.
3 Default determination of associate's home jurisdiction
(1) This regulation applies to an associate of a law practice who is
neither an Australian legal practitioner nor an Australian-registered
foreign lawyer, if:
(a) section 8(4)(b) of the Act is applicable to the associate; and
(b) the home jurisdiction for the associate can be determined
under neither subparagraph (i) nor subparagraph (ii) of that
paragraph.
(2) For section 8(4)(b)(iii) of the Act, the home jurisdiction for the
associate must be determined in accordance with the following
criteria:
(a) the jurisdiction of the associate's place of residence in
Australia;
(b) if the associate does not have a place of residence in
Australia – the jurisdiction of the associate's last place of
residence in Australia.
Part 2.1 Reservation of legal work and legal titles
4 Presumptions about taking or using name, title or description
(1) For section 20(2) of the Act, the kinds of persons specified in
column 3 of Schedule 1 to these regulations are persons who are
entitled, in the circumstances specified opposite in column 4, to
take a name, title or description specified opposite in column 2.
(2) In this regulation:
Australian law means a law of the Commonwealth or of a State
or Territory.
government agency means:
(a) a government department of the Commonwealth or of a State
or Territory; or
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(b) a body that is established by or under Australian law for a
public purpose or to exercise governmental functions;
and includes an entity (or a class of entities) prescribed by
regulation 17(2) as being within the definition government agency
in section 90 of the Act.
Part 2.2 Admission of local lawyers
5 Information on roll of persons admitted
(1) For section 27(7)(a) of the Act, the following information must be
included in the local roll for each person who is admitted to the legal
profession under the Act:
(a) the lawyer's date of birth;
(b) the lawyer's date of admission;
(c) a unique identifying number for the lawyer;
(d) other information prescribed by the admission rules.
(2) In addition, the roll may include information considered appropriate
by the Supreme Court to include for the lawyer.
Part 2.3 Legal practice by Australian legal practitioners
6 Compliance certificate
The prescribed period for section 36(2) and (4) of the Act is 2 days.
7 Categories of local practising certificate
(1) For section 46(2) of the Act, the following are the prescribed
categories of local practising certificates:
(a) unrestricted;
(b) restricted (barrister and solicitor);
(c) restricted (corporate lawyer);
(ca) restricted (volunteer lawyer);
(d) barrister.
(2) A local practising certificate in the category of unrestricted entitles
the holder to practise as a legal practitioner without restriction.
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(3) A local practising certificate in the category of restricted (barrister
and solicitor) entitles the holder to practise as a legal practitioner
only when engaged in supervised legal practise.
(4) A local practising certificate in the category of restricted (corporate
lawyer) entitles the holder to practise as a legal practitioner while
employed by an entity but only to the extent of providing legal
services to the entity or an associated entity.
(4A) A local practising certificate in the category of restricted (volunteer
lawyer) entitles the holder to practise as a legal practitioner only
when engaged in supervised legal practise as a volunteer in a
complying community legal centre.
(5) A local practising certificate in the category of barrister entitles the
holder to practise as a legal practitioner on his or her own account
as a barrister only.
Note for subregulations (2) to (5)
A local practising certificate may be restricted, or further restricted, by conditions
imposed by the Law Society under section 70 of the Act.
(6) In this regulation:
associated entity, see section 50AAA of the Corporations
Act 2001.
entity means a body other than a government agency or law
practice.
government agency, see regulation 4.
volunteer means a person who:
(a) receives no remuneration for the work the person does; or
(b) is only reimbursed for expenses actually incurred during the
course of the person carrying out the work.
8 Exemption from requirement to apply for grant or renewal of
practising certificate
The exemption from the requirement to apply for the grant or
renewal of a local practising certificate provided by section 50(7) of
the Act ceases to operate at the end of the financial year for which
the application would otherwise be required.
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9 Application for local practising certificate
(1) For section 51(1) of the Act, an application for the grant or renewal
of a local practising certificate must be accompanied by the
following information:
(a) the applicant's name, residential address and personal
telephone number;
(b) if the applicant is an associate of a law practice – the name of
the law practice;
(c) if the applicant is an officer or employee of an incorporated
legal practice – the particulars of the incorporated legal
practice including:
(i) its Australian Company Number (ACN); and
(ii) the names of its directors;
(d) the address of the office or offices at which the applicant
practises or provides legal services and, if more than one
office, an indication as to which of the addresses is that of the
principal office;
(e) if the applicant is a member of, or employed by, a partnership
or is an officer or employee of an incorporated legal practice:
(i) the address of the office or offices at which the
partnership or incorporated legal practice practises or
provides legal services; and
(ii) if more than one office – an indication as to which of the
addresses is that of the principal office;
(f) if the applicant is employed otherwise than by a partnership or
incorporated legal practice – the name of the employer and
the address of the principal office of the employer;
(g) the telephone number, facsimile number and email address of
the applicant at the office or offices at which the applicant
practises or provides legal services;
(h) if the applicant has been convicted of an offence that would
have to be disclosed under the admission rules in relation to
an application for admission to the legal profession under the
Act – the nature of the offence;
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(i) if a show cause event has occurred in relation to the
applicant – details of the event including, for section 61(2) of
the Act, a written statement:
(i) about the event; and
(ii) explaining why, despite the show cause event, the
applicant considers himself or herself to be a fit and
proper person to hold a local practising certificate;
(j) if a pre-admission event has occurred in relation to the
applicant – details of the event;
(k) a copy of the financial report and director's report most
recently lodged with the Australian Securities and Investments
Commission if:
(i) the applicant is a legal practitioner director of an
incorporated legal practice; and
(ii) the reports are required to be prepared in respect of the
incorporated legal practice under section 292 of the
Corporations Act 2001;
(l) the date the applicant was admitted as an Australian lawyer
and the jurisdiction in which the applicant was admitted.
(2) Neither subregulation (1)(h), (i) nor (j) requires the disclosure of
information previously disclosed to the Law Society.
(3) In this regulation:
incorporated legal practice includes a practising company as
defined in section 720 of the Act.
10 Timing of application for renewal of local practising certificate
For section 52(1) of the Act, the prescribed periods for the renewal
of a local practising certificate which commences on 1 July of a
particular year are as follows:
(a) the standard renewal period is the period from 1 April to
31 May of that year;
(b) the late fee period is the period from 1 June to 30 June of that
year.
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Part 2.3 Legal practice by Australian legal practitioners
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11 Continuing legal education
The continuing professional development scheme in Schedule 2 is
prescribed for section 70(3)(a)(i) of the Act.
12 Completion of periods of supervised legal practice
(1) For sections 73 and 82 of the Act, completion by a person of a
period or periods of supervised legal practice equivalent to the
required period of 18 months or 2 years must be worked out by
satisfying the requirements of this regulation.
(2) The person satisfies the requirements of this regulation if the
person completes:
(a) one period of supervised legal practice, worked on a full-time
basis, equal to the required period worked out on a full-time
basis; or
(b) one period of supervised legal practice, worked on a part-time
basis, equivalent to the required period worked out on a
full-time basis; or
(c) 2 or more periods of supervised legal practice, worked on
either or both of these bases, that together are equal to or
equivalent to the required period.
Examples for subregulation (2)
1. A person undertakes supervised legal practice for 40 weeks at 28 hours a
week. For the purpose of working out the required period, the 40 weeks must
be multiplied by 28 and divided by 35, making this equivalent to 32 weeks
supervised legal practice.
2. A person undertakes supervised legal practice for 28 weeks at 40 hours a
week. For the purpose of working out the required period, this is equivalent
to 28 weeks supervised legal practice.
(3) For subregulation (2):
(a) public holidays during a relevant period must be included as
days of supervised legal practice, whether or not the person
engages in legal practice on those days; and
(b) normal periods of leave taken during a relevant period by the
person are to be included as periods of supervised legal
practice.
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Part 2.3 Legal practice by Australian legal practitioners
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13 Statutory condition regarding practice as a barrister
(1) A barrister must not do a thing mentioned in section 74(a) and (b) of
the Act.
Maximum penalty: 100 penalty units.
(2) However, subregulation (1) does not prevent a barrister from
engaging in legal practice through a practising company as defined
in section 720 of the Act:
(a) of which the barrister is the only director; and
(b) on behalf of which the barrister is the only person who:
(i) provides legal services; and
(ii) receives payment for the provision of those services.
(3) In this regulation:
barrister means the holder of a local practising certificate as a
barrister (but not a barrister and solicitor).
14 Address for notice of offence
For section 76(3) of the Act, the person to whom a notice under
section 76(1) must be sent or delivered is the chief executive officer
of the Law Society.
15 Requirements for professional indemnity insurance for
interstate legal practitioners
(1) For section 79(1)(b) of the Act, professional indemnity insurance for
an interstate legal practitioner complies with the requirements of
these regulations if the insurance:
(a) provides cover equivalent to that which would be provided by
approved professional indemnity insurance; and
(b) complies with the requirements of the home jurisdiction of the
practitioner.
(2) For section 79(4) of the Act, an interstate legal practitioner must
disclose the level of coverage of the practitioner's insurance to
clients and prospective clients.
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Part 2.3 Legal practice by Australian legal practitioners
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16 Register of local practising certificates
(1) For section 87(2)(b) of the Act, the particulars mentioned in
subregulation (2) are prescribed as particulars to be included in the
register kept under section 87 of the Act in relation to a local legal
practitioner, except if the Law Society is required by
subregulation (5) not to include them in the register.
(2) The particulars to be included in the register are as follows:
(a) the name of the local legal practitioner;
(b) the type of local practising certificate held by the practitioner;
(c) the name of the law practice of which the practitioner is an
associate or, if the practitioner is not an associate of a law
practice, the name of the entity of which the practitioner is a
director, officer or employee or with which the practitioner is
otherwise engaged in legal practice;
(d) the contact details of the office of the law practice or other
entity in this jurisdiction;
(e) by way of separate additional entry, the name of the law
practice or other entity and the contact details of the office of
the law practice or other entity:
(i) in this jurisdiction; and
(ii) in any other jurisdictions in which it has an office, except
where the Society considers those particulars need not
be included in respect of an entity that is not a law
practice;
(f) any other particulars about the practitioner, law practice or
other entity that the Society considers should be included.
(3) Contact details of an office are the following:
(a) its street address (the address where the office is physically
located);
(b) its postal address (a post office box number and the location
and postcode of the post office), if any;
(c) whether or not it has a court box.
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Part 2.3 Legal practice by Australian legal practitioners
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(4) A local legal practitioner may, by written notice to the Society,
request the Society not to include any or any specified particulars
about the practitioner, law practice or other entity in the register, on
the ground that special circumstances warrant the particulars not
being publicly available (for example, if the safety or well-being of a
person would be substantially affected by making the particulars
publicly available).
(5) If the Society is satisfied those special circumstances exist, the
Society must not include the particulars concerned in the register,
unless the Society considers the public interest in maintaining
public access to the particulars outweighs any individual interest in
the particulars not being publicly available.
17 Government lawyers – general exemption from certain
conditions
(1) For section 90(2) of the Act, each of the following offices is
prescribed:
(a) the Solicitor-General;
(b) the Director of Public Prosecutions;
(c) the Chief Executive Officer of the department primarily
responsible to the Minister administering the Act;
(d) the Director, Northern Territory Legal Aid Commission.
(2) For section 90(5) of the Act, definition government agency:
(a) the following entities are prescribed:
(i) the Attorney-General's Department of the
Commonwealth;
(ii) the Australian Government Solicitor;
(iii) each Agency;
(iv) the Northern Territory Legal Aid Commission;
(v) the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions;
(vi) each Government owned corporation as defined in
section 3 of the Government Owned Corporations
Act 2001;
(vii) the Law Society; and
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Part 2.6 Incorporated legal practices and multi-disciplinary partnerships
Legal Profession Regulations 2007 11
(b) government agencies in other jurisdictions performing the
same functions as those performed by the entities specified in
paragraph (a) are prescribed.
Part 2.6 Incorporated legal practices and multi-
disciplinary partnerships
18 Prohibited non-legal services and businesses of incorporated
legal practice
(1) An incorporated legal practice must not act as the conveyancing
lawyer for the purchaser of a property if the legal practice or a
related body corporate of the legal practice acts:
(a) as the real estate agent for the vendor in the sale of the
property; or
(b) as the finance broker for the purchaser.
Maximum penalty: 500 penalty units.
(2) A related body corporate of an incorporated legal practice must not
act as the conveyancing lawyer for the purchaser of a property if
the body corporate, another related body corporate of the legal
practice or the legal practice acts:
(a) as the real estate agent for the vendor in the sale of the
property; or
(b) as the finance broker for the purchaser.
Maximum penalty: 500 penalty units.
19 Notice of ceasing provision of legal services
For section 124(1)(b) of the Act, the prescribed period within which
a corporation must give a notice under the section is 14 days after it
ceases to engage in legal practice in this jurisdiction.
