Attorney General John Quigley is pleased to announce that Western Australia will officially join the Legal Profession Uniform Law scheme on July 1.
Following the passage of enabling legislation through State Parliament in April this year, WA's legal system, including the legal profession, will become more accessible, efficient and cost effective under the scheme.
The scheme came into operation in Victoria and New South Wales in July 2015. In February 2019, WA signed a landmark agreement with those two jurisdictions to join the scheme. 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 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 across participating jurisdictions.
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 WA officially joins Victoria and NSW in the scheme on July 1, it will operate in respect of 75 per cent of the legal profession in Australia.
As stated by Attorney General John Quigley:
"Joining the Legal Profession Uniform Law scheme 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 July 1, 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.
"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."
As stated by the Law Society of WA President Rebecca Lee:
"The Law Society has been in favour of Western Australia adopting the Legal Profession Uniform Law for many years.
"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."
