Northern Territory Consolidated Acts

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LEGAL PROFESSION ACT 2006


TABLE OF PROVISIONS

           Long Title

CHAPTER 1--INTRODUCTION

   PART 1.1--PRELIMINARY MATTERS

   1.      Short title  
   2.      Commencement  
   3.      Main purposes of this Act  

   PART 1.2--INTERPRETATION

   4.      Definitions  
   5.      Terms relating to lawyers  
   6.      Terms relating to legal practitioners  
   7.      Terms relating to associates and principals of law practices  
   8.      Home jurisdiction  
   9.      Admission to legal profession  
   10.     Academic qualifications and legal training requirements  
   11.     Suitability matters  
   12.     Corresponding authorities  
   13.     Corresponding disciplinary bodies  
   14.     Corresponding laws and corresponding foreign laws  
   15.     References to convictions for offences  
   16.     Application of Criminal Code  

CHAPTER 2--GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR ENGAGING IN LEGAL PRACTICE

   PART 2.1--RESERVATION OF LEGAL WORK AND LEGAL TITLES

   17.     Purposes of Part  
   18.     Prohibition on engaging in legal practice when not entitled  
   19.     Prohibition on representing or advertising entitlement to engage in legal practice when not entitled  
   20.     Presumptions about taking or using name, title or description  
   21.     Appointment of Queen's Counsel or Senior Counsel  
   22.     Schemes for specialist lawyers  
   23.     Contravention of Part by Australian lawyers who are not legal practitioners  

   PART 2.2--ADMISSION OF LOCAL LAWYERS

           Division 1--Preliminary matters

   24.     Purposes of Part  

           Division 2--Admission to legal profession

   25.     Admission  
   26.     Conditions of admission  
   27.     Roll of persons admitted to legal profession  
   28.     Local lawyer is officer of Supreme Court  

           Division 3--Eligibility and suitability for admission

   29.     Eligibility for admission  
   30.     Suitability for admission  
   31.     Early consideration of suitability  
   32.     Referral of matters to Supreme Court  
   33.     Binding effect of declaration or order  
   34.     Entitlement to be represented, heard and make representations  

           Division 4--Powers and functions of Admission Board

   35.     Admission Board to advise on application for admission  
   36.     Compliance certificates  
   37.     Consideration of applicant's eligibility and suitability  

           Division 5--Appeals

   38.     Appeals  

           Division 6--Miscellaneous matters

   39.     Mutual recognition local registration authority  
   40.     Certificate of admission  
   41.     Joinder of parties and counsel assisting  
   42.     Costs relating to applications and referrals  
   43.     Admission rules  

   PART 2.3--LEGAL PRACTICE BY AUSTRALIAN LEGAL PRACTITIONERS

           Division 1--Preliminary matters

   44.     Purposes of Part  

           Division 2--Legal practice in this jurisdiction by Australian legal practitioners

   45.     Entitlement of holder of Australian practising certificate to practise in this jurisdiction  

           Division 3--Local practising certificates generally

   46.     Local practising certificates  
   47.     Suitability to hold local practising certificate  
   48.     Duration of local practising certificate  
   49.     Local legal practitioner is officer of Supreme Court  

           Division 4--Grant or renewal of local practising certificates

   50.     Who may apply for grant or renewal of local practising certificate  
   51.     Making application and fees  
   52.     Timing of application for renewal of local practising certificate  
   53.     Late fee  
   54.     Grant or renewal of local practising certificate  

           Division 5--Amendment, suspension or cancellation of local practising certificates

   55.     Application of Division  
   56.     Grounds for amending, suspending or cancelling local practising certificate  
   57.     Amending, suspending or cancelling local practising certificate  
   58.     Operation of amendment, suspension or cancellation of local practising certificate  
   59.     Other ways of amending or cancelling local practising certificate  
   60.     Relationship of this Division with Chapter 4  

           Division 6--Special powers in relation to local practising certificates show cause events

   61.     Applicant for local practising certificateshow cause event  
   62.     Holder of local practising certificateshow cause event  
   63.     Refusal, amendment, suspension or cancellation of local practising certificate – failure to show cause  
   64.     Restriction on making further applications  
   65.     Relationship of this Division with Part 46 and Chapter 6  

           Division 7--Further provisions relating to local practising certificates

   66.     Immediate suspension of local practising certificate  
   67.     Surrender and cancellation of local practising certificate  
   68.     Return of local practising certificate  

           Division 8--Conditions on local practising certificates

   69.     Conditions generally  
   70.     Conditions imposed by Law Society  
   71.     Imposition or variation of conditions pending criminal proceedings  
   72.     Statutory condition regarding conditions imposed on interstate admission  
   73.     Statutory condition regarding practice – general  
   74.     Statutory condition regarding practice as barrister  
   75.     Additional conditions on practising certificates of barristers  
   76.     Statutory condition regarding notice of offence  
   77.     Conditions imposed by legal profession rules  
   78.     Compliance with conditions  

           Division 9--Interstate legal practitioners

   79.     Requirement for interstate practising certificate and professional indemnity insurance  
   80.     Extent of entitlement of interstate legal practitioner to practise in this jurisdiction  
   81.     Additional conditions on practice of interstate legal practitioners  
   82.     Special provisions about interstate legal practitioner engaging in unsupervised legal practice in this jurisdiction  
   83.     Interstate legal practitioner is officer of Supreme Court  
   84.     Mutual recognition local registration authority  

