Have your say on the proposed new rule regarding the accreditation of law courses and PLT providers

24 December 2018

The Legal Services Council Admissions Committee (Committee) invites public comment on a draft Legal Profession Uniform Admission Rule (UAR) to be made in accordance with s 426(2) of the Uniform Law.

Currently, UAR 7 deals with accrediting law courses and practical legal training (PLT) providers. UAR 8 deals with monitoring and reviewing accredited law courses and PLT providers. These functions are performed by the admitting authorities (Boards) in each of NSW and Victoria.

The Committee notes that currently under UAR 7, the Boards' powers of accreditation and reaccreditation are inconsistent. For example, conditions may be imposed on accreditation but not on reaccreditation. Further, when determining whether a law course or PLT provider should be reaccredited, there is no obligation on the Boards to consider the recommendations of a reviewer of the law course or PLT provider.

The Committee's proposed amendments will make the Boards' powers the same for accreditation and reaccreditation by defining "accredit" to include "reaccredit", and by removing the words "reaccredit" and "reaccreditation" from UAR 7. In addition, inserting UAR 7(2)(a1) means that when determining whether a law course or PLT provider should be reaccredited, the Boards must take into account any relevant report by a reviewer.

The effect of the Committee's proposed amendments to UAR 8(1) is that the duty of the Boards to monitor and review law courses and PLT providers will be for the purposes of accreditation under UAR 7.

Changes to UARs 3 and 4 are necessary to support the substantive changes to UARs 7 and 8.

This Consultation Draft Rule is publically released for written submissions for a minimum period of 30 days in accordance with s 426(3)(b) of the Uniform Law. Submissions can be sent to the Committee by email to: submissions@legalservicescouncil.org.au on or before Friday 15 February 2019.