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WA to join Legal Profession Uniform Law scheme from July
West Australian Attorney-General John Quigley has confirmed that the state will officially join the Legal Profession Uniform Law scheme at the start of the new financial year, meaning that three in four lawyers across Australia will now operate under the scheme.
Jerome Doraisamy
In April of this year, enabling legislation was passed through the West Australian State Parliament for the state to join the Legal Profession Uniform Law scheme, which harmonises regulation of the legal profession, cuts red tape and creates a single system to govern legal practice across participating jurisdictions.
“The passage of the enabling legislation was required to enable the new uniform laws for the legal profession to commence in WA as required under the agreement,” the A-G’s Department said in a statement.
“Consumers of legal services will not only be afforded greater protection under the scheme and benefit from greater consistency of experience across jurisdictions, but they will also be empowered to make informed choices about their legal options, with a single framework governing legal practice which is administered by local bodies across participating jurisdictions.”
When Western Australia officially joins Victoria and NSW in the scheme on 1 July 2022, it will operate in respect of 75 per cent of the legal profession in Australia.
Joining the Legal Profession Uniform Law scheme, A-G Quigley said, “has been one of the most significant and long-awaited developments in our state’s justice system”.
“I am pleased to confirm that WA is now officially on track to join the scheme from 1 July, alongside Victoria and NSW. The scheme reduces compliance costs for firms operating across participating jurisdictions by simplifying and standardising regulatory obligations, cutting red tape and creating a common market for legal services.
“Consumers will also benefit from greater protection and consistency of experience across jurisdictions under the scheme,” A-G Quigley continued.
“It is a significant milestone in creating a simpler and more efficient system of regulating legal practice in Western Australia. I am pleased that this government has been able to deliver this important reform.”
Law Society of Western Australia president Rebecca Lee added that the member association has “been in favour of Western Australia adopting the Legal Profession Uniform Law for many years and congratulates the Attorney General on today’s announcement”.
“A single, uniform set of professional conduct rules providing inter-jurisdictional consistency can only benefit consumers of legal services, the legal profession and regulators, especially with national and international firms now being commonplace.
“This is an exciting change to the regulation of the legal profession and the Law Society will continue to support our members to navigate the new regime,” Ms Lee concluded.
Jerome Doraisamy
Jerome Doraisamy is the editor of Lawyers Weekly. A former lawyer, he has worked at Momentum Media as a journalist on Lawyers Weekly since February 2018, and has served as editor since March 2022. He is also the host of all five shows under The Lawyers Weekly Podcast Network, and has overseen the brand's audio medium growth from 4,000 downloads per month to over 60,000 downloads per month, making The Lawyers Weekly Show the most popular industry-specific podcast in Australia. Jerome is also the author of The Wellness Doctrines book series, an admitted solicitor in NSW, and a board director of Minds Count.
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