           Division 10--Miscellaneous matters

   85.     Jurisdiction protocols  
   86.     Consideration and investigation of applicants or holders  
   87.     Register of local practising certificates  
   88.     Orders about conditions  
   89.     Appeals  
   90.     Government lawyers – general exemption from certain conditions  
   91.     Government lawyers of other jurisdictions  

   PART 2.4--SUITABILITY REPORTS

           Division 1--Preliminary matters

   92.     Main purpose of Part  
   93.     Definitions  

           Division 2--Police reports

   94.     Relevant authority may ask for police report  

           Division 3--Health assessments

   95.     Health assessment  
   96.     Appointment of health assessor  
   97.     Health assessment report  
   98.     Payment for health assessment and report  
   99.     Use of health assessment report  

           Division 4--General matters

   100.    Operation of this Part  

   PART 2.5--INTER-JURISDICTIONAL PROVISIONS REGARDING ADMISSION AND PRACTISING CERTIFICATES

           Division 1--Preliminary matters

   101.    Purpose  
   102.    Definition  
   103.    Other requirements not affected  

           Division 2--Notices to be given by local authorities to interstate authorities

   104.    Official notice to other jurisdictions of applications for admission and associated matters  
   105.    Official notice to other jurisdictions of removals from local roll  
   106.    Law Society to notify other jurisdictions of certain matters  

           Division 3--Notices to be given by lawyers to local authorities

   107.    Lawyer to give notice of removal in another jurisdiction  
   108.    Lawyer to give notice of interstate orders  
   109.    Lawyer to give notice of foreign regulatory action  
   110.    Provisions relating to requirement to give notice  

           Division 4--Taking of action by local authorities in response to notices received

   111.    Peremptory removal of local lawyer's name from local roll following removal in another jurisdiction  
   112.    Peremptory cancellation of local practising certificate following removal of name from interstate roll  
   113.    Show cause procedure for removal of lawyer's name from local roll following foreign regulatory action  
   114.    Show cause procedure for cancellation of local practising certificate following foreign regulatory action  
   115.    Order for non-removal of name or non-cancellation of local practising certificate  
   116.    Local authority may give information to other local authorities  

   PART 2.6--INCORPORATED LEGAL PRACTICES AND MULTI-DISCIPLINARY PARTNERSHIPS

           Division 1--Preliminary matters

   117.    Purposes of Part  
   118.    Definitions  

           Division 2--Incorporated legal practices

   119.    Nature of incorporated legal practice  
   120.    Non-legal services and businesses of incorporated legal practices  
   121.    Corporations eligible to be incorporated legal practice  
   122.    Notice of intention to start providing legal services  
   123.    Prohibition on representations that corporation is incorporated legal practice  
   124.    Notice of ceasing provision of legal services  
   125.    Incorporated legal practice must have legal practitioner director  
   126.    Obligations of legal practitioner director relating to misconduct  
   127.    Incorporated legal practice without legal practitioner director  
   128.    Obligations and privileges of practitioners who are officers or employees  
   129.    Conflicts of interest  
   130.    Disclosure obligations  
   131.    Effect of non-disclosure of provision of certain services  
   132.    Application of legal profession rules  
   133.    Requirements relating to advertising  
   134.    Extension of vicarious liability relating to failure to account, pay or deliver and dishonesty to incorporated legal practices  
   135.    Sharing of receipts, revenue or other income  
   136.    Disqualified persons  
   137.    Audit of incorporated legal practice  
   138.    Application of Chapter 6  
   139.    Banning of incorporated legal practices  
   140.    Disqualification from managing incorporated legal practice  
   141.    Disclosure of information to ASIC  
   142.    External administration proceedings under Corporations Act  
   143.    External administration proceedings under other legislation  
   144.    Incorporated legal practice subject to receivership under this Act and external administration under Corporations Act  
   145.    Incorporated legal practice subject to receivership under this Act and external administration under other legislation  
   146.    Cooperation between courts  
   147.    Relationship of Act to constitution of incorporated legal practice  
   148.    Relationship of Act to legislation establishing incorporated legal practice  
   149.    Relationship of Act to Corporations legislation  
   150.    Undue influence  

           Division 3--Multi-disciplinary partnerships

   151.    Nature of multi-disciplinary partnership  
   152.    Conduct of multi-disciplinary partnerships  
   153.    Notice of intention to start practice in multi-disciplinary partnership  
   154.    General obligations of legal practitioner partners  
   155.    Obligations of legal practitioner partner relating to misconduct  
   156.    Actions of partner who is not Australian legal practitioner  
   157.    Obligations and privileges of practitioners who are partners or employees  
   158.    Conflicts of interest  
   159.    Disclosure obligations  
   160.    Effect of non-disclosure of provision of certain services  
   161.    Application of legal profession rules  
   162.    Requirements relating to advertising  
   163.    Sharing of receipts, revenue or other income  
   164.    Disqualified persons  
   165.    Prohibition on partnerships with certain partners who are not Australian legal practitioners  
   166.    Undue influence  

