Northern Territory Consolidated Acts Northern Territory Consolidated Acts(1) A legal practitioner is guilty of an offence if:
(a) the practitioner is a legal practitioner associate of a law practice; and
(b) the practitioner becomes aware that there is an irregularity in any of the practice's trust accounts or trust ledger accounts; and
(c) the practitioner fails, as soon as practicable after becoming aware of the irregularity, to give written notice of the irregularity to:
(i) the Law Society; and
(ii) if a corresponding authority is responsible for the regulation of the accounts concerned – the corresponding authority.
Maximum penalty: 20 penalty units.
(2) An Australian legal practitioner is guilty of an offence if:
(a) the practitioner believes on reasonable grounds that there is an irregularity in relation to the receipt, recording or disbursement of any trust money received by a law practice; and
(b) the practitioner is not a legal practitioner associate of the practice; and
(c) the practitioner fails, as soon as practicable after forming the belief, to give written notice of it to:
(i) the Law Society; and
(ii) if a corresponding authority is responsible for the regulation of the accounts relating to the trust money concerned – the corresponding authority.
Maximum penalty: 20 penalty units.
(3) The validity of a requirement imposed on an Australian legal practitioner under subsection (1) or (2) is not affected, and the practitioner is not excused from complying with subsection (1) or (2), on the ground that giving the notice may tend to incriminate the practitioner.
(4) An Australian legal practitioner is not liable for any loss or damage suffered by another person as a result of the practitioner's compliance with subsection (1) or (2).