20 Disqualifications and prohibitions
(1) This regulation applies to:
(a) an order made under section 139 of the Act disqualifying a
corporation from providing legal services in this jurisdiction; or
(b) an order made under section 140 of the Act disqualifying a
person from managing a corporation that is an incorporated
legal practice; or
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Part 2.6 Incorporated legal practices and multi-disciplinary partnerships
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(c) an order made under section 165 of the Act prohibiting an
Australian legal practitioner from being a partner of a specified
person;
being an order made on the application of the Law Society.
(2) The Society may publicise an order in any manner the Society
thinks fit.
(3) The Society:
(a) must, as soon as practicable after the order is made, give
written notice of the order to the corresponding authority of
every other jurisdiction; and
(b) may give written notice of the order to any other regulatory
authority of any jurisdiction.
(4) The notice under subregulation (3) for an order made under
section 139 of the Act:
(a) must specify:
(i) the corporation's name; and
(ii) the Australian Company Number (ACN) of the
corporation; and
(iii) the office or business address of the corporation, as last
known to the applicant for the order; and
(iv) the date of the order; and
(b) may contain other relevant information; and
(c) may be accompanied by a copy or summary of, or extract
from, the order.
(5) The notice under subregulation (3) for an order made under
section 140 or 165 of the Act:
(a) must specify:
(i) the person's name; and
(ii) the person's address, as last known to the applicant for
the order; and
(iii) the date of the order; and
(b) may contain other relevant information; and
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Part 2.6 Incorporated legal practices and multi-disciplinary partnerships
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(c) may be accompanied by a copy or summary of, or extract
from, the order.
(6) No liability is incurred by a protected person in respect of anything
done or omitted to be done in good faith for the purpose of this
regulation.
(7) In this regulation:
protected person means:
(a) the Territory; or
(b) the Law Society; or
(c) a person responsible for keeping the whole or any part of a
register or any similar record in or by which an order is
publicised; or
(d) an Internet service provider or Internet content host; or
(e) a person acting at the direction of the Territory or of any entity
mentioned in this definition.
21 Prohibition on conduct of managed investment scheme by
incorporated legal practice
(1) Section 120(2) of the Act is declared to be a Corporations
legislation displacement provision for the purposes of section 5G of
the Corporations Act 2001 in relation to Corporations legislation.
(2) In this regulation:
Corporations legislation means the Corporations legislation to
which Part 1.1A of the Corporations Act 2001 applies.
22 Multi-disciplinary partnership
(1) An Australian legal practitioner who acts as the conveyancing
lawyer for the purchaser of a property must not be in partnership
with a person who acts:
(a) as the real estate agent for the vendor in the sale of the
property; or
(b) as the finance broker for the purchaser.
Maximum penalty: 100 penalty units.
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Part 2.7 Legal practice by foreign lawyers
Legal Profession Regulations 2007 14
(2) For section 153(1)(c) of the Act, written notice to the Law Society of
a person's intention to start providing legal services in this
jurisdiction as a member of a multi-disciplinary partnership must
include the following information:
(a) the name and residential address of each partner;
(b) the kinds of services (other than legal services) and
businesses the partnership proposes to provide or conduct in
the Territory.
Part 2.7 Legal practice by foreign lawyers
23 Scope of practice
(1) For section 174(1)(b) of the Act, arbitration proceedings in which:
(a) the arbitrator is not required to apply the rules of evidence;
and
(b) knowledge of Australian law is not essential;
are prescribed as a kind of arbitration proceedings in relation to
which an Australian-registered foreign lawyer may provide legal
services (including appearances).
(2) For section 174(1)(d) of the Act, all forms of dispute resolution are
prescribed as kinds of dispute resolution in relation to which an
Australian-registered foreign lawyer may provide legal services,
except to the extent to which:
(a) the provisions of other legislation applying to dispute
resolution; or
(b) the requirements of a body responsible for dispute resolution;
or
(c) the provisions of a contract that provides for dispute
resolution;
restrict participation in dispute resolution to persons of a specified
class that does not include Australian-registered foreign lawyers.
(3) In this regulation:
dispute resolution means conciliation, mediation and other forms
of consensual dispute resolution.
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24 Trust money and trust accounts
For section 181 of the Act:
(a) the provisions of Part 3.1 of the Act and any other provisions
of the Act (other than Part 3.5 of the Act) relating to trust
money and trust accounts; and
(b) the provisions of Part 3 of these Regulations and any other
provisions of these Regulations relating to trust money and
trust accounts; and
(c) any provisions of any legal profession rules relating to trust
money and trust accounts;
apply to Australian-registered foreign lawyers as if a reference in
those provisions to a law practice or an Australian legal practitioner
were a reference to an Australian-registered foreign lawyer.
25 Professional indemnity insurance
For section 182(4) of the Act, a disclosure by an Australian-
registered foreign lawyer must:
(a) be given prior to the provision of the legal services to the client
by the foreign lawyer; and
(b) set out what, if any, professional indemnity insurance is held
by the foreign lawyer in respect of those services.
26 Fidelity cover
(1) This regulation applies to a foreign lawyer who:
(a) is practising, or intends to practise, foreign law in the Territory
as an associate to a law practice; and
(b) has applied for the grant or renewal of registration as a foreign
lawyer under the Act.
(2) When the foreign lawyer's registration is granted or renewed by the
Law Society, the foreign lawyer must pay to the Society, on account
of the Fidelity Fund, the appropriate contribution to the Fidelity Fund
for the year ending on 30 June for which the registration is granted
or renewed.
(3) For subregulation (2), the appropriate contribution for a year is the
amount notified by the Funds Management Committee under
section 392(4) of the Act for the year.
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Part 2.7 Legal practice by foreign lawyers
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(4) However, if the foreign lawyer is registered after 31 December in a
year ending 30 June, the appropriate contribution is one half the
amount that would otherwise be payable under subregulation (3).
(5) The Society may permit the contribution to be paid by instalments
under an arrangement approved by the Society.
(6) If a foreign lawyer:
(a) has paid a contribution under this regulation for a year ending
30 June; and
(b) ceases to practise as a locally-registered foreign lawyer at any
time before 30 June in that year;
the Society may refund a part of the contribution at a rate
determined by the Society.
27 Application of Part 35 of Act
The following provisions of Part 3.5 of the Act, with the specified
modifications, apply to a locally-registered foreign lawyer practising
in the Territory as an associate of a law practice, as if the foreign
lawyer were a local legal practitioner to whom section 392 of the
Act applies:
(a) section 394;
(b) section 395(5), as if a reference to a contribution required
under section 392 were a reference to a contribution required
under regulation 26.
28 Locally-registered foreign lawyer not covered by Fidelity Fund
(1) This regulation applies to a locally-registered foreign lawyer
practising foreign law in the Territory otherwise than as an
associate of a law practice.
(2) A foreign lawyer to whom this regulation applies must not practise
foreign law in the Territory on behalf of a client unless the foreign
lawyer has provided the client with a disclosure statement in
respect of the foreign lawyer's lack of cover by the Fidelity Fund.
(3) A disclosure statement under subregulation (2) is not valid unless:
(a) it is in writing; and
(b) it is written:
(i) in English; or
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Part 2.7 Legal practice by foreign lawyers
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(ii) if the client does have a reasonable understanding of
English – in another language of which the client has a
reasonable understanding; and
(c) it states the foreign lawyer is not covered by the Fidelity Fund
with respect to the practice of foreign law in the Territory; and
(d) it states that Australian legal practitioners generally are
covered by the Fidelity Fund.
29 Application for local registration – show cause event
(1) A written statement given to the Law Society by a person under
section 199(2) of the Act must, if it relies on documentary evidence
of the matters contained in the statement, be accompanied by the
original documents.
(2) However, subregulation (1) does not apply if copies of the
documents have been given to the Society and the Society is
otherwise satisfied as to the authenticity of the copies.
30 Register of locally-registered foreign lawyers
(1) For section 218(2)(b) of the Act and subject to subregulation (5),
the particulars mentioned in subregulation (2) must be included in
the register kept under section 218 of the Act in relation to a locally-
registered foreign lawyer.
(2) The particulars to be included in the register are as follows:
(a) the name of the foreign lawyer;
(b) the name of the partnership of which the lawyer is a member
or employee or, if the lawyer is not a member or employee of
a partnership, the name of the entity of which the lawyer is a
director, officer or employee or with which the lawyer is
otherwise engaged in legal practice;
(c) the contact details of the office of the partnership or other
entity in this jurisdiction;
(d) by way of separate additional entry, the name of the
partnership or other entity and the contact details of the office
of the partnership or other entity:
(i) in this jurisdiction; and
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(ii) in any other jurisdictions in which it has an office, except
where the domestic registration authority considers
those particulars need not be included in respect of an
entity that is not a law practice;
(e) details of the foreign registration authority, or authorities, by
which the lawyer is registered to engage in legal practice in a
foreign country or foreign countries;
(f) any other particulars about the lawyer, partnership or other
entity that the authority considers should be included.
(3) Contact details of an office are the following:
(a) its street address (the address where the office is physically
located);
(b) its postal address (a post office box number and the location
and postcode of the post office), if any;
(c) whether or not it has a court box.
(4) A locally-registered foreign lawyer may, by written notice to the
Society, request the Society not to include any or any specified
particulars about the lawyer, partnership or other entity in the
register, on the ground that special circumstances warrant the
particulars not being publicly available (for example, if the safety or
well-being of a person would be substantially affected by making
the particulars publicly available).
(5) If the Society is satisfied those special circumstances exist, the
Society is required not to include the particulars concerned in the
register unless the Society considers the public interest in
maintaining public access to the particulars outweighs any
individual interest in the particulars not being publicly available.
31 Refund of fees
(1) The Law Society may refund a part of a fee paid in relation to
registration as a foreign lawyer if the registration is suspended or
cancelled during its currency in circumstances not involving
disciplinary action in this jurisdiction or elsewhere.
(2) The part of the fee must be:
(a) refunded as soon as possible after the period of registration
for which the full fee relates; and
(b) proportionate to the period during which the registration is
suspended or cancelled.
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Division 1 Preliminary matters
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Part 2.8 Complying community legal centres
32 Complying community legal centre
For section 227(e) of the Act:
(a) the information is the following:
(i) the financial basis of the operations of the body
corporate, including its funding and expected funding;
(ii) the nature of the legal services provided by the body
corporate;
(iii) any advertisements or publications describing the nature
of the legal services provided by the body corporate;
(iv) the name of the supervising legal practitioner; and
(b) the fee is the amount specified in Schedule 3 as the amount
payable for the grant or renewal of an unrestricted local
practising certificate.
Part 3.1 Trust money and trust accounts
Division 1 Preliminary matters
33 Operation of this Part
This Part has effect for Part 3.1 of the Act, and accordingly applies
to a law practice in respect of:
(a) trust money received by the practice in this jurisdiction, unless
the practice has an office in one or more other jurisdictions but
not in this jurisdiction; and
(b) trust money received by the practice in another jurisdiction, if
the practice has an office in this jurisdiction but in no other
jurisdiction; and
(c) trust money received by the practice in another jurisdiction, if
the practice has an office in:
(i) this jurisdiction; and
(ii) one or more other jurisdictions but not in the jurisdiction
in which the money was received;
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unless the money is dealt with in accordance with the
corresponding law of a jurisdiction in which the practice has an
office.
34 Definitions
In this Part:
BSB number (Bank State Branch number) means the number
assigned to identify a particular branch of a particular ADI.
matter description means a brief phrase or expression assigned
by a law practice to describe a matter.
matter reference means a number or other reference assigned by
a law practice to identify a matter.
trust money means trust money in respect of which this Part for
the time being applies, as mentioned in regulation 33.
35 Barrister receiving money on behalf of other persons
For section 244(2) of the Act, a barrister is authorised to receive
money on behalf of another person if:
(a) the money is payment, in advance, of a fee for the barrister's
professional services; and
(b) the money is paid as trust money.
Division 2 Computerised accounting systems
36 Application of Division
This Division applies if a law practice maintains trust records
(including records relating to controlled money) by means of a
computerised accounting system.
37 Copies of trust records to be printed
(1) The law practice must print a paper copy of trust records as follows:
(a) trust account cash books must be printed monthly as at the
end of each named month, unless a copy of the books as at
the end of the named month is kept in electronic form that is
readable or reportable on demand;
(b) reconciliation statements prepared under regulation 53 must
be printed as at the end of each named month;
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(c) lists of trust account ledgers and their balances must be
printed monthly as at the end of each named month;
(d) lists of controlled money accounts and their balances must be
printed monthly as at the end of each named month;
(e) trust ledger accounts, the register of controlled money and the
trust account transfer journal must be printed before they are
archived or deleted from the system;
(f) trust ledger account and controlled money account details
must be printed on request by and provided to an investigator
as defined in section 618 of the Act.
(2) The trust records printed monthly as at the end of a named month
under subregulation (1)(a) to (d) must be printed within 15 working
days after the named month.
(3) The paper copies printed under subregulation (1) must be kept by
the law practice, except if they are printed on request under that
subregulation.