           Division 4--Miscellaneous matters

   167.    Obligations of individual practitioners not affected  
   168.    Regulations  

   PART 2.7--LEGAL PRACTICE BY FOREIGN LAWYERS

           Division 1--Preliminary matters

   169.    Purpose  
   170.    Definitions  
   171.    Part does not apply to Australian legal practitioners  

           Division 2--Practice of foreign law

   172.    Requirement for registration  
   173.    Entitlement of Australian-registered foreign lawyer to practise in this jurisdiction  
   174.    Scope of practice  
   175.    Form of practice  
   176.    Application of Australian professional ethical and practice standards  
   177.    Designation  
   178.    Letterhead and other identifying documents  
   179.    Advertising  
   180.    Foreign lawyer employing Australian legal practitioner  
   181.    Trust money and trust accounts  
   182.    Professional Indemnity insurance  
   183.    Fidelity cover  

           Division 3--Local registration of foreign lawyers generally

   184.    Local registration of foreign lawyers  
   185.    Duration of registration  
   186.    Locally-registered foreign lawyer is not officer of Supreme Court  

           Division 4--Applications for grant or renewal of local registration

   187.    Application for grant or renewal of registration  
   188.    Manner of application  
   189.    Requirements regarding applications for grant or renewal of registration  

           Division 5--Grant or renewal of registration

   190.    Grant or renewal of registration  
   191.    Requirement to grant or renew registration if criteria satisfied  
   192.    Refusal to grant or renew registration  

           Division 6--Amendment, suspension or cancellation of local registration

   193.    Application of this Division  
   194.    Grounds for amending, suspending or cancelling registration  
   195.    Amending, suspending or cancelling registration  
   196.    Operation of amendment, suspension or cancellation of registration  
   197.    Other ways of amending or cancelling registration  
   198.    Relationship of this Division with Chapter 4  

           Division 7--Special powers in relation to local registration show cause events

   199.    Applicant for local registration – show cause event  
   200.    Locally-registered foreign lawyershow cause event  
   201.    Refusal, amendment, suspension or cancellation of local registration – failure to show cause  
   202.    Restriction on making further applications  
   203.    Relationship of this Division with Part 46 and Chapter 6  

           Division 8--Further provisions relating to local registration

   204.    Immediate suspension of registration  
   205.    Surrender of local registration certificate and cancellation of registration  
   206.    Automatic cancellation of registration on grant of practising certificate  
   207.    Suspension or cancellation of registration not to affect disciplinary processes  
   208.    Return of local registration certificate on amendment, suspension or cancellation of registration  

           Division 9--Conditions on registration

   209.    Conditions generally  
   210.    Conditions imposed by Law Society  
   211.    Imposition or variation of conditions pending criminal proceedings  
   212.    Statutory condition regarding notice of offence  
   213.    Conditions imposed by legal profession rules  
   214.    Compliance with conditions  

           Division 10--Interstate-registered foreign lawyers

   215.    Extent of entitlement of interstate-registered foreign lawyer to practise in this jurisdiction  
   216.    Additional conditions on practice of interstate-registered foreign lawyers  

           Division 11--Miscellaneous matters

   217.    Consideration and investigation of applicants and locally-registered foreign lawyers  
   218.    Register of locally-registered foreign lawyers  
   219.    Publication of information about locally-registered foreign lawyers  
   220.    Supreme Court orders about conditions  
   221.    Exemption by Law Society  
   222.    Membership of professional association  
   223.    Refund of fees  
   224.    Appeals  

   PART 2.8--COMPLYING COMMUNITY LEGAL CENTRES

   225.    Purpose of Part  
   226.    Definitions  
   227.    Complying community legal centre  
   228.    Qualifications of supervising legal practitioner  
   229.    Temporary engagement of supervising legal practitioner  
   230.    Notice of change in supervising legal practitioner  
   231.    Application of Parts 31, 34, 35 and Chapters 5, 6 and 9  
   232.    Provision of legal services  
   233.    Entitlement to costs in proceedings  

CHAPTER 3--CONDUCT OF LEGAL PRACTICE

   PART 3.1--TRUST MONEY AND TRUST ACCOUNTS

           Division 1--Preliminary matters

   234.    Purposes of Part  
   235.    Interpretation  
   236.    Money involved in financial services or investments  
   237.    Determinations about status of money  
   238.    Application of Part to law practices and trust money  
   239.    Trust money protocols  
   240.    When money is received  
   241.    Discharge by legal practitioner associate of obligations of law practice  
   242.    Liability of principals of law practice  
   243.    Former practices, principals and associates  
   244.    Barristers receiving money on behalf of other persons  

           Division 2--Trust accounts and trust money

   245.    Maintenance of general trust account  
   246.    Certain trust money to be deposited in general trust account  
   247.    Holding, disbursing and accounting for trust money  
   248.    Controlled money  
   249.    Transit money  
   250.    Trust money subject to specific powers  
   251.    Trust money received in form of cash  
   252.    Protection of trust money  
   253.    Intermixing money  
   254.    Dealing with trust moneylegal costs and unclaimed money  
   255.    Deficiency in trust account  
   256.    Reporting certain irregularities and suspected irregularities  
   257.    Keeping trust records  
   258.    False names  
   259.    Unclaimed trust money  
   260.    When Funds Management Committee may pay unclaimed amount  
   261.    Appeal against decision to refuse claim for unclaimed amount  

