Western Australian Numbered Acts

LEGAL PROFESSION ACT 2008 (NO. 21 OF 2008) - SECT 8

8 .         Suitability matters

        (1)         Each of the following is a “ suitability matter” in relation to an individual —

            (a)         whether the person is currently of good fame and character;

            (b)         whether the person is or has been an insolvent under administration;

            (c)         whether the person has been convicted of an offence in Australia or a foreign country, and if so —

                  (i)         the nature of the offence; and

                  (ii)         how long ago the offence was committed; and

                  (iii)         the person’s age when the offence was committed;

            (d)         whether the person has engaged in legal practice in Australia —

                  (i)         unlawfully; or

                  (ii)         when not admitted, or not holding a practising certificate, as required under this Act or a previous law of this jurisdiction that corresponds to this Act or under a corresponding law; or

                  (iii)         if holding an Australian practising certificate, in contravention of a condition of the certificate or while the certificate was suspended;

            (e)         whether the person has practised law in a foreign country —

                  (i)         when not permitted under a law of that country to do so; or

                  (ii)         if permitted to do so, in contravention of a condition applicable to the permission;

            (f)         whether the person is currently subject to an unresolved complaint, investigation, charge or order under any of the following —

                  (i)         this Act or a previous Act;

                  (ii)         a corresponding law or corresponding foreign law;

            (g)         whether the person —

                  (i)         is the subject of current disciplinary action, however expressed, in another profession or occupation in Australia or a foreign country; or

                  (ii)         has been the subject of disciplinary action, however expressed, relating to another profession or occupation that involved a finding of guilt;

            (h)         whether the person’s name has been removed from —

                  (i)         the local roll, and has not since been restored to or entered on a local roll; or

                  (ii)         an interstate roll, and has not since been restored to or entered on an interstate roll; or

                  (iii)         a foreign roll;

                  (i)         whether the person’s right to engage in legal practice has been suspended or cancelled in Australia or a foreign country;

            (j)         whether the person has contravened, in Australia or a foreign country, a law about trust money or trust accounts;

            (k)         whether, under this Act, a previous Act, a law of the Commonwealth or a corresponding law, a supervisor, manager or receiver, however described, is or has been appointed in relation to any legal practice engaged in by the person;

            (l)         whether the person is or has been subject to an order under this Act, a previous Act, a law of the Commonwealth or a corresponding law, disqualifying the applicant from being employed by, or a partner of, an Australian legal practitioner or from managing a corporation that is an incorporated legal practice;

            (m)         whether the person is currently unable to carry out the inherent requirements of practice as an Australian legal practitioner.

        (2)         A matter mentioned in subsection (1) is a suitability matter even if it happened before the commencement of this section.