(4) The electronic copy of the trust account cash books under
subregulation (1)(a) must be kept by the law practice.
38 Chronological record of information to be made
(1) The law practice must maintain a record, compiled in chronological
sequence, of the creation, amendment or deletion of information in
its computerised accounting system in relation to the following:
(a) client name;
(b) client address;
(c) matter reference;
(d) matter description;
(e) ledger account number or other descriptor.
(2) The record must be kept by the law practice.
39 Requirements regarding computer accounting systems
(1) The law practice must ensure its computerised accounting system
is not capable of accepting, in respect of a trust ledger account, the
entry of a transaction resulting in a debit balance to the account.
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(2) The law practice must ensure that the system is not capable of
deleting a trust ledger account unless:
(a) the balance of the account is zero and all outstanding cheques
have been presented; and
(b) when the account is deleted, a copy of the account is kept in a
permanent form.
(3) The law practice must ensure any entry in a record produced in a
permanent form appears in chronological sequence.
(4) The law practice must ensure each page of each printed record is
numbered sequentially or is printed in such a way that no page can
be extracted.
(5) The law practice must ensure its computerised accounting system
is not capable of amending the particulars of a transaction already
recorded otherwise than by a transaction separately recorded that
makes the amendment.
(6) The law practice must ensure its computerised accounting system
requires input in every field of a data entry screen intended to
receive information required by this Part to be included in trust
records.
40 Back-ups
The law practice must ensure:
(a) a back-up copy of all records required by this Part is made not
less frequently than once each month; and
(b) each back-up copy is kept by the law practice; and
(c) a complete set of back-up copies is kept in a separate location
so that any incident that may adversely affect the records
would not also affect the back-up copy.
Division 3 General trust accounts
41 Establishment of general trust account
(1) A law practice may at any time establish a general trust account
that satisfies the requirements of this regulation, but must, as soon
as practicable after receiving trust money that is required to be paid
into a general trust account, establish a general trust account that
satisfies those requirements if the practice does not already have
such a general trust account.
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(2) A general trust account satisfies the requirements of this regulation
if:
(a) the account is established in this jurisdiction, before or after
the commencement of this regulation, with an approved ADI;
and
(b) the account is and is to be maintained in this jurisdiction; and
(c) the name of the account includes:
(i) the name of the law practice or the business name under
which the law practice engages in legal practice; and
(ii) the expression "law practice trust account" or "law
practice trust a/c"; and
(d) the account is of a kind that is for the time being approved by
the Law Society.
(3) Subregulation (2)(c) does not apply to an account established in
this jurisdiction before the commencement of this regulation.
(4) Subregulation (2)(c)(ii) does not require the repetition of the words
"law practice" if those words form part of the name or business
name of the law practice.
42 Receipting of trust money
(1) This regulation applies if a law practice receives trust money that is
required to be paid into a general trust account.
(2) After receiving the trust money, the law practice must make out a
receipt.
(3) The receipt must be made out as soon as practicable:
(a) after the trust money is received, except as provided by
paragraph (b); or
(b) in the case of trust money received by direct deposit – after
the law practice receives or accesses notice or confirmation
(in written or electronic form) of the deposit from the ADI
concerned.
(4) The receipt, containing the required particulars, must be made out
in duplicate, whether by way of making a carbon copy or otherwise,
unless at the time the receipt is made out those particulars are
recorded by computer program in the trust account receipts cash
book.
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(5) For subregulation (4), the required particulars are as follows:
(a) the date the receipt is made out and, if different, the date of
receipt of the money;
(b) the amount of money received;
(c) the form in which the money was received;
(d) the name of the person from whom the money was received;
(e) details clearly identifying the name of the client in respect of
whom the money was received and the matter description and
matter reference;
(f) particulars sufficient to identify the purpose for which the
money was received;
(g) the name of the law practice, or the business name under
which the law practice engages in legal practice, and the
expression "trust account" or "trust a/c";
(h) the name of the person who made out the receipt;
(i) the number of the receipt.
(6) The original receipt must be delivered, on request, to the person
from whom the trust money was received.
(7) Receipts must be consecutively numbered and issued in
consecutive sequence.
(8) If a receipt is cancelled or not delivered, the original receipt must be
kept.
43 Deposit records for trust money
(1) This regulation applies if a law practice receives trust money that is
required to be paid into a general trust account and the money is
not paid into a general trust account by direct deposit.
(2) A deposit record must be produced to the approved ADI when the
deposit is made.
(3) The following particulars must be recorded on the deposit record:
(a) the date of the deposit;
(b) the amount of the deposit;
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(c) whether the deposit consists of cheques, notes or coins (and
the amount of each);
(d) for each cheque:
(i) the name of the drawer of the cheque; and
(ii) the name and branch (or BSB number) of the ADI on
which the cheque is drawn; and
(iii) the amount of the cheque.
(4) The deposit record must be made out in duplicate, whether by way
of making a carbon copy or otherwise.
(5) The duplicate deposit record must be kept for each deposit to the
general trust account and must be kept in a deposit book or be
otherwise securely filed in the order in which the deposits were
made.
44 Direction for non-deposit of trust money in general trust
account
For section 246(4) of the Act, the period for which a written direction
mentioned in section 246(2)(a) of the Act must be kept is 7 years
after finalisation of the matter to which the direction relates.
45 Manner of withdrawal of trust money
(1) A law practice must not withdraw trust money from a general trust
account otherwise than by cheque or electronic funds transfer.
(2) Without limiting subregulation (1), the following are specifically
prohibited:
(a) cash withdrawals;
(b) ATM withdrawals or transfers;
(c) telephone banking withdrawals or transfers.
(3) If a law practice that is an Australian legal practitioner who is a sole
practitioner, or an incorporated legal practice, contravenes
subregulation (1), the practitioner or practice is guilty of an offence.
Maximum penalty: 100 penalty units.
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(4) If a law practice that is a law firm or multi-disciplinary partnership
contravenes subregulation (1), each principal of the practice is
guilty of an offence.
Maximum penalty: 100 penalty units.
(5) An offence against subregulation (3) or (4) is an offence of strict
liability.
(6) This regulation has effect despite anything to the contrary in any
directions given to the law practice concerned, even if the directions
are given by a person who is otherwise legally entitled to give the
law practice directions in respect of dealings with controlled money.
46 Payment by cheque
(1) This regulation applies to the withdrawal of trust money from a
general trust account of a law practice by cheque.
(2) A cheque must:
(a) be made payable to or to the order of a specified person or
persons and not to bearer or cash; and
(b) be crossed "not negotiable"; and
(c) include:
(i) the name of the law practice or the business name under
which the law practice engages in legal practice; and
(ii) the expression "law practice trust account" or "law
practice trust a/c".
(3) A cheque must be signed:
(a) by an authorised principal of the law practice; or
(b) if a principal referred to in paragraph (a) is not available:
(i) by an authorised legal practitioner associate; or
(ii) by an authorised Australian legal practitioner who holds
an unrestricted practising certificate authorising the
receipt of trust money; or
(iii) by 2 or more authorised associates jointly.
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(4) A written record of the required particulars (which may be in the
form of a cheque butt) must be kept of each payment made by
cheque, whether by way of making a carbon copy or otherwise,
unless at the time the cheque is issued those particulars are
recorded by computer program in the trust account payments cash
book.
(5) If at the time the cheque is issued the required particulars are
recorded by computer program in the trust account payments cash
book, a written record must be kept that is sufficient to enable the
accuracy of the particulars recorded by the computer program to be
verified.
(6) For subregulations (4) and (5), the required particulars are as
follows:
(a) the date and number of the cheque;
(b) the amount ordered to be paid by the cheque;
(c) the name of the person to whom the payment is to be made
or, in the case of a cheque made payable to an ADI, the name
of the ADI and the name of the person receiving the benefit of
the payment;
(d) details clearly identifying the name of the person on whose
behalf the payment was made and the matter reference;
(e) details clearly identifying the ledger account to be debited;
(f) particulars sufficient to identify the purpose for which the
payment was made.
(7) Written records relating to payments by cheque (including cheque
requisitions) must be kept in the order in which the cheques were
issued.
(8) Subregulation (2)(c) does not apply to an account established in
this jurisdiction before the commencement of this regulation.
(9) Subregulation (2)(c)(ii) does not require the repetition of the words
"law practice" if those words form part of the name or business
name of the law practice.
(10) In this regulation:
associate means an associate of the law practice.
authorised means authorised by the law practice to sign cheques
drawn on the general trust account.
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47 Payment by electronic funds transfer
(1) This regulation applies to the withdrawal of trust money from a
general trust account of a law practice by electronic funds transfer.
(2) An electronic funds transfer must be effected by, under the direction
of or with the authority of:
(a) an authorised principal of the law practice; or
(b) if a principal referred to in paragraph (a) is not available:
(i) an authorised legal practitioner associate; or
(ii) an authorised Australian legal practitioner who holds an
unrestricted practising certificate authorising the receipt
of trust money; or
(iii) two or more authorised associates jointly.
(3) A written record of the required particulars must be kept of each
payment unless at the time the electronic funds transfer is effected
those particulars are recorded by computer program in the trust
account payments cash book.
(4) If at the time the electronic funds transfer is effected the required
particulars are recorded by computer program in the trust account
payments cash book, a written record must be kept that is sufficient
to enable the accuracy of the particulars recorded by the computer
program to be verified.
(5) For subregulations (3) and (4), the required particulars are as
follows:
(a) the date and number of the transaction;
(b) the amount transferred;
(c) the name and number of the account to which the amount was
transferred and relevant BSB number;
(d) the name of the person to whom the payment was made or, in
the case of a payment to an ADI, the name or BSB number of
the ADI and the name of the person receiving the benefit of
the payment;
(e) details clearly identifying the name of the person on whose
behalf the payment was made and the matter reference;
(f) details clearly identifying the ledger account to be debited;
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(g) particulars sufficient to identify the purpose for which the
payment was made.
(6) Written records relating to payments by electronic funds transfer
(including transfer requisitions) must be kept in the order in which
the transfers were effected.
(7) In this regulation:
associate means an associate of the law practice.
authorised means authorised by the law practice to effect, direct or
give authority for an electronic funds transfer from the general trust
account.
48 Recording transactions in trust account cash books
A law practice that maintains a general trust account must keep the
following trust account cash books:
(a) a trust account receipts cash book in accordance with
regulation 49;
(b) a trust account payments cash book in accordance with
regulation 50.
49 Trust account receipts cash book
(1) The following particulars must be recorded in a law practice's trust
account receipts cash book in respect of each receipt of trust
money:
(a) the date a receipt was made out for the money and, if
different, the date of receipt of the money;
(b) the receipt number;
(c) the amount of money received;
(d) the form in which the money was received;
(e) the name of the person from whom the money was received;
(f) details clearly identifying the name of the client in respect of
whom the money was received and the matter description and
matter reference;
(g) particulars sufficient to identify the purpose for which the
money was received;
(h) details clearly identifying the ledger account to be credited.
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(2) The date and amount of each deposit in the general trust account
must be recorded in the trust account receipts cash book.
(3) The particulars in respect of receipts must be recorded in the order
in which the receipts are made out.
(4) The particulars in respect of a receipt must be recorded within
5 working days counting from and including the day the receipt was
made out.
50 Trust account payments cash book
(1) The following particulars must be recorded in a law practice's trust
account payments cash book in respect of each payment of trust
money by cheque:
(a) the date and number of the cheque;
(b) the amount ordered to be paid by the cheque;
(c) the name of the person to whom the payment is to be made
or, in the case of a cheque made payable to an ADI, the name
or BSB number of the ADI and the name of the person
receiving the benefit of the payment;
(d) details clearly identifying the name of the person on whose
behalf the payment was made and the matter reference;
(e) details clearly identifying the ledger account to be debited;
(f) particulars sufficient to identify the purpose for which the
payment was made.
(2) The following particulars must be recorded in a law practice's trust
accounts payments cash book in respect of each payment of trust
money by electronic funds transfer:
(a) the date and number of the transaction;
(b) the amount transferred;
(c) the name and number of the account to which the amount was
transferred and the relevant BSB number;
(d) the name of the person to whom the payment was made or, in
the case of a payment to an ADI, the name or BSB number of
the ADI and the name of the person receiving the benefit of
the payment;
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(e) details clearly identifying the name of the person on whose
behalf the payment was made and the matter reference;
(f) details clearly identifying the ledger account to be debited;
(g) particulars sufficient to identify the purpose for which the
payment was made.
(3) The particulars in respect of payments must be recorded in the
order in which the payments are made.
(4) The particulars in respect of a payment must be recorded within
5 working days counting from and including the day the payment
was made.
51 Recording transactions in trust ledger accounts
(1) A law practice that maintains a general trust account must keep a
trust account ledger containing separate trust ledger accounts in
relation to each client of the practice in each matter for which trust
money has been received by the practice.
(2) The following particulars must be recorded in the title of a trust
ledger account:
(a) the name of the person for or on behalf of whom the trust
money was paid;
(b) the person's address;
(c) particulars sufficient to identify the matter in relation to which
the trust money was received.
