Changes made to the Uniform Rules

29 June 2015

The Legal Services Council has made urgent but minor changes to the Uniform Rules. The changes correct three drafting points identified after the rules were made and will take effect at the same time as the other rules on 1 July 2015.

Rule 52(6)(a) of the Legal Profession Uniform General Rules 2015 has been amended to provide that statements need not be provided where the account has been open for less than six months rather than twelve months. This amendment makes the transitional arrangements permitted by the rule consistent with pre-Uniform Law arrangements as intended. Currently statements do not need to be provided where the account has been open for less than six months (cl 82(7)(a) of the Legal Profession Regulation 2005 (NSW) and cl 3.3.28(7)(a) of the Legal Profession Regulations 2005 (Vic)).

Rule 66(1) has also been amended to refer to r 65 rather than r 64. Rule 66(1) requires a law practice to appoint a suitably qualified person within a designated class. Previously it referred to designation under r 64 when it is in fact r 65 that designates the class.

The definition of 'board' in the Legal Profession Uniform Admission Rules 2015 has been amended to align with that in s 19 of the Legal Profession Uniform Law Application Act 2004 (Vic).

The changes are set out in the Legal Profession Uniform General Amendment (Trust Account Statement and Examiners) Rule 2015 and the Legal Profession Uniform Admission Amendment (Board) Rule 2015 published on the NSW legislation website. The amendments will be consolidated into the Uniform Rules shortly.

Please contact the LSC if you have any queries about these changes.