           Division 3--Investigations and external examinations

              Subdivision 1--Investigations

   262.    Appointment of investigators  
   263.    Investigations  
   264.    Application of Chapter 6  
   265.    Investigator's report  
   266.    Confidentiality by investigator  
   267.    When costs of investigation are debt  

              Subdivision 2--External examinations

   268.    Designation of external examiners  
   269.    Designation and appointment of associates as external examiners  
   270.    Trust records to be externally examined  
   271.    Final examination of trust records  
   272.    Examination of affairs in connection with examination of trust records  
   273.    Carrying out examination  
   274.    External examiner's report  
   275.    Confidentiality of external examiner  
   276.    Law practice liable for costs of examination  

              Subdivision 3--General matters

   277.    Appeals  

           Division 4--Provisions relating to ADIs

   278.    Approval of ADIs and general trust accounts  
   279.    ADI not subject to certain obligations and liabilities  
   280.    Reports, records and information  

           Division 5--Statutory deposits

   281.    Statutory deposits  
   282.    Status and repayment of deposited money  

           Division 6--Miscellaneous matters

   283.    Restrictions on receipt of trust money  
   284.    Application of Part to incorporated legal practices and multi-disciplinary partnerships  
   285.    Disclosure to clients – money not received as trust money  
   286.    Disclosure of accounts used to hold money entrusted to legal practitioners  
   287.    Regulations  

   PART 3.2--ADVERTISING LEGAL SERVICES FOR PERSONAL INJURY CLAIMS

   288.    Application of Part  
   289.    Definitions  
   290.    Restriction on advertising in relation to personal injury claims  
   291.    Permitted methods of advertising  
   292.    Prohibition against touting for potential claimants  
   293.    Prohibition against paying or touting for potential claimants  

   PART 3.3--COSTS DISCLOSURE AND ASSESSMENT

           Division 1--Preliminary matters

   294.    Purposes of Part  
   295.    Interpretation  
   296.    Terms relating to third party payers  

           Division 2--Application of Part

   297.    Application of Part – first instructions rule  
   298.     Part also applies by agreement or at client's election  
   299.    Displacement of Part  
   300.    How and where client first instructs law practice  
   301.    When does matter have substantial connection with this jurisdiction  
   302.    What happens when different laws apply to matter  

           Division 3--Costs disclosure

   303.    Disclosure of costs to clients  
   304.    Disclosure if another law practice is to be retained  
   305.    How and when must disclosure be made to client  
   306.    Exceptions to requirement for disclosure  
   307.    Additional disclosure – settlement of litigious matters  
   308.    Additional disclosure – uplift fees  
   309.    Form of disclosure  
   310.    Ongoing obligation to disclose  
   311.    Effect of failure to disclose  
   312.    Progress reports  
   313.    Disclosure to associated third party payers  

           Division 4--Legal costs generally

   314.    On what basis legal costs are recoverable  
   315.    Security for legal costs  
   316.    Interest on unpaid legal costs  

           Division 5--Costs agreements

   317.    Making costs agreements  
   318.    Conditional costs agreements  
   319.    Conditional costs agreements involving uplift fees  
   320.    Contingency fees prohibited  
   321.    Effect of costs agreement  
   322.    Certain costs agreements void  
   323.    Setting aside costs agreements  

           Division 6--Billing

   324.    Legal costs cannot be recovered unless bill has been served  
   325.    Bills  
   326.    Notice of client's rights  
   327.    Request for itemised bill  
   328.    Interim bills  

           Division 7--Mediation of costs disputes

   329.    Definitions  
   330.    Referral for mediation  

           Division 8--Costs assessments

              Subdivision 1--Interpretation

   331.    Definition  

              Subdivision 2--Applications

   332.    Application by clients or third party payers for costs assessment  
   333.    Application for costs assessment by law practice retaining another law practice  
   334.    Application for costs assessment by law practice giving bill  
   335.    How to make an application for costs assessment  
   336.    Consequences of application  
   337.    Persons to be notified of application  

              Subdivision 3--Assessments

   338.    Procedure on assessment  
   339.    Assessment of complying costs agreements  
   340.    Costs fixed by other legislation  
   341.    Criteria for costs assessment  
   342.    Legal costs subject to consumer dispute not subject to assessment  
   343.    Contracting out of Division by sophisticated client  

              Subdivision 4--Determinations

   344.    Determination of costs assessment  
   345.    Certificate of determination  
   346.    Determination of costs of costs assessment  
   347.    Reasons for determination  
   348.    Correction of error in determination  
   349.    Determination final  
   350.    Recovery of costs of costs assessment  

              Subdivision 5--Review of determinations

   351.    Definitions  
   352.    Application by party for review of determination  
   353.    Reviewer may review determination of costs of costs assessment  
   354.    Conduct of review  
   355.    Relevant documents to be produced  
   356.    Effect of review on costs assessor's determination  
   357.    Certificate as to determination  
   358.    Recovery of costs of review  
   359.    Reasons for determination  
   360.    Correction of error in determination  
   361.    Appeal against determination or decision  

              Subdivision 6--Appeals

   362.    Appeal against decision of costs assessor as to matter of law  
   363.    Appeal against determination of costs assessor by leave  
   364.    Effect of appeal on application  
   365.    Assessor can be party to appeal  