(3) Details of any changes in the title of a trust ledger account must be
recorded.
(4) The following particulars must be recorded in the trust ledger
account in respect of each receipt of trust money for the matter:
(a) the date a receipt was made out for the money and, if
different, the date of receipt of the money;
(b) the receipt number;
(c) the amount of money received;
(d) the name of the person from whom the money was received;
(e) particulars sufficient to identify the purpose for which the
money was received.
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(5) The following particulars must be recorded in the trust ledger
account in respect of each payment of trust money by cheque:
(a) the date and number of the cheque;
(b) the amount ordered to be paid by the cheque;
(c) the name of the person to whom the payment is to be made
or, in the case of a cheque made payable to an ADI, the name
or BSB number of the ADI and the name of the person
receiving the benefit of the payment;
(d) particulars sufficient to identify the purpose for which the
payment was made.
(6) The following particulars must be recorded in the trust ledger
account in respect of each payment of trust money by electronic
funds transfer:
(a) the date and number of the transaction;
(b) the amount transferred;
(c) the name and number of the account to which the amount was
transferred and the relevant BSB number;
(d) the name of the person to whom the payment was made or, in
the case of a payment to an ADI, the name or BSB number of
the ADI and the name of the person receiving the benefit of
the payment;
(e) particulars sufficient to identify the purpose for which the
payment was made.
(7) The following particulars must be recorded in the trust ledger
account in respect of each transfer of trust money effected by a
journal entry:
(a) the date of the transfer;
(b) the amount transferred;
(c) the journal reference number;
(d) the name of the other trust ledger account from which or to
which the money was transferred;
(e) particulars sufficient to identify the purpose for which the
payment was made.
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(8) Transactions relating to trust money must be recorded in the trust
ledger account in the order in which the transactions occur.
(9) The particulars in respect of a receipt, payment or transfer of trust
money must be recorded within 5 working days counting from and
including the day the receipt was made out, the payment was made
or the transfer was effected, as the case requires.
(10) The trust ledger account balance must be recorded in the trust
ledger account after each receipt, payment or transfer of trust
money.
52 Journal transfers
(1) Trust money may be transferred by journal entry from one trust
ledger account in a law practice's trust ledger to another trust ledger
account in the trust ledger, but only if:
(a) the law practice is entitled to withdraw the money and pay it to
the other trust ledger account; and
(b) the transfer has been authorised in writing by:
(i) if the law practice is constituted by a sole practitioner –
the sole practitioner; or
(ii) a manager or receiver for the law practice; or
(iii) a person who is duly authorised by the law practice or by
a manager or receiver for the law practice to sign
cheques drawn on the general trust account without a
co-signatory; or
(iv) two or more persons who are duly authorised by the law
practice or by a manager or receiver for the law practice
to sign cheques drawn on the general trust account
jointly.
(2) A law practice must keep a trust account transfer journal if it
transfers trust money by journal entry.
(3) The following particulars must be recorded in the trust account
transfer journal in respect of each transfer of trust money by journal
entry:
(a) the date of the transfer;
(b) the trust ledger account from which the money is transferred
(including its identifying reference);
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Legal Profession Regulations 2007 34
(c) the trust ledger account to which the money is transferred
(including its identifying reference);
(d) the amount transferred;
(e) particulars sufficient to identify the purpose for which the
transfer is made, the matter reference and a short description
of the matter.
(4) Journal pages or entries must be consecutively numbered.
(5) A law practice must keep particulars of the authorisation for each
transfer of trust money by journal entry, whether in the trust account
transfer journal or in some other way.
(6) In this regulation:
responsible person, in relation to a law practice, means a person
who has authority to deal with trust money of the law practice.
53 Reconciliation of trust records
(1) A law practice that maintains one or more general trust accounts
must reconcile the trust records relating to each account.
(2) The trust records relating to a general trust account must be
reconciled as at the end of each named month by preparing:
(a) a statement:
(i) reconciling the general trust account balance as shown
in ADI records with the balance of the practice's trust
account cash books; and
(ii) showing the date the statement was prepared; and
(b) a statement:
(i) reconciling the balance of the trust ledger accounts with
the balance of the practice's trust account cash books;
and
(ii) containing a list of the practice's trust ledger accounts
showing the name, identifying reference and balance of
each and a short description of the matter to which each
relates; and
(iii) showing the date the statement was prepared.
(3) The statements must be prepared within 15 working days after the
end of the month concerned.
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(4) The statements must be kept by the law practice.
54 Trust ledger account in name of law practice or legal
practitioner associate
(1) A law practice must not maintain a trust ledger account in the name
of the practice or a legal practitioner associate of the practice
except as authorised by this regulation.
(2) A law practice may maintain in its trust ledger:
(a) a trust ledger account in the practice's name, but only for the
purpose of aggregating in the account, by transfer from other
accounts in the trust ledger, money properly due to the
practice for legal costs; and
(b) a trust ledger account in a legal practitioner associate's name,
but only in respect of money in which the associate has a
personal and beneficial interest as a vendor, purchaser, lessor
or lessee or in another similar capacity.
(3) In a case to which subregulation (2)(a) applies, the law practice
must ensure that the money in the trust ledger account is withdrawn
from the general trust account not later than one month after the
day on which the money was transferred to the trust ledger
account.
(4) In a case to which subregulation (2)(b) applies, the law practice
must ensure that the money in the trust ledger account is withdrawn
from the general trust account at the conclusion of the matter to
which the money relates.
55 Notification requirements regarding general trust accounts
(1) Within 14 days after establishing a general trust account, a law
practice must give the Law Society written notice of that fact.
(2) A law practice:
(a) either before, or within 14 days after, authorising or
terminating the authority of an associate of the practice or an
Australian legal practitioner:
(i) to sign cheques drawn on a general trust account of the
practice; or
(ii) otherwise to effect, direct or give authority for the
withdrawal of money from a general trust account of the
practice;
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Legal Profession Regulations 2007 36
must give the Society written notice of that fact (including the
name and address of the associate or practitioner and
indicating, in the case of an associate, whether the associate
is an employee of the practice); and
(b) during July of each year, must give the Society written notice
of the associates and Australian legal practitioners (including
their names and addresses) who are authorised, as at 1 July
of that year:
(i) to sign cheques drawn on a general trust account of the
practice; or
(ii) otherwise to effect, direct or give authority for the
withdrawal of money from a general trust account of the
practice.
(3) Within 14 days after the closure of a general trust account
maintained by it, a law practice must give the Society written notice
of that fact.
(4) A notice under this regulation given by a law practice must include
particulars sufficient to identify the general trust accounts of the
practice.
(5) In this regulation:
law practice includes a former law practice and the persons who
were principals of a law practice immediately before the law
practice ceased to exist as a law practice or to engage in legal
practice in this jurisdiction.
Division 4 Controlled money
56 Maintenance of controlled money accounts
(1) For section 248(4) of the Act, a controlled money account must be
maintained under an account name that includes the following
particulars:
(a) the name of the law practice concerned;
(b) the expression "controlled money account" or the abbreviation
"CMA" or "CMA/c";
(c) such particulars as are sufficient to identify the purpose of the
account and to distinguish the account from any other account
maintained by the law practice.
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Legal Profession Regulations 2007 37
(2) This regulation does not apply to an account established in this
jurisdiction before the commencement of this regulation.
57 Receipt of controlled money
(1) This regulation applies if a law practice receives controlled money.
(2) The law practice must operate a single controlled money receipt
system for the receipt of controlled money for all its controlled
money accounts.
(3) After receiving controlled money, the law practice must make out a
receipt.
(4) The receipt must be made out as soon as practicable:
(a) after the controlled money is received, except as provided by
paragraph (b); or
(b) in the case of controlled money received by direct deposit –
after the law practice receives or accesses notice or
confirmation (in written or electronic form) of the deposit from
the ADI concerned.
(5) The receipt, containing the required particulars, must be made out
in duplicate, whether by way of making a carbon copy or otherwise,
unless at the time the receipt is made out those particulars are
recorded by computer program in the register of controlled money.
(6) For subregulation (5), the required particulars are as follows:
(a) the date the receipt is made out and, if different, the date of
receipt of the money;
(b) the amount of money received;
(c) the form in which the money was received;
(d) the name of the person from whom the money was received;
(e) details clearly identifying the name of the person on whose
behalf the money was received and the matter description and
matter reference;
(f) particulars sufficient to identify the purpose for which the
money was received;
(g) the name of and other details clearly identifying the controlled
money account to be credited, unless the account has not
been established by the time the receipt is made out;
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Legal Profession Regulations 2007 38
(h) the name of the law practice, or the business name under
which the law practice engages in legal practice, and the
expression "controlled money receipt";
(i) the name of the person who made out the receipt;
(j) the number of the receipt.
(7) If the controlled money account to be credited has not been
established by the time the receipt is made out, the name of and
other details clearly identifying the account when established must
be included on the duplicate receipt (if any).
(8) The original receipt must be delivered, on request, to the person
from whom the controlled money was received.
(9) Receipts must be consecutively numbered and issued in
consecutive sequence.
(10) If a receipt is cancelled or not delivered, the original receipt must be
kept.
(11) A receipt is not required to be made out for any interest or other
income received from the investment of controlled money and
credited directly to a controlled money account.
58 Deposit of controlled money
For section 248(5) of the Act, the prescribed period for which a
written direction referred to in section 248(1) of the Act must be
kept is 7 years after finalisation of the matter to which the direction
relates.
59 Manner of withdrawal of controlled money
(1) A law practice must not withdraw controlled money from a
controlled money account otherwise than by cheque or electronic
funds transfer.
(2) Without limiting subregulation (1), the following are specifically
prohibited:
(a) cash withdrawals;
(b) ATM withdrawals or transfers;
(c) telephone banking withdrawals or transfers.
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Division 4 Controlled money
Legal Profession Regulations 2007 39
(3) If a law practice that is an Australian legal practitioner who is a sole
practitioner, or an incorporated legal practice, contravenes
subregulation (1), the practitioner or practice is guilty of an offence.
Maximum penalty: 100 penalty units.
(4) If a law practice that is a law firm or multi-disciplinary partnership
contravenes subregulation (1), each principal of the practice is
guilty of an offence.
Maximum penalty: 100 penalty units.
(5) An offence against subregulation (3) or (4) is an offence of strict
liability.
(6) This regulation has effect despite anything to the contrary in any
directions given to the law practice concerned, even if the directions
are given by a person who is otherwise legally entitled to give the
law practice directions in respect of dealings with controlled money.
60 Withdrawal of controlled money must be authorised
(1) A withdrawal of money from a controlled money account of a law
practice must be effected by, under the direction of or with the
authority of:
(a) an authorised principal of the law practice; or
(b) if a principal referred to in paragraph (a) is not available:
(i) an authorised legal practitioner associate; or
(ii) an authorised Australian legal practitioner who holds an
unrestricted practising certificate authorising the receipt
of trust money; or
(iii) two or more authorised associates jointly.
(2) A written record of the required particulars must be kept of each
withdrawal unless at the time the withdrawal is made those
particulars are recorded by computer program.
(3) If at the time the withdrawal is made the required particulars are
recorded by computer program, a written record must be kept that
is sufficient to enable the accuracy of the particulars recorded by
the computer program to be verified.
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Division 4 Controlled money
Legal Profession Regulations 2007 40
(4) For subregulations (2) and (3), the required particulars are as
follows:
(a) the date and number of the transaction;
(b) the amount withdrawn;
(c) in the case of a transfer made by electronic funds transfer –
the name and number of the account to which the amount was
transferred and the relevant BSB number;
(d) the name of the person to whom payment is to be made or, in
the case of a payment to an ADI, the name or BSB number of
the ADI and the name of the person receiving the benefit of
the payment;
(e) details clearly identifying the name of the person on whose
behalf the payment was made and the matter reference;
(f) particulars sufficient to identify the purpose for which the
payment was made;
(g) the person or persons effecting, directing or authorising the
withdrawal.
(5) The particulars must be recorded in the order in which the
payments are recorded and must be recorded separately for each
controlled money account.
(6) In this regulation:
associate means an associate of the law practice.
authorised means authorised by the law practice to effect, direct or
give authority for a withdrawal of money from the controlled money
account.
61 Register of controlled money
(1) A law practice that receives controlled money must maintain a
register of controlled money consisting of the records of controlled
money movements for the controlled money accounts of the
practice.
(2) A separate record of controlled money movements must be
maintained for each controlled money account.
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Part 3.1 Trust money and trust accounts
Division 4 Controlled money
Legal Profession Regulations 2007 41
(3) A record of controlled money movements for a controlled money
account must record the following information:
(a) the name of the person on whose behalf the controlled money
is held;
(b) the person's address;
(c) particulars sufficient to identify the matter;
(d) any changes to the information referred to in paragraphs (a)
to (c).
