Prothonotary of the Supreme Court of New South Wales v Nicholas Luke McCaffery

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Barristers Rules and other relevant Regulations

Ethics articles and papers

Relevant CPD seminars

Useful links

The Bar Association's Professional Conduct Department facilitates the investigation and reporting to Bar Council of conduct complaints either referred to the Bar Council by the Legal Services Commissioner or initiated by the council itself.

The department provides advice and policy support to Bar Council in respect of both the administration and carrying out of the Bar Council functions under Chapter 2 and Chapter 4 of the Legal Profession Act 2004, and the preparation of submissions to governments on the disciplinary regime of the profession. One of the key objectives of the department is to promote a better understanding of good client service and communication on the part of the Bar Association’s members.

The Professional Conduct Department also facilitates the provision of advice to members on ethical issues and responds, on a daily basis, to numerous inquiries from the public about the Bar and conduct of barristers. Bar Council has a statutory obligation to deal with, usually by investigating them, all complaints made against barristers. This statutory role is monitored by the Office of the Legal Services Commissioner, an independent statutory overseer of Bar Council's statutory duties, and then, ultimately by the Attorney General.

''Professional conduct' matters: Dealing with complaints and notification requirements under the Legal Profession Act 1987', by Carol Webster (published in Bar News, Summer 2004-2005, p.55).

'Regulation of admission, fitness to remain on the roll of legal practitioners and retention of rights to practise: Obligations owed to professional colleagues', by Vahan Bedrossian, 5 Nov 2004.

'Regulation of the Profession', by Anne Sinclair & Steve Mark, 12 October 2004.

'Lawyers' duties to the court', the Hon Justice Ipp (1998) 144 LQR 63.

'Legal professional ethics in times of change' by The Hon Justice Michael Kirby AC CMG, 23 July 1996.

'Obligation to disclose fees under Part 11 of the Legal Profession Act', Ian Harrison SC, Bar Brief, December 2000, p.4.

'Receipt of monies in advance of performing work', by David Bennett QC, Bar Brief, July 2000, p.6.

'Solicitors duty to pay counsel's fees', Law Society Journal, March 1999.