External examiner reporting periods

22 September 2015

Law practices are required to have their trust records externally examined once a year. The external examiner is required to give a written report of their examination to the local regulatory authority at a time or within a period determined by the Legal Services Council and published on the Council's website.

The Council has determined that for the current reporting period, the timetable is to be the same as that which applied under the 2004 Legal Profession Acts.

In Victoria, external examiners will need to give their report to the local regulatory authority by 29 February 2016.* In New South Wales, reports will need to be provided by 31 May 2016.

The Council will be working with local regulatory authorities and other key stakeholders over the coming months to explore opportunities to harmonise the timing of external examinations of trust records across participating jurisdictions for future reporting years.

You can contact us on telephone 02 8293 5900 or email lsc@legalservicescouncil.org.au if you have any inquiries or feedback.

* This date is currently 31 May in Victoria. For more information  please see the section for Legal Practitioners.