(4) The following particulars must be recorded in a record of controlled
money movements for a controlled money account:
(a) the date the controlled money was received;
(b) the number of the receipt;
(c) the date the money was deposited in the controlled money
account;
(d) the name of and other details clearly identifying the controlled
money account;
(e) the amount of controlled money deposited;
(f) details of the deposit sufficient to identify the deposit;
(g) interest received;
(h) details of any payments from the controlled money account,
including the particulars required to be recorded under
regulation 60(4).
(5) With the exception of interest and other income received in respect
of controlled money, particulars of receipts and payments must be
entered in the register as soon as practicable after the controlled
money is received by the law practice or any payment is made.
(6) Interest and other income received in respect of controlled money
must be entered in the register as soon as practicable after the law
practice is notified of its receipt.
(7) The law practice must retain as part of its trust records all
supporting information (including ADI statements and notifications
of interest received) relating to controlled money.
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Part 3.1 Trust money and trust accounts
Division 6 Trust money generally
Legal Profession Regulations 2007 42
(8) Within 15 working days after each named month, the law practice
must prepare and keep as a permanent record a statement as at
the end of the named month:
(a) containing a list of the practice's controlled money accounts
showing:
(i) the name, number and balance of each account in the
register; and
(ii) the name of the person on whose behalf the controlled
money in each account was held; and
(iii) a short description of the matter to which each account
relates; and
(b) showing the date the statement was prepared.
Division 5 Transit money
62 Information to be recorded about transit money
(1) This regulation has effect for section 249 of the Act.
(2) A law practice must, in respect of transit money received by the
practice, record and retain brief particulars sufficient to identify the
relevant transaction and any purpose for which the money was
received.
Division 6 Trust money generally
63 Trust account statements
(1) A law practice must furnish a trust account statement to each
person for whom or on whose behalf trust money (other than transit
money) is held or controlled by the law practice or an associate of
the practice.
(2) In the case of trust money in respect of which the law practice is
required to maintain a trust ledger account, the practice must
furnish a separate statement for each trust ledger account.
(3) In the case of controlled money in respect of which the law practice
is required to maintain a record of controlled money movements,
the practice must furnish a separate statement for each record.
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Part 3.1 Trust money and trust accounts
Division 6 Trust money generally
Legal Profession Regulations 2007 43
(4) In the case of trust money subject to a power given to the law
practice or an associate of the practice in respect of which the
practice is required to keep a record of all dealings with the money
to which the practice or associate is a party, the practice must
furnish a separate statement for each record.
(5) A trust account statement is to contain particulars of:
(a) all the information required to be kept under this Part in
relation to the trust money included in the relevant ledger
account or record; and
(b) the remaining balance (if any) of the money.
(6) A trust account statement must be furnished:
(a) as soon as practicable after completion of the matter to which
the ledger account or record relates; or
(b) as soon as practicable after the person for whom or on whose
behalf the money is held or controlled makes a reasonable
request for the statement during the course of the matter; or
(c) except as provided by subregulation (7), as soon as
practicable after 30 June in each year.
(7) The law practice is not required to furnish a trust account statement
under subregulation (6)(c) in respect of a ledger account or record if
at 30 June:
(a) the ledger account or record has been open for less than
6 months; or
(b) the balance of the ledger account or record is zero and no
transaction affecting the account has taken place within the
previous 12 months; or
(c) a trust account statement has been furnished within the
previous 12 months and there has been no subsequent
transaction affecting the ledger account or record.
(8) The law practice must retain a copy of a trust account statement
furnished under this regulation.
64 Trust account statements for sophisticated clients
(1) Regulation 63 does not apply to a sophisticated client to the extent
to which the client directs the law practice not to provide trust
account statements under that regulation.
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Part 3.1 Trust money and trust accounts
Division 6 Trust money generally
Legal Profession Regulations 2007 44
(2) If the sophisticated client directs the law practice to provide trust
account statements on a basis different from that prescribed by
regulation 63, the law practice must supply those statements as
directed, except to the extent to which the direction is unreasonably
onerous.
(3) The law practice must retain a copy of a trust account statement
furnished under this regulation.
(4) In this regulation:
sophisticated client, see section 295(1) of the Act.
65 Register of Investments
(1) This regulation applies if trust money mentioned in section 236(3) of
the Act is invested by a law practice for or on behalf of a client, but
this regulation does not itself confer power to make investments.
(2) The law practice must maintain a register of investments of trust
money.
(3) The register must record the following information in relation to
each investment:
(a) the name in which the investment is held;
(b) the name of the person on whose behalf the investment is
made;
(c) the person's address;
(d) particulars sufficient to identify the investment;
(e) the amount invested;
(f) the date the investment was made;
(g) particulars sufficient to identify the source of the investment,
including, for example:
(i) a reference to the relevant trust ledger; and
(ii) a reference to the written authority to make the
investment; and
(iii) the number of the cheque for the amount to be invested;
(h) details of any documents evidencing the investment;
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Part 3.1 Trust money and trust accounts
Division 6 Trust money generally
Legal Profession Regulations 2007 45
(i) details of any interest received from the investment or credited
directly to the investment;
(j) details of the repayment of the investment and any interest, on
maturity or otherwise.
(4) This regulation does not require particulars to be recorded in the
register if the particulars are required to be recorded elsewhere by
another regulation.
66 Trust money subject to specific powers
(1) This regulation has effect for section 250 of the Act.
(2) If a law practice or an associate of the practice is given a power to
deal with trust money for or on behalf of another person, the
practice must keep:
(a) a record of all dealings with the money to which the practice or
associate is a party; and
(b) all supporting information in relation to the dealings;
in a manner that enables the dealings to be clearly understood.
(3) The record, supporting information and power must be kept by the
law practice as part of the practice's trust records.
67 Register of powers and estates in relation to trust money
(1) A law practice must maintain a register of powers and estates in
respect of which the law practice or an associate of the practice is
acting or entitled to act, alone or jointly with the law practice or one
or more associates of the practice, in relation to trust money.
(2) Subregulation (1) does not apply where the law practice or
associate is also required to act jointly with one or more persons
who are not associates of the practice.
(3) The register of powers and estates must record:
(a) the name and address of the donor and date of each power;
and
(b) the name and date of death of the deceased in respect of
each estate of which the law practice or associate is executor
or administrator.
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Division 6 Trust money generally
Legal Profession Regulations 2007 46
68 Withdrawing trust money for legal costs
(1) This regulation prescribes, for section 254(1)(b) of the Act, the
procedure for the withdrawal of trust money held in a general trust
account or controlled money account of a law practice for payment
of legal costs owing to the practice by the person for whom the trust
money was paid into the account.
(2) The trust money may be withdrawn in accordance with the
procedure set out in either subregulation (3) or (4).
(3) The law practice may withdraw the trust money:
(a) if:
(i) the money is withdrawn in accordance with a costs
agreement that complies with the legislation under which
it is made and that authorises the withdrawal; or
(ii) the money is withdrawn in accordance with instructions
that have been received by the practice and that
authorise the withdrawal; or
(iii) the money is owed to the practice by way of
reimbursement of money already paid by the practice on
behalf of the person; and
(b) if, before effecting the withdrawal, the practice gives or sends
to the person:
(i) a request for payment, referring to the proposed
withdrawal, or
(ii) a written notice of withdrawal.
(4) The law practice may withdraw the trust money:
(a) if the practice has given the person a bill relating to the
money; and
(b) if:
(i) the person has not objected to withdrawal of the money
within 7 days after being given the bill; or
(ii) the person has objected within 7 days after being given
the bill but has not applied for a review of the legal costs
under the Act within 60 days after being given the bill; or
(iii) the money otherwise becomes legally payable.
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Part 3.1 Trust money and trust accounts
Division 6 Trust money generally
Legal Profession Regulations 2007 47
(5) Instructions mentioned in subregulation (3)(a)(ii):
(a) if given in writing, must be kept as a permanent record; or
(b) if not given in writing, must be confirmed in writing either
before, or not later than 5 working days after, the law practice
effects the withdrawal and a copy must be kept as a
permanent record.
(6) For subregulation (3)(a)(iii), money is taken to have been paid by
the law practice on behalf of the person when the relevant account
of the practice has been debited.
69 Keeping of trust records
(1) This regulation has effect for section 257 of the Act for the keeping
in a permanent form of a law practice's trust records in relation to
trust money received by the practice.
(2) The trust records must be kept for a period of 7 years after:
(a) in the case of a trust record mentioned in paragraphs (a)
to (m) of the definition "trust records" in section 235(1) of the
Act – the only or the last transaction entry in the trust record;
or
(b) in the case of any other trust record – finalisation of the matter
to which the trust record relates.
(3) This regulation does not apply to a written direction mentioned in
section 246(2)(a) or 248(1) of the Act.
70 Retaining other records and information
(1) A record maintained under regulation 38 is, so far as it relates to
particular information, to be kept by the law practice for a period of
7 years after finalisation of the matter to which the record relates.
(2) Any other record or information required by this Part to be kept by a
law practice must be kept for a period of 7 years after finalisation of
the matter to which the record relates.
(3) This regulation does not apply to records to which regulation 44, 58
or 69 applies.
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Part 3.1 Trust money and trust accounts
Division 6 Trust money generally
Legal Profession Regulations 2007 48
71 Statements regarding receipt or holding of trust money
(1) The Law Society may, by notice given under this regulation, require
a law practice to give the Society a statement:
(a) specifying whether or not the practice has during a period
specified by the Society received or held trust money; and
(b) if it has received or held trust money during that period,
specifying to which of the following categories the trust money
belongs:
(i) general trust money (being trust money other than that
referred to in subparagraphs (ii) to (iv));
(ii) controlled money;
(iii) transit money;
(iv) money subject to a power.
(2) A notice may be given so as to apply in respect of one or more
periods (whether they occur annually or otherwise), and may be
withdrawn or varied by a further notice.
(3) A notice may specify the time by which or the period during which
the requirement must be complied with.
(4) A notice is given to:
(a) a particular law practice by sending the notice by post to the
practice; or
(b) a particular class of law practices by publishing the notice in a
circular distributed generally to law practices of the class or in
a magazine or other publication available generally to law
practices of the class.
(5) A law practice:
(a) must comply with a requirement imposed on it under this
regulation and must do so by the time or during the period
specified in the notice for compliance; and
(b) must not include in the statement any information that is false
or misleading in a material particular.
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Part 3.1 Trust money and trust accounts
Division 7 External examinations
Legal Profession Regulations 2007 49
Division 7 External examinations
72 Requirement for external examinations
(1) For section 270(1) of the Act, a law practice must appoint a
designated person as an external examiner to examine the
practice's trust records.
Note
A designated person is a person appointed as such under section 268 of the Act.
(2) If the only trust money received or held by a law practice during a
financial year is transit money, the practice's trust records in respect
of that year are not required to be externally examined.
73 Law practice closing down, closing office or ceasing to receive
or hold trust money
(1) A law practice that holds trust money must give the Law Society at
least 14 days' written notice of its intention:
(a) to cease to exist as a law practice; or
(b) to cease to engage in legal practice in this jurisdiction; or
(c) to cease to practise in such a way as to receive trust money.
(2) Within 14 days of ceasing to hold trust money, a law practice that
holds trust money must give the Society:
(a) written notice of that fact; and
(b) if the practice has not given a notice under subregulation (1)
within the previous 28 days, a notice that complies with that
subregulation.
(3) A notice under this regulation must include particulars sufficient to
identify:
(a) a law practice's general trust accounts and controlled money
accounts; and
(b) trust money controlled by the practice (or by an associate)
pursuant to a power; and
(c) trust money invested by the practice.
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Part 3.1 Trust money and trust accounts
Division 8 Provisions relating to ADIs
Legal Profession Regulations 2007 50
(4) In this regulation:
law practice includes a former law practice and the persons who
were principals of a law practice immediately before the law
practice ceased to exist as a law practice or to engage in legal
practice in this jurisdiction.
74 Carrying out examination
For section 273(3)(b) of the Act, the form and content of an external
examiner's report (but not the substance of the report) must be
approved by the Law Society.
Division 8 Provisions relating to ADIs
75 Conditions on approval of ADIs
For section 278(3) of the Act, the kinds of conditions that may be
imposed on an approval of an ADI under section 278 of the Act are
conditions that provide for, or conditions that require arrangements
to be negotiated and entered into between the ADI and the Law
Society that provide for, any one or more of the following:
(a) the payment of interest to the Funds Management Committee
on the whole or any part of deposits in trust accounts;
(b) the manner in which the Society is informed of amounts held
in trust accounts;
(c) the auditing of balances in trust accounts;
(d) the keeping of any trust accounts or only trust accounts of a
particular class (for example, controlled money accounts);
(e) any matters relevant to paragraphs (a) to (d).
76 Report by ADI to Law Society
For section 280(3) of the Act, a report about a trust account given to
the Law Society by an ADI must contain the following:
(a) identifying details of the account;
(b) the daily balances of trust money held in the account.