           Division 9--Costs assessors

   366.    Costs assessors  
   367.    Vacancy in office of cost assessor  
   368.    Confidentiality  

           Division 10--Miscellaneous matters

   369.    Protection from liability  
   370.    Referral for disciplinary action  
   371.    Application of Part to incorporated legal practices and multi-disciplinary partnerships  
   372.    Imputed acts, omission or knowledge  

   PART 3.4--PROFESSIONAL INDEMNITY INSURANCE

   373.    Definition  
   374.    Purpose  
   375.    Exemptions  
   376.    Law practice required to insure  
   377.    Professional indemnity insurance requirements  
   378.    Professional indemnity insurance scheme  
   379.    Giving information to Law Society for insurance  
   380.    Continuing obligation for professional indemnity insurance  

   PART 3.5--FIDELITY COVER

           Division 1--Preliminary matters

   381.    Purpose  
   382.    Definitions  
   383.    Time of default  
   384.    Application of this Part  

           Division 2--Fidelity Fund

   385.    Establishment of Fidelity Fund  
   386.    Financial management of Fidelity Fund  
   387.    Directions about prudential management of Fidelity Fund  
   388.    Determinations about funding from Fidelity Fund  
   389.    Payments into and out of Fidelity Fund  
   390.    Insurance  
   391.    Borrowing  

           Division 3--Contributions and levies

   392.    Deciding annual contribution  
   393.    Payment of annual contributions  
   394.    Imposition of levy  
   395.    Provisions about payment of contribution or levy  

           Division 4--Defaults to which this Part applies

   396.    Relevant jurisdiction  
   397.    Defaults to which this Part applies  
   398.    Defaults relating to financial services or investments  

           Division 5--Claims about defaults

   399.    Claims about defaults  
   400.    Time limit for making claims  
   401.    Advertisements  
   402.    Time limit for making claims following advertisement  
   403.    Claims not affected by certain matters  
   404.    Advance payments  

           Division 6--Determination of claims

   405.    Law Society may determine claim  
   406.    Maximum amount allowable  
   407.    Costs  
   408.    Interest  
   409.    Reduction of claim because of other benefits  
   410.    Subrogation  
   411.    Repayment of certain amounts  
   412.    Notice of delay in making decision  
   413.    Notice of decision  
   414.    Appeal against decision on claim  
   415.    Appeal against failure to determine claim  
   416.    Court proceedings  

           Division 7--Payments from Fidelity Fund for defaults

   417.    Payments for defaults  
   418.    Caps on payments  
   419.    Sufficiency of Fidelity Fund  

           Division 8--Claims by law practices or associates

   420.    Claims by law practices or associates about defaults  
   421.    Claims by law practices or associates about notional defaults  

           Division 9--Defaults involving interstate elements

   422.    Concerted interstate defaults  
   423.    Defaults involving interstate elements where committed by one associate only  

           Division 10--Inter-jurisdictional provisions

   424.    Fidelity protocols  
   425.    Forwarding of claims  
   426.    Investigation of defaults to which this Part applies  
   427.    Investigation of defaults to which corresponding law applies  
   428.    Investigation of concerted interstate defaults and other defaults involving interstate elements  
   429.    Recommendations by Law Society to corresponding authorities  
   430.    Recommendations to and decisions by Law Society after receiving recommendations from corresponding authority  
   431.    Request to another jurisdiction to investigate aspects of claim  
   432.    Request from another jurisdiction to investigate aspects of claim  
   433.    Cooperation with other authorities  

           Division 11--Miscellaneous matters

   434.    Interstate legal practitioner becoming authorised to withdraw from local trust account  
   435.    Application of Part to incorporated legal practices  
   436.    Application of Part to multi-disciplinary partnerships  
   437.    Application of Part to Australian lawyers whose practising certificates have lapsed  

   PART 3.6--MORTGAGE PRACTICES AND MANAGED INVESTMENT SCHEMES

           Division 1--Preliminary matters

   438.    Definitions  
   439.    Associate of a legal practitioner  
   440.    Territory regulated mortgage  

           Division 2--Conduct of mortgage practices

   441.    Conduct of mortgage practices  
   442.    Nomination of practice as Territory mortgage practice  
   443.    Requirement to notify Law Society of Territory regulated mortgages  
   444.    Legal practitioner to have fidelity cover in relation to regulated mortgages  
   445.    Limited claim against Fidelity Fund in relation to regulated mortgage  
   446.    Notice of insurance arrangements for regulated mortgage  
   447.    Failure to obtain fidelity insurance for regulated mortgage  

           Division 3--Managed investment schemes

   448.    Involvement of legal practitioners in managed investment schemes  
   449.    Claims against Fidelity Fund relating to managed investment schemes connected with legal practitioners  
   450.    Transfer of mortgages to responsible entity  
   451.    Regulations relating to managed investment schemes  

           Division 4--Transitional arrangements for pre-existing mortgages

   452.    Fidelity insurance for pre-existing regulated mortgage  
   453.    Prohibited conduct in relation to run-out mortgage  
   454.    Substitution of lender or contributor under run-out mortgage  
   455.    Limited claims against Fidelity Fund by substitute lender  

           Division 5--Miscellaneous matters

   456.    Law Society may require information about mortgage practices  
   457.    Indemnity insurance  
   458.    Law Society to disseminate information  
   459.    Secrecy provisions not affected  
   460.    Regulations relating to Part  