-- 57 of 88 --
Part 3.1 Trust money and trust accounts
Division 9 Miscellaneous matters
Legal Profession Regulations 2007 51
Division 9 Miscellaneous matters
77 Disclosure of accounts used to hold money entrusted to legal
practitioners
(1) For section 286(1) of the Act, the details of which a law practice is
required to give notice to the Law Society in relation to each
account maintained at an ADI in which the practice or any legal
practitioner associate holds money entrusted to the practice or
associate, are as follows:
(a) the name of the ADI, together with its BSB number;
(b) the name of the account, together with its account number;
(c) the name of each person authorised to operate on the
account;
(d) for each amount of money so entrusted:
(i) the name of the person for whom the money is
entrusted; and
(ii) the purpose for which the money is entrusted; and
(iii) the date on which the money is deposited in the account,
together with the manner in which it is deposited; and
(iv) the date on which the money is withdrawn from the
account, together with the manner in which it is
withdrawn.
(2) The details mentioned in subregulation (1) must be notified to the
Society at the times and in the manner required by the Society.
78 Exemptions
The Law Society:
(a) may exempt a law practice from complying with any of the
provisions of this Part or Part 3.1 of the Act, subject to any
conditions that may be imposed by the Society; and
(b) may, at any time, impose a new condition on the exemption,
amend or revoke a condition already imposed on the
exemption, or revoke the exemption.
-- 58 of 88 --
Part 3.2 Advertising legal services for personal injury claims
Legal Profession Regulations 2007 52
Part 3.2 Advertising legal services for personal injury
claims
79 Exemptions from the application of Part 32 of the Act
For section 288(1)(g) of the Act, the following advertisements or
publications are prescribed:
(a) an advertisement or publication made by the Law Society, the
Northern Territory Legal Aid Commission or a community legal
centre informing persons about where they may obtain legal
advice about the law relating to personal injuries, including the
names and addresses of firms of legal practitioners that
provide legal services in connection with making a claim for
compensation or damages for a personal injury;
(b) an advertisement or publication circulated within a firm of legal
practitioners relating to legal services provided in connection
with making a claim for compensation or damages for a
personal injury by the firm or a particular legal practitioner in
the firm.
80 Prescribed persons for section 288(2)(b) of the Act
For section 288(2)(b) of the Act, the following persons are
prescribed:
(a) the Law Society;
(b) the Northern Territory Legal Aid Commission or a person
acting for the Commission;
(c) a community legal centre or a supervising legal practitioner
employed or engaged by the centre acting for the centre;
(d) the Commissioner of Consumer Affairs or a person acting for
the Commissioner;
(e) an ambassador, consul or diplomat of a foreign country
carrying out consular or diplomatic duties in the Territory.
-- 59 of 88 --
Part 3.3 Costs disclosure and assessment
Legal Profession Regulations 2007 53
Part 3.3 Costs disclosure and assessment
80A When does matter have substantial connection with this
jurisdiction
For Part 3.3 of the Act, a matter involving a client of a law practice
has a substantial connection with this jurisdiction in any of the
following circumstances:
(a) the client is an individual resident in this jurisdiction;
(b) the client is a body corporate and either of the following
applies:
(i) the client carries on its business activities principally in
this jurisdiction;
(ii) the legal services provided or to be provided relate
principally to business activities carried on by the client
in this jurisdiction;
(c) the law practice, or the associate of the practice who is
principally involved in the matter, engages in legal practice
principally in this jurisdiction;
(d) the legal services provided, or to be provided, relate to this
jurisdiction, including, for example, legal services provided or
to be provided for or in connection with:
(i) the conveyance or transfer of real property located in
this jurisdiction; or
(ii) court proceedings in this jurisdiction.
80B Disclosure of costs to clients – form
For section 303(5) of the Act, form 1 of Schedule 2A is prescribed.
80C Exceptions to requirement for disclosure
For section 306(1)(f) of the Act, disclosure under section 303
or 304(1) of the Act is not required in the following circumstances:
(a) the client is an overseas-registered foreign lawyer or a foreign
law practice (respectively, within the meaning of Part 2.7 of
the Act);
(b) the client is a corporation that has a share capital and whose
shares or the majority of whose shares are held beneficially
for the Commonwealth, a State or Territory.
-- 60 of 88 --
Part 3.3 Costs disclosure and assessment
Legal Profession Regulations 2007 54
80D Interest on unpaid legal costs
(1) For section 316(4) of the Act, the rate of interest is the rate equal to
the Cash Rate Target as at the relevant date, increased by
2 percentage points.
(2) Subregulation (1) does not apply to a period legal costs are unpaid
occurring before the commencement of this regulation.
(3) In this regulation:
Cash Rate Target means the percentage (or maximum
percentage) specified by the Reserve Bank of Australia as the Cash
Target Rate.
relevant date means the date the bill was issued by the law
practice concerned.
80E Reference to client
For section 317(6) of the Act, sections 318 and 330 of the Act are
prescribed.
80F Proceedings for conditional costs agreement
For section 318(2)(c) of the Act, proceedings under the following
Acts are prescribed:
(a) Adoption of Children Act 1994;
(b) Care and Protection of Children Act 2007;
(d) Victims of Crime Assistance Act 2006.
80G Notice of client's rights – form
For section 326(3) of the Act, form 2 of Schedule 2A is prescribed.
80H Application for costs assessment
(1) For section 335(1)(a) of the Act, an application for a costs
assessment must be made in the approved form.
(2) For section 335(1)(b) of the Act, the fee is the greatest of the
following amounts:
(a) 100 revenue units;
(b) 1% of the amount remaining unpaid on the bill of costs when
the application is made;
-- 61 of 88 --
Part 3.3 Costs disclosure and assessment
Legal Profession Regulations 2007 55
(c) 1% of the amount of costs in dispute when the application is
made.
(3) For subregulation (2)(c), the amount of costs in dispute is the total
amount of costs for the legal services for which the costs claimed
are disputed by the person liable to pay them.
80J Circumstance in which assessor may not refuse to issue
certificate
For section 345(8) of the Act, section 345(7) of the Act does not
apply if the fee for the application for the costs assessment has
been waived or postponed, either wholly or in part, by the costs
assessor under section 335(4) of the Act.
80K Supplementary information for certificate of determination –
sections 345 and 346 of Act
For section 347(1)(b) of the Act, the following supplementary
information is required:
(a) the total amount of costs for providing legal services
determined to be fair and reasonable;
(b) the total amount of disbursements determined to be fair and
reasonable;
(c) each disbursement varied by the determination;
(d) for any disputed costs – an explanation of:
(i) the basis on which the costs were assessed; and
(ii) how the submissions made by the parties were dealt
with;
(e) if the costs assessor declines to assess a bill of costs – the
basis for declining to do so;
(f) any further information the costs assessor considers
necessary to clarify the determination of the application for a
costs assessment.
-- 62 of 88 --
Part 3.3 Costs disclosure and assessment
Legal Profession Regulations 2007 56
80L Application for review of determination
(1) For section 352(2)(b) of the Act:
(a) an application for a review of a determination of a cost
assessor must be in the approved form and be accompanied
by the following:
(i) an affidavit that notice of the application has been given
to the other parties;
(ii) a copy of all the costs assessor's certificates of
determination relating to the assessment that is the
subject of the application;
(iii) a copy of the costs assessor's statement of reasons for
the determination; and
(b) the applicant must give a copy of the application to each of the
other parties.
(2) For section 352(2)(c) of the Act, the fee is 275 revenue units.
80M Circumstance in which availability of certificate not contingent
on payment of reviewer's costs
For section 357(6) of the Act, section 357(5) of the Act does not
apply if the fee for the application for the review of the
determination has been waived or postponed, either wholly or in
part, by the reviewer under section 352(3) of the Act.
80N Supplementary information for certificate of determination –
section 357 of Act
For section 359(1)(b) of the Act, the following supplementary
information is required:
(a) the total amount of costs for providing legal services
determined to be fair and reasonable;
(b) the total amount of disbursements determined to be fair and
reasonable;
(c) each disbursement varied by the determination;
(d) for any disputed costs – an explanation of:
(i) the basis on which the costs were assessed; and
(ii) how the submissions made by the parties were dealt
with;
-- 63 of 88 --
Part 3.4 Professional indemnity insurance
Legal Profession Regulations 2007 57
(e) a statement of any determination of who (and to what extent)
must pay either or both of the following:
(i) the fee paid or payable for the application of the review;
(ii) the costs of the costs assessor;
(f) if the determination relates to costs other than party/party
costs and the reviewer declines to deal with an application for
review of a bill of costs – the basis for declining to do so;
(g) if the determination deals with any matter of the kind referred
to in section 323(1) or (4) of the Act (relating to the setting
aside of a costs agreement) – a statement as to the panel's
reasons for its decision on the matter;
(h) any further information the reviewer considers necessary to
clarify the determination of the review of the costs
assessment.
Part 3.4 Professional indemnity insurance
81 Exemptions
(1) For section 375(1) of the Act, an Australian legal practitioner who is
a government lawyer within the meaning of section 90(5) or 91(5) of
the Act is exempt from the requirement to be insured under the Act.
(2) However, the exemption only applies in relation to work done by the
government lawyer in the course of the lawyer's duties for the entity
in relation to which the lawyer is an employee.
82 Prescribed requirements for professional indemnity insurance
(1) For section 377 of the Act, the requirements for professional
indemnity insurance for a law practice or community legal centre
are:
(a) the insurance provides the minimum coverage for each legal
practitioner who is a member or an employee of the law
practice or community legal centre; and
(b) the insurance is provided under an agreement or arrangement
entered into by the Law Society under section 378 of the Act.
(2) Whether insurance complies with the requirement of
subregulation (1)(a) must be determined by the Society.
-- 64 of 88 --
Part 3.5 Fidelity cover
Legal Profession Regulations 2007 58
Part 3.5 Fidelity cover
83 Determination for funding from Fidelity Fund
A determination of a payment of an amount to a regulatory authority
from the Fidelity Fund under section 388(1) of the Act must not be
made unless the regulatory authority enters into an agreement with
the Funds Management Committee regarding accounting of
expenditure from the amount to be paid.
84 Annual contributions
(1) For section 392(1) of the Act, the class of legal practitioners who
are not government lawyers is prescribed.
(2) For section 392(2) of the Act, the amount of contribution payable by
a legal practitioner who is a member of the class prescribed under
subregulation (1) must not exceed $1 500.
(3) For section 393(1) of the Act, the contribution for the period of
12 months beginning on 1 July in a year, is the amount notified by
the Funds Management Committee under section 392(4) for the
year.
Note
Section 392 of the Act requires the Committee to decide an amount each year
having regard to advice of an actuary and this amount is notified in the Gazette.
85 Levies
(1) For section 394(3) of the Act, the class of legal practitioners who
are not government lawyers is prescribed.
(2) For section 394(2) of the Act, the amount of a levy imposed by the
Funds Management Committee on each legal practitioner must not
exceed $500.
(3) If classes of legal practitioners have been determined for
section 392(1) of the Act, the Committee may impose different
levies (not exceeding $500) on those classes.
(4) A legal practitioner who has paid levies in the aggregate of $1 500
during the whole period of the practitioner's practice in the Territory
is not required to pay a further levy.
-- 65 of 88 --
Part 3.5 Fidelity cover
Legal Profession Regulations 2007 59
86 Caps on payment
(1) The amounts paid under section 417 of the Act for compensating
claimants in relation to claims against the same legal practice,
allowed under Part 3.5 of the Act for defaults to which that Part
applies, must not exceed, in the aggregate, $200 000.
(2) Subregulation (3) applies if:
(a) there is more than one claimant against a legal practice; and
(b) the aggregate of the amounts that the Committee would
otherwise be required by section 417 of the Act to pay to the
claimants exceeds the amount mentioned in subregulation (1).
(3) The Funds Management Committee must divide the amount
available under subregulation (1) among the claimants in proportion
to the amounts determined under section 405 of the Act for each
claimant.
(4) If, at any time, the amount of the Fidelity Fund is insufficient for the
payment of all amounts that the Committee would otherwise be
required to pay under Part 3.5 of the Act, the Committee must
divide the amount in the Fidelity Fund among the persons to whom
it would be required to pay those amounts in proportion to those
amounts.
87 Fidelity protocols
(1) The Law Society may enter into fidelity protocols with
corresponding authorities for or with respect to any of the following
matters:
(a) the forwarding of claims, or copies of claims, under
section 426 of the Act and corresponding laws;
(b) the making and acceptance of requests to act as agent under
Part 3.5 of the Act and corresponding laws;
(c) the processing or investigation of claims or aspects of claims
as agent under Part 3.5 of the Act and corresponding laws.
(2) A protocol may be amended, revoked or replaced by agreement of
the parties to it.
-- 66 of 88 --
Part 4 Complaints and discipline
Legal Profession Regulations 2007 60
88 Interstate legal practitioner becoming authorised to withdraw
from local trust account: notification
(1) This regulation has effect for section 434 of the Act and applies to
an interstate legal practitioner who (whether alone or with a
co-signatory) becomes authorised to withdraw money from a local
trust account of a law practice.
(2) The practitioner must notify the Law Society of the authorisation.