CHAPTER 4--COMPLAINTS AND DISCIPLINE

   PART 4.1--PRELIMINARY MATTERS

   461.    Purposes of Chapter  
   462.    Definitions  
   463.    Application of Chapter to lawyers, former lawyers and former practitioners  

   PART 4.2--KEY CONCEPTS

   464.    Unsatisfactory professional conduct  
   465.    Professional misconduct  
   466.    Conduct capable of constituting unsatisfactory professional conduct or professional misconduct  

   PART 4.3--APPLICATION OF THIS CHAPTER

   467.    Practitioners to whom this Chapter applies  
   468.    Conduct to which this Chapter applies – generally  
   469.    Conduct to which this Chapter applies – insolvency, serious offences and tax offences  

   PART 4.4--COMPLAINTS ABOUT AUSTRALIAN LEGAL PRACTITIONERS

   470.    Complaints  
   471.    Making of complaints  
   472.    To whom complaint made  
   473.    Complaints made over 3 years after conduct concerned  
   474.    Further information and verification  
   475.    Practitioner to be notified of complaint  
   476.    Submissions by practitioner  
   477.    Preliminary assessment  
   478.    Summary dismissal of complaints  
   479.    Withdrawal of complaints  

   PART 4.5--MEDIATION

   480.    Consumer dispute  
   481.    Mediation of complaint involving consumer dispute solely  
   482.    Mediation of hybrid complaint  
   483.    Compulsory mediation of consumer dispute  
   484.    Nature of mediation  
   485.    Facilitation of mediation  
   486.    List of mediators  
   487.    Confidentiality of mediation process  

   PART 4.6--INVESTIGATION OF COMPLAINTS

   488.    Complaints to be investigated  
   489.    Consultation and cooperation on complaints  
   490.    Monitoring by Statutory Supervisor of conduct of investigation  
   491.    Appointment of investigator  
   492.    Application of Chapter 6  
   493.    Application for cost assessment  
   494.    Conduct that may be investigated  
   495.    Modified complaints  

   PART 4.7--DECISIONS OF LAW SOCIETY

   496.    Decision after investigation  
   497.    Decision without investigation  
   498.    Dismissal of complaint  
   499.    Summary conclusion of complaint procedure by fine or reprimand  
   500.    Record of decision  
   501.    Reasons to be provided to complainant and practitioner  

   PART 4.8--IMMEDIATE SUSPENSION OF LOCAL PRACTISING CERTIFICATE

   502.    Immediate suspension of local practising certificate  
   503.    Other powers to suspend not affected  

   PART 4.9--GENERAL PROCEDURAL MATTERS

   504.    Rules of procedural fairness  
   505.    Duty to deal with complaints efficiently and expeditiously  

   PART 4.10--APPEALS AGAINST LAW SOCIETY DECISIONS

           Division 1--Appeals to Disciplinary Tribunal

   506.    Appeals  
   507.    Hearing procedures  
   508.    Parties  
   509.    Hearing closed to public  
   510.    Appeal may be withdrawn or discontinued  
   511.    Decision on appeal  
   512.    Costs of appeal  

           Division 2--Appeals to Supreme Court

   513.    Appeals  
   514.    Decision on appeal  

   PART 4.11--PROCEEDINGS IN DISCIPLINARY TRIBUNAL FOR DISCIPLINARY APPLICATIONS

   515.    Starting proceedings  
   516.    Time for starting proceedings  
   517.    Hearings  
   518.    Joinder  
   519.    Variation of disciplinary application  
   520.    Nature of allegations  
   521.    Rules of evidence  
   522.    Parties  
   523.    Public hearings  
   524.    Power to disregard procedural lapses  
   525.    Decisions of Disciplinary Tribunal  
   526.    Interlocutory and interim orders  
   527.    Consent orders  
   528.    Compliance with decisions and orders  
   529.    Costs  
   530.    Notice of decision  
   531.    Early termination of proceedings  
   532.    Other remedies not affected  
   533.    Appeal against Disciplinary Tribunal orders  

   PART 4.12--COMPENSATION

   534.    Compensation orders  
   535.    Prerequisites to making of compensation orders  
   536.    Making of compensation orders  
   537.    Effect of compensation order  
   538.    Enforcement of compensation orders  
   539.    Other remedies not affected  

   PART 4.13--PUBLICISING DISCIPLINARY ACTION

   540.    Disciplinary action  
   541.    Register of Disciplinary Action  
   542.    Other ways of publicising disciplinary action  
   543.    Quashing of disciplinary action  
   544.    Liability for publicising disciplinary action  
   545.    Disciplinary action taken because of infirmity, injury or illness  
   546.    Division subject to secrecy and non-disclosure orders  

   PART 4.14--INTER-JURISDICTIONAL PROVISIONS

   547.    Cross-border protocols  
   548.    Request to another jurisdiction to investigate complaint  
   549.    Request from another jurisdiction to investigate complaint  
   550.    Sharing of information with corresponding authorities  
   551.    Cooperation with corresponding authorities  
   552.    Compliance with orders made under corresponding laws  
   553.    Other powers or functions not affected  

   PART 4.15--MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS

   554.    Jurisdiction of Supreme Court  
   555.    Information about complaints procedure  
   556.    Contravention of orders  
   557.    Performance criteria  
   558.    Reports to Attorney-General  
   559.    Effect of other proceedings  
   560.    Protection from liability  
   561.    Non-compellability of certain witnesses  
   562.    Undertakings by Law Society and Statutory Supervisor regarding privileged or confidential information  
   563.    Confidentiality of client communications  
   564.    Claims of privilege  
   565.    Waiver of privilege or duty of confidentiality  

CHAPTER 5--EXTERNAL INTERVENTION

   PART 5.1--PRELIMINARY MATTERS

   566.    Purposes of Chapter  
   567.    Interpretation  
   568.    Application of Chapter to barristers  
   569.    Application of Chapter to Australian-registered foreign lawyers  
   570.    Application of Chapter to other persons  

   PART 5.2--INITIATION OF EXTERNAL INTERVENTION

   571.    Circumstances warranting external intervention  
   572.    Decision regarding external intervention  

   PART 5.3--SUPERVISORS OF TRUST MONEY

   573.    Appointment of supervisor of trust money  
   574.    Notice of appointment  
   575.    Effect of service of notice of appointment  
   576.    Role of supervisor of trust money  
   577.    Records of and dealing with trust money of law practice under supervision  
   578.    Termination of supervisor's appointment  

   PART 5.4--MANAGERS

   579.    Appointment of manager  
   580.    Notice of appointment  
   581.    Effect of service of notice of appointment  
   582.    Role of manager  
   583.    Records and accounts of law practice under management and dealings with trust money  
   584.    Deceased estates  
   585.    Termination of manager's appointment  

   PART 5.5--RECEIVERS

   586.    Appointment of receiver  
   587.    Notice of appointment  
   588.    Effect of service of notice of appointment  
   589.    Role of receiver  
   590.    Records and accounts of law practice under receivership and dealings with trust money  
   591.    Power of receiver to take possession of regulated property  
   592.    Power of receiver to take delivery of regulated property  
   593.    Power of receiver to deal with regulated property  
   594.    Power of receiver to require documents or information  
   595.    Examinations  
   596.    Lien for costs on regulated property  
   597.    Regulated property not to be attached  
   598.    Receiver may recover money paid away in bets  
   599.    Recovery of regulated property if there has been breach of trust etc.  
   600.    Improperly destroying property etc.  
   601.    Deceased estates  
   602.    Termination of receiver's appointment  

   PART 5.6--GENERAL MATTERS

   603.    Conditions on appointment of external intervener  
   604.    Status of acts of external intervener  
   605.    Eligibility for re-appointment or authorisation  
   606.    Appeal against appointment  
   607.    Directions of Supreme Court  
   608.    Manager and receiver appointed for law practice  
   609.    Requirement for ADI to disclose information  
   610.    Fees, legal costs and expenses  
   611.    Reports by external intervener  
   612.    Report to Law Society of disciplinary matters  
   613.    Confidentiality  
   614.    Provisions relating to requirements under this Part  
   615.    Obstruction of external intervener  
   616.    Protection from liability  

CHAPTER 6--INVESTIGATORY POWERS

   PART 6.1--PRELIMINARY MATTERS

   617.    Purpose of Chapter  
   618.    Definitions  

   PART 6.2--REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO DOCUMENTS, INFORMATION AND OTHER ASSISTANCE

   619.    Application of Part  
   620.    Requirements for trust account investigations and examinations and ILP compliance audits  
   621.    Requirements for investigations under Chapter 4  
   622.    Provisions relating to requirements under this Part  

   PART 6.3--ENTRY AND SEARCH OF PREMISES

   623.    Application of Part  
   624.    Investigator's power to enter premises  
   625.    Search warrants  
   626.    Powers of investigator while on premises  

   PART 6.4--ADDITIONAL POWERS IN RELATION TO INCORPORATED LEGAL PRACTICES

   627.    Application of Part  
   628.    Investigative powers relating to investigations and audits  
   629.    Examination of persons  
   630.    Inspection of books  
   631.    Power to hold hearings  

   PART 6.5--MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS

   632.    Obstruction of investigator  
   633.    Obligation of Australian lawyers  
   634.    Permitted disclosure of confidential information  

CHAPTER 7--REGULATORY AUTHORITIES

   PART 7.1--LAW SOCIETY NORTHERN TERRITORY

           Division 1--Establishment, status and constitution of Law Society

   635.    Establishment  
   636.    Status  
   637.    Members constituting Law Society  

           Division 2--Management of Law Society

   638.    Council of Law Society  
   639.    Council's function  
   640.    Chief executive officer  
   641.    Chief executive officer's function  

           Division 3--Financial matters

   642.    Financial management  
   643.    Budget  

           Division 4--General matters

   644.    Constitution  
   645.    Relationship with Associations Act 2003  
   646.    Relationship with other Acts  
   647.    Delegations  
   648.    Annual report  

   PART 7.2--ADMISSION BOARD

   649.    Definitions  
   650.    Establishment  
   651.    Membership  
   652.    Duration of appointment  
   653.    Removal from office of appointed member  
   654.    Secretary  
   655.    Meetings  
   656.    Delegations  
   657.    Protection from liability  

   PART 7.3--LEGAL PRACTITIONERS FUNDS MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

   658.    Definitions  
   659.    Establishment  
   660.    Status  
   661.    Membership  
   662.    Duration of appointment  
   663.    Resignation and removal from office of appointed member  
   664.    Meetings  
   665.    Financial management  
   666.    Delegations  
   667.    Protection from liability  