(3) The notification must include the following particulars:
(a) the practitioner's name;
(b) the jurisdiction in which the practitioner's only or most recent
current Australian practising certificate was granted;
(c) the practitioner's principal business address;
(d) details of the local trust account, including the following:
(i) the name of the law practice operating the account;
(ii) the practice's principal business address;
(iii) the name of the ADI with which the account is held;
(iv) the names of any other signatories to the account;
(e) the date on which the practitioner became authorised to
withdraw money from the trust account.
(4) The practitioner must notify the Society of any change to the
particulars mentioned in subregulation (3).
(5) A notification under this regulation must be in writing and must be
sent or delivered to the business address of the Society before the
end of the period of 7 days starting on the day the practitioner
becomes authorised to withdraw money from the local trust account
or the change occurs.
Part 4 Complaints and discipline
89 Register of Disciplinary Action
For section 541(2)(e) of the Act, particulars of the date and
jurisdiction of the person's first and each later admission to the legal
profession are prescribed.
-- 67 of 88 --
Part 10.2 Transitional matters
Legal Profession Regulations 2007 61
Part 7.1 Regulatory bodies
90 Application of Associations Act 2003
The provisions of the Associations Act 2003 applied under
section 645(1)(a) to (d) of the Legal Profession Act 2006 are
subject to the following modifications:
(a) a reference to the committee of an association is a reference
to the Council;
(b) section 94 does not apply to the extent that it requires the Law
Society or its officers to give information relating to the
performance of its statutory functions;
(c) section 109(2)(a) and (d) do not apply.
Part 9 Miscellaneous matters
91 Fees, contributions and levies
The fee, contribution or levy payable under the Act for or in respect
of a matter specified in column 1 of Schedule 3 is the amount
specified opposite in column 2.
Part 10.2 Transitional matters
92 Definition
In this Part:
former Act means the Legal Practitioners Act 1978 as in force
immediately before the commencement of section 707 of the Legal
Profession Act 2006.
93 Supervised legal practice
(1) Service as an employee or officer in the performance of work of a
legal nature in a department, body or organisation prescribed for
section 25(1)(c) of the former Act is supervised legal practice for the
definition of that term in section 4 of the Act.
(2) Subregulation (1) ceases to have effect 12 months after the
commencement of these Regulations.
-- 68 of 88 --
Part 10.2 Transitional matters
Legal Profession Regulations 2007 62
94 Local practising certificates
Section 46(3) of the Act does not apply to a person who holds an
interstate practising certificate issued prior to 1 July 2008.
95 Notification requirements regarding general trust accounts
Before 1 July 2007, the Master must give the Law Society all
notices given to the Master for the purposes of section 60 of the
former Act.
96 Members constituting Law Society
(1) This regulation applies despite section 637 of the Act.
(2) In addition to the persons mentioned in section 637 of the Act, the
Law Society consists of persons who, immediately before the
commencement of these Regulations, were members of the
Society.
96A Investigations into professional conduct
(1) If, on completion of an investigation under section 745(2) of the Act,
the Law Society would have been entitled to lay a charge of
professional misconduct under the repealed Act, the Society must
start proceedings in the Disciplinary Tribunal under Chapter 4.
(2) If, on completion of an investigation under section 745(2) of the Act,
the Society decides to dismiss the complaint and the complainant
would have been entitled to lay a charge of professional misconduct
under the repealed Act, the complainant may appeal against the
decision as if it were made under section 498.
-- 69 of 88 --
Schedule 1 Entitlement to take or use names, titles and descriptions
Legal Profession Regulations 2007 63
Schedule 1 Entitlement to take or use names, titles and
descriptions
regulation 4
Column 1 Column 2 Column 3 Column 4
Item No. Name, title or
description
Kinds of persons
who are entitled
to take or use
name, title or
description
Circumstances in
which the persons are
entitled to take or use
name, title or
description
1 lawyer Australian lawyer all circumstances (no
restriction)
2 lawyer Australian-
registered foreign
lawyer
all circumstances (no
restriction)
3 legal
practitioner
Australian legal
practitioner
all circumstances (no
restriction)
4 legal
practitioner
Australian lawyer when the Australian
lawyer, not holding an
Australian practising
certificate, engages in
legal practice as an
employee of a
government agency in
circumstances in which
an Australian law
permits an Australian
lawyer to engage in legal
practice of that kind
without having to hold an
Australian practising
certificate
5 barrister and
solicitor, or
solicitor and
barrister, or
solicitor, or
attorney
Australian legal
practitioner
when the Australian
legal practitioner holds
an Australian practising
certificate and engages
in legal practice in the
manner of a solicitor
-- 70 of 88 --
Schedule 1 Entitlement to take or use names, titles and descriptions
Legal Profession Regulations 2007 64
6 barrister and
solicitor, or
solicitor and
barrister, or
solicitor, or
attorney
Australian lawyer when the Australian
lawyer, not holding an
Australian practising
certificate, engages in
legal practice in the
manner of a solicitor as
an employee of a
government agency in
circumstances in which
an Australian law
permits an Australian
lawyer to engage in legal
practice of that kind
without having to hold an
Australian practising
certificate
7 barrister Australian legal
practitioner
when the Australian
legal practitioner holds a
local practising
certificate and engages
in legal practice in the
manner of a barrister
8 barrister Australian lawyer when the Australian
lawyer, not holding an
Australian practising
certificate, engages in
legal practice in the
manner of a barrister as
an employee of a
government agency in
circumstances in which
an Australian law
permits an Australian
lawyer to engage in legal
practice of that kind
without having to hold an
Australian practising
certificate
9 counsel Australian legal
practitioner
all circumstances (no
restriction)
-- 71 of 88 --
Schedule 1 Entitlement to take or use names, titles and descriptions
Legal Profession Regulations 2007 65
10 counsel Australian lawyer when the Australian
lawyer, not holding an
Australian practising
certificate, engages in
legal practice as an
employee of a
government agency in
circumstances in which
an Australian law
permits an Australian
lawyer to engage in legal
practice of that kind
without having to hold an
Australian practising
certificate or when the
Australian lawyer, not
holding an Australian
practising certificate,
provides legal services
to his or her employer,
or to a related entity, in
the ordinary course of
his or her employment
and for no fee, gain or
reward other than his or
her ordinary
remuneration as an
employee
11 Senior Counsel
or SC
Australian lawyer when the Australian
lawyer currently holds
the status of Senior
Counsel, as recognised
by the High Court or a
Supreme Court of any
jurisdiction
12 Queen's
Counsel or QC,
or King's
Counsel or KC,
or Her
Majesty's
Counsel, or His
Majesty's
Counsel
Australian lawyer when the Australian
lawyer currently holds
the appropriate status,
as conferred by the
Crown in any capacity or
as recognised by the
High Court or a
Supreme Court of any
jurisdiction
-- 72 of 88 --
Schedule 1 Entitlement to take or use names, titles and descriptions
Legal Profession Regulations 2007 66
13 attorney Australian-
registered foreign
lawyer
when entitled to use the
name, title or description
under section 177 of the
Act
14 attorney patent attorney when using the
expression "patent
attorney"
15 attorney donee of a power
of attorney
when indicating that the
donee holds or is acting
under a power of
attorney
16 Attorney Attorney-General
of any jurisdiction,
the
Commonwealth or
a foreign country
all circumstances (no
restriction)
17 Solicitor Solicitor-General of
any jurisdiction, the
Commonwealth or
a foreign country
all circumstances (no
restriction)
-- 73 of 88 --
Schedule 2 Continuing professional development scheme
Legal Profession Regulations 2007 67
Schedule 2 Continuing professional development scheme
regulation 11
Part 1 Interpretation
1 Definitions
In this Schedule:
attend, a seminar, includes chair the seminar but does not include
giving a presentation at the seminar.
claim, for a CPD point, means count the point towards satisfying a
legal practitioner's CPD obligation.
core competencies means:
(a) competency in professional ethics and responsibility
(including, for example, conflicts of interest and lawyers duties
to court); and
(b) competency in practice management and business skills
(including, for example, risk management and business
planning); and
(c) competency in professional skills in legal practice (including,
for example, plain English drafting and communication and
interpersonal skills); and
(d) competency in skills relating to identifying, addressing and
preventing bullying, discrimination and harassment in the
workplace (including, for example, responding to claims of
sexual harassment and developing strategies for a safe
workplace culture).
CPD means continuing professional development.
CPD activity, see clause 2.
CPD obligation means a legal practitioner's obligation under
clause 4 to accrue CPD points for a CPD year.
CPD points, see clause 3.
CPD year means the period starting on 1 April in a year and ending
on 31 March in the next year.
seminar includes a workshop, conference and discussion group.
-- 74 of 88 --
Schedule 2 Continuing professional development scheme
Legal Profession Regulations 2007 68
substantive law competency means competency in substantive
law, including, for example:
(a) an area of law prescribed by the admission rules for courses
leading to a law degree; and
(b) statute law and common law.
Part 2 CPD scheme
Division 1 Basic concepts about CPD activities and CPD
points
2 CPD activity
(1) A CPD activity is:
(a) preparing a presentation for giving (including by
videoconference) at a seminar; or
(b) giving (including by videoconference) a presentation at a
seminar; or
(c) attending (including by videoconference) a seminar or
multimedia or website based program conducted by a person
who is qualified by practical or academic experience in the
subject covered; or
(d) private study involving the use of audio or video material
specifically aimed at increasing or updating the substantive
law or core competencies of legal practitioners; or
(e) preparing or giving (including by videoconference) a lecture:
(i) on a subject for a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice,
Bachelor of Laws or Master of Laws; or
(ii) on a subject for another university course that is covered
in a course mentioned in subparagraph (i); or
(f) writing an article that is published in a legal publication, or a
legal article that is published in a non-legal publication, or
refereeing or structural editing of such a published article; or
(g) participating in a committee; or
(h) completing a specialist accreditation examination approved by
the Law Society; or
-- 75 of 88 --
Schedule 2 Continuing professional development scheme
Legal Profession Regulations 2007 69
(i) attending lectures or writing assignments or a thesis as part of
post-graduate studies.
(2) A CPD activity must:
(a) be of significant intellectual or practical content; and
(b) deal primarily with matters related to the practice of law or a
matter mentioned in clause 1, definition core competencies,
paragraph (d); and
(c) be relevant to the practitioner's immediate or long-term
professional development needs.
(3) Private study is not a CPD activity unless it is covered by
subclause (1)(d).
(4) Engaging in legal practice is not a CPD activity.
3 CPD points
A legal practitioner accrues points (CPD points) for participating in
CPD activities.
Division 2 Basic concepts about CPD obligation
4 CPD obligation
Subject to clause 5, for each CPD year a legal practitioner engages
in legal practice, the practitioner must accrue 10 CPD points, of
which at least 1 CPD point must be accrued in:
(a) each of the 4 core competencies; and
(b) a substantive law competency.
Note for clause 4
Under clause 6, CPD points accrued within 3 months before and after a CPD
year may be claimed for that year.
5 Starting legal practice during CPD year
(1) This clause applies to a legal practitioner who:
(a) is not engaging in legal practice on 1 April of a CPD year; but
(b) starts engaging in legal practice later in that CPD year.
-- 76 of 88 --
Schedule 2 Continuing professional development scheme
Legal Profession Regulations 2007 70
(2) If the legal practitioner starts engaging in legal practice in a month
of the CPD year mentioned in the Table below, the practitioner
must, for that CPD year, accrue the number of CPD points specified
opposite, of which at least 1 CPD point must be accrued in:
(a) the number of core competencies specified opposite; and
(b) a substantive law competency.
Month CPD points
required
Core competencies
April 10 4
May 9 4
June 8 3
July 7 2
August 6 2
September 5 2
October 4 1
November 3 1
December 2 1
January 1 0
(3) If the legal practitioner starts engaging in legal practice in February
or March of the CPD year, the practitioner is not required to comply
with the practitioner's CPD obligation for that CPD year.
Division 3 Basic concepts about accruing and claiming CPD
points
6 Claiming CPD points for CPD year
(1) A legal practitioner who accrues CPD points for participating in a
CPD activity within 3 months before the start of a CPD year, or
within 3 months after the end of that CPD year, may claim the
points for that CPD year.
(2) However, the legal practitioner may claim CPD points accrued for
the activity for only 1 CPD year.
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Schedule 2 Continuing professional development scheme
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7 Fraction of CPD point
The only fraction of a CPD point that may be claimed is 0.5 point.
Division 4 Accruing and claiming CPD points for CPD
activities
8 Preparing or giving presentation at seminar
(1) For preparing or giving a presentation at a seminar, 0.5 CPD point
accrues for each 30 minutes of preparing or giving the presentation.
(2) However, no more than 5 CPD points may be claimed for preparing
and giving the presentation.
(3) In addition, if the presentation is repeated in the same CPD year,
CPD points may be claimed only once.
(4) Also, a legal practitioner cannot claim CPD points for preparing or
giving a presentation that covers substantially the same matter as
was covered by any of the following for which the practitioner has
claimed CPD points (whether in the same or an earlier CPD year):
(a) a lecture;
(b) a published article;
(c) an assignment or thesis written as part of post-graduate
studies.