   PART 7.4--LEGAL PRACTITIONERS DISCIPLINARY TRIBUNAL

   668.    Definition  
   669.    Establishment  
   670.    Membership  
   671.    Chairperson and deputy chairperson  
   672.    Duration of appointment  
   673.    Resignation and removal of member  
   674.    Constitution of Disciplinary Tribunal for hearings  
   675.    Presiding member  
   676.    Change in composition  
   677.    Protection from liability  
   677A.   Practice and procedure  

   PART 7.5--STATUTORY SUPERVISOR

   678.    Office established  
   679.    Appointment  
   680.    Resignation  
   681.    Delegations  
   682.    Protection from liability  

   PART 7.6--APPLICATION OF CORPORATIONS ACT

   683.    Excluded matters for Corporations Act  

   PART 7.7--GENERAL MATTERS

   684.    Definition  
   685.    Functions  
   686.    Powers  
   687.    Evidentiary provisions  

CHAPTER 8--LEGAL PROFESSION RULES AND REGULATIONS

   PART 8.1--LEGAL PROFESSION RULES

           Division 1--Preliminary matters

   688.    Purpose  

           Division 2--Rules for Australian legal practitioners and locally-registered foreign lawyers

   689.    Rules for Australian legal practitioners  
   690.    Rules for foreign lawyers  
   691.    Subject matter of legal profession rules  

           Division 3--Rules for incorporated legal practices and multi-disciplinary partnerships

   692.    Rule-making power  

           Division 4--General matters

   693.    Rule-making procedures  
   694.    Binding nature of legal profession rules  
   695.    Legal profession rules inconsistent with Act or regulations  

   PART 8.2--REGULATIONS

   696.    Regulation-making power  

CHAPTER 9--MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS

   697.    Contravention of certain provisions not offence  
   698.    Liability of principals  
   699.    Associates who are disqualified or convicted persons  
   700.    Injunctions  
   701.    Disclosure of information by local regulatory authorities  
   702.    Confidentiality of personal information  
   703.    Client legal privilege or duty of confidence does not affect validity of or compliance with certain requirements  
   704.    Duty to report suspected offences  
   705.    Payment of fines  
   706.    Approved forms  

CHAPTER 10--REPEALS AND TRANSITIONAL MATTERS FOR LEGAL PROFESSION ACT 2006

   PART 10.1--REPEALS

   707.    Repeal of legal practitioner legislation  
   708.    Repeal of other legislation  

   PART 10.2--TRANSITIONAL MATTERS

           Division 1--Preliminary matters

   709.    Definitions  

           Division 2--Reservation of legal work and legal titles

   710.    Her Majesty's counsel  

           Division 3--Admission of local lawyers

   711.    Local roll  
   712.    Existing legal practitioners  
   713.    Applications for admission  
   714.    References to legal practitioner  

           Division 4--Legal practice by Australian legal practitioners

   715.    Practising certificates  
   716.    Applications for practising certificate  
   717.    Supervised legal practice  

           Division 5--Incorporated legal practices and multi-disciplinary partnerships

   718.    Incorporated legal practices  
   719.    Multi-disciplinary partnerships  

           Division 6--Practising companies

   720.    Definitions  
   721.    Repealed incorporation Act ceases to apply  
   722.    Alteration of constitution  
   723.    Practising company is law firm  
   724.    Directors to guarantee debts of company  
   725.    Records  
   726.    Practising company becoming incorporated legal practice  

           Division 7--Legal practice by foreign lawyers

   727.    Foreign lawyers  

           Division 8--Trust money and trust accounts

   728.    Definitions  
   729.    Payment date  
   730.    Continuing application of former trust account provisions  
   731.    When offence not committed  
   732.    Return of statutory deposits  
   733.    Interest on investment income  

           Division 9--Costs disclosure and assessment

   734.    Definition  
   735.    Continuing application of former costs provisions  
   736.    Taxation of costs  
   737.    Compliance with former costs provisions sufficient  

           Division 10--Professional indemnity insurance

   738.    Existing professional indemnity insurance  
   739.    Exemptions  

           Division 11--Fidelity cover

   740.    Definitions  
   741.    Fidelity Fund  
   742.    Amounts payable to and from old fund before commencement date  
   743.    Determination for funding for Law Society  

           Division 12--Complaints and discipline

   744.    Pending investigations into professional conduct  
   745.    Investigations into professional conduct  
   746.    Pending hearings and inquiries  
   747.    New complaints about old conduct  

           Division 13--External intervention

   748.    Application of Chapter 5 for existing Part VIIIA managers  
   749.    Continued application of Part IX to application for appointment of receiver  
   750.    Application of Chapter 5 for existing Part IX receivers  

           Division 14--Regulatory authorities

   751.    Law Society  
   752.    Admission Board  
   753.    Legal Practitioners' Fidelity Fund Committee  
   754.    Legal Practitioners' Trusts Committee  

           Division 15--Admission rules and legal professional conduct rules

   755.    Admission rules  
   756.     Professional conduct rules  

           Division 16--Law Society public purposes trust

   757.    Winding-up of trust  

           Division 17--Miscellaneous matters

   758.    General saving and transitional provision  
   759.    Continued application of repealed Act  
   760.    Interpretation Act not affected  
           SCHEDULE
           ENDNOTES


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