9 Attending seminar or multimedia or website based program
For attending a seminar or multimedia or website based program,
0.5 CPD point accrues for each 30 minutes of attendance.
10 Private study – audio and video material
(1) For private study involving the use of audio or video material,
0.5 CPD point accrues for each 30 minutes of study.
(2) However, no more than 5 CPD points may be claimed for private
study in a CPD year.
11 Preparing or giving lecture
(1) For preparing or giving a lecture, 0.5 CPD point accrues for each
30 minutes of preparing or giving the lecture.
(2) However, no more than 5 CPD points may be claimed for preparing
and giving the lecture.
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Schedule 2 Continuing professional development scheme
Legal Profession Regulations 2007 72
(3) In addition, if the lecture is repeated in the same CPD year, CPD
points may be claimed only once.
(4) Also, a legal practitioner cannot claim CPD points for preparing or
giving a lecture that covers substantially the same matter as was
covered by any of the following for which the practitioner has
claimed CPD points (whether in the same or an earlier CPD year):
(a) a presentation given at a seminar;
(b) a published article;
(c) an assignment or thesis written as part of post-graduate
studies.
12 Published article
(1) For writing a published article, 0.5 CPD point accrues for each
500 words of the article.
(2) However, no more than 5 CPD points may be claimed for writing
published articles in a CPD year.
(3) Also, a legal practitioner cannot claim CPD points for writing a
published article that covers substantially the same matter as was
covered by any of the following for which the practitioner has
claimed CPD points (whether in the same or an earlier CPD year):
(a) a presentation given at a seminar;
(b) a lecture;
(c) an assignment or thesis written as part of post-graduate
studies.
(4) For refereeing or structural editing of a published article, 0.5 CPD
point accrues for each 500 words of the article.
(5) However, no more than 5 CPD points may be claimed for
refereeing or structural editing in a CPD year.
13 Participating in committee
(1) For participating in a committee, 0.5 CPD point accrues for each
60 minutes of meeting attendance or other work.
(2) However, no more than 3 CPD points may be claimed for
participating in a committee in a CPD year.
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Schedule 2 Continuing professional development scheme
Legal Profession Regulations 2007 73
14 Completing specialist accreditation examination
A legal practitioner accrues 10 CPD points for a CPD year in which
the practitioner successfully completes a specialist accreditation
examination approved by the Law Society.
15 Undertaking post-graduate studies
(1) For attending a lecture as part of post-graduate studies, 0.5 CPD
point accrues for each 30 minutes of attendance.
(2) However, no more than 5 CPD points may be claimed for attending
lectures in a CPD year.
(3) For writing an assignment or thesis as part of post-graduate
studies, 0.5 CPD point accrues for each 500 words of:
(a) an assignment for which at least a pass mark is received; or
(b) a thesis that is completed.
(4) However, no more than 5 CPD points may be claimed for writing
assignments and theses in a CPD year.
(5) Also, a legal practitioner cannot claim CPD points for writing an
assignment or thesis that covers substantially the same matter as
was covered by any of the following for which the practitioner has
claimed CPD points (whether in the same or an earlier CPD year):
(a) a presentation given at a seminar;
(b) a lecture;
(c) a published article.
Part 3 Miscellaneous matters
16 Certificate about compliance with CPD obligation
(1) A legal practitioner must, before the end of each CPD year, give the
Law Society a certificate in the approved form about the
practitioner's compliance with the practitioner's CPD obligation for
the CPD year.
(2) If a legal practitioner wishes to claim for a CPD year CPD points
accrued after the end of the year, as permitted under clause 6(1),
the legal practitioner must:
(a) include a statement to that effect in the certificate given under
subclause (1); and
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Schedule 2 Continuing professional development scheme
Legal Profession Regulations 2007 74
(b) give to the Law Society a supplementary certificate before the
expiry of 3 months after the end of the CPD year.
17 Exemption
(1) A legal practitioner may, at any time, apply to the Law Society for
exemption (in whole or part) from the requirement to comply with
the practitioner's CPD obligation for a CPD year.
(2) The application must be made in the approved form.
(3) The Law Society may give the exemption if:
(a) it is satisfied, because of the legal practitioner's geographical
location, physical disability or any particular constraints of the
practitioner's practice, the practitioner has experienced
hardship or difficulty in complying with the CPD obligation; or
(b) it is satisfied the practitioner has been substantially absent
from practice because of leave, illness or unemployment; or
(c) it is satisfied the practitioner will undertake further CPD
activities after the CPD year to meet the CPD obligation; or
(d) the practitioner has been admitted to practice for at least
40 years and either:
(i) holds a local practising certificate in a category other
than unrestricted; or
(ii) acts solely as a notary public; or
(e) it considers other special circumstances exist.
18 Law Society may require information about CPD obligation
(1) The Law Society may, by written notice, require a legal practitioner
to give it information about the practitioner's compliance with the
practitioner's CPD obligation.
(2) The legal practitioner must comply with the notice within 14 days
after it is given.
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Schedule 2 Continuing professional development scheme
Legal Profession Regulations 2007 75
Part 4 Transitional matters for Legal Profession
Amendment Regulations 2012
19 Application of amendments
(1) The amendments made to this Schedule by the Legal Profession
Amendment Regulations 2012 apply in relation to the CPD year
starting on 1 April 2012.
(2) However, if, immediately before the commencement, a legal
practitioner had, in relation to that CPD year:
(a) complied with the practitioner's CPD obligation under the
previous Scheme – the practitioner is taken to have complied
with the CPD obligation under the new Scheme; or
(b) accrued 3 or more CPD points in legal practice competencies
under the previous Scheme – the practitioner is taken to have
accrued 1 CPD point in each core competency under the new
Scheme; or
(c) accrued 2 CPD points in legal practice competencies under
the previous Scheme – the practitioner is taken to have
accrued 1 CPD point in any 2 core competencies under the
new Scheme; or
(d) accrued 1 CPD point in a legal practice competency under the
previous Scheme – the practitioner is taken to have accrued
1 CPD point in any core competency under the new Scheme.
(3) In this clause:
commencement means the commencement of the Legal
Profession Amendment Regulations 2012.
new Scheme means the scheme set out in Schedule 2 of the Legal
Profession Regulations as in force immediately after the
commencement.
previous Scheme means the scheme set out in Schedule 2 of the
Legal Profession Regulations as in force immediately before the
commencement.
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Schedule 2 Continuing professional development scheme
Legal Profession Regulations 2007 76
Part 5 Transitional matter for Legal Profession
Amendment Regulations 2023
20 Claiming CPD point for activity undertaken before 2023 CPD
year
(1) This clause applies to a legal practitioner who, within 3 months
before the start of the 2023 CPD year, participated in an activity
relating to a matter mentioned in clause 1, definition
core competencies, paragraph (d).
(2) The legal practitioner may claim a CPD point for the activity for the
2023 CPD year if the practitioner would have accrued a CPD point
for the activity had the practitioner participated in it during the
2023 CPD year.
(3) In this clause:
2023 CPD year means the CPD year starting on 1 April 2023.
-- 83 of 88 --
Schedule 2A Forms
Legal Profession Regulations 2007 77
Schedule 2A Forms
regulations 80B and 80G
Form 1 Disclosure of costs to clients
Legal Profession Act 2006 (section 303(5))
Legal costs – your right to know
You have the right to:
• negotiate a costs agreement with us
• receive a bill of costs from us
• request an itemised bill of costs after you receive of a lump sum
bill from us
• request written reports about the progress of your matter and the
costs incurred in your matter
• apply for costs to be assessed within 12 months if you are
unhappy with our costs
• apply for the costs agreement to be set aside
• accept or reject any offer we make for an interstate costs law to
apply to your matter
• notify us that you require an interstate costs law to apply to your
matter.
For more information about your rights, please read the fact sheet
titled Legal Costs – your right to know. You can ask us for a copy,
obtain it from the Law Society Northern Territory or download it
from the Law Society's website.
-- 84 of 88 --
Schedule 2A Forms
Legal Profession Regulations 2007 78
Form 2 Notification of client's rights
Legal Profession Act 2006 (section 326(3))
Your rights in relation to legal costs
The following avenues are available to you if you are not happy with
this bill:
• requesting an itemised bill
• discussing your concerns with us
• costs mediation
• having our costs assessed
• applying to set aside our costs agreement.
For more information about your rights, please read the fact sheet
titled Your right to challenge legal costs. You can ask us for a copy,
obtain it from the Law Society Northern Territory or download it
from the Law Society's website.
-- 85 of 88 --
Schedule 3 Fees, contributions and levies
Legal Profession Regulations 2007 79
Schedule 3 Fees, contributions and levies
regulation 91
Description of fee Amount
Fee payable by local legal practitioner
under section 21(3) of the Act for
appointment as a Queen's Counsel or
Senior Counsel 500 revenue units
Fee payable by complying community
legal centre under section 227(e) of
the Act for grant or renewal of
unrestricted local practising certificate 100 revenue units
Fee payable under section 51(1)(c)
or 188(1)(b) of the Act for the grant or
renewal of the following:
(a) a restricted local practising
certificate that is:
(i) a restricted (barrister and
solicitor) practising
certificate; or
1 260 revenue units
(ii) a restricted (corporate
lawyer) practising
certificate; or
1 260 revenue units
(iii) a restricted (volunteer
lawyer) practising
certificate;
100 revenue units
(b) an unrestricted local practising
certificate.
1 400 revenue units
Late fee payable under section 53(2)
of the Act for an application for
renewal of a local practising certificate
during the late fee period 100 revenue units
-- 86 of 88 --
ENDNOTES
Legal Profession Regulations 2007 80
ENDNOTES
1 KEY
Key to abbreviations
amd = amended od = order
app = appendix om = omitted
bl = by-law pt = Part
ch = Chapter r = regulation/rule
cl = clause rem = remainder
div = Division renum = renumbered
exp = expires/expired rep = repealed
f = forms s = section
Gaz = Gazette sch = Schedule
hdg = heading sdiv = Subdivision
ins = inserted SL = Subordinate Legislation
lt = long title sub = substituted
nc = not commenced
2 LIST OF LEGISLATION
Legal Profession Regulations (SL No. 9, 2007)
Notified 18 April 2007
Commenced 18 April 2007
Legal Profession Amendment (Transitional Disciplinary Matters) Regulations 2007
(SL No. 14, 2007)
Notified 27 June 2007
Commenced 27 June 2007
Legal Profession (Costs Disclosure and Assessment) Amendment Regulations 2007
(SL No. 39, 2007)
Notified 20 December 2007
Commenced 20 December 2007
Statute Law Revision Act 2008 (Act No. 6, 2008)
Assent date 11 March 2008
Commenced 11 March 2008
Legal Profession Amendment Regulations 2012 (SL No. 30, 2012)
Notified 3 August 2012
Commenced 1 October 2012 (r 2)
Legal Profession Amendment Regulations 2013 (SL No. 20, 2013)
Notified 26 June 2013
Commenced 26 June 2013
Statute Law Revision Act 2014 (Act No. 38, 2014)
Assent date 13 November 2014
Commenced 13 November 2014
Legal Profession Amendment Regulations 2019 (SL No. 12, 2019)
Notified 1 July 2019
Commenced 1 July 2019 (r 2)
-- 87 of 88 --
ENDNOTES
Legal Profession Regulations 2007 81
Interpretation Amendment Act 2021 (Act No. 28, 2021)
Assent date 15 December 2021
Commenced 1 January 2022 (s 2)
Legal Profession Amendment Regulations 2023 (SL No. 5, 2023)
Notified 2 March 2023
Commenced 1 April 2023 (r 2)
3 GENERAL AMENDMENTS
General amendments of a formal nature (which are not referred to in the table
of amendments to this reprint) are made by the Interpretation Legislation
Amendment Act 2018 (Act No. 22, 2018) to: rr 1, 80F, 90 and 92 and sch 2A.
4 LIST OF AMENDMENTS
r 7 amd No. 12, 2019 r 4
r 17 amd No. No. 20, 2013, r 3; Act No. 28, 2021, s 20; No. 5, 2023, r 4
pt 3.3 hdg ins No. 39, 2007, r 3
rr 80A – 80E ins No. 39, 2007, r 3
r 80F ins No. 39, 2007, r 3
amd Act No. 38, 2014, s 2
rr 80G – 80N ins No. 39, 2007, r 3
r 81 amd No. 5, 2023, r 5
r 96A ins No. 14, 2007, r 3
r 97 rep Act No. 6, 2008, s 2
sch 2
pt 4 hdg exp No. 9, 2007, cl 17
cl 16 – 17 exp No. 9, 2007, cl 17
sch 2 sub No. 30, 2012, r 4
amd No. 5, 2023, r 6
sch 2A ins No. 39, 2007, r 4
sch 3 amd No. 12, 2019, r 5
sch 4 rep Act No. 6, 2008, s 2
-- 88 of 88 --