Tuesday, 23 June 2026
Legal Profession (Solicitors) Conduct Rules 2026 commence on 1 July 2026
Following national-level discussions through the Law Council of Australia on the impact of Anti‑Money Laundering and Counter‑Terrorism Financing (AML/CTF) reforms, the ACT Law Society has amended the Solicitors’ Conduct Rules. These amendments follow a consultation period conducted from May to June 2026.
By adopting these amendments, the Society aims to:
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align the ACT’s rules with the Legal Profession Australian Solicitors’ Conduct Rules (ASCR) as revised by the Law Council of Australia;
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promote consistency across jurisdictions, reducing complexity for legal practitioners; and
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support practitioners to meet the ethical and professional responsibility challenges which may arise from 1 July 2026.
Consultation feedback
The Society thanks all members who contributed to the consultation.
A small number of additional matters were raised and considered by the Society’s Council at its recent meeting, including:
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Drafting preferences regarding pronoun use;
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Comments on the implications of AML/CTF reforms;
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A proposal to expressly permit unpaid work experience for law students and Practical Legal Training students under Rule 9; and
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A suggestion that Rule 8 more explicitly require solicitors to explain why they cannot act on unlawful, improper, or incompetent instructions.
The feedback on pronoun use was carefully considered. On balance, the existing drafting has been retained, having regard to feedback received during the 2025 consultation process and contemporary legislative drafting practice.
The AML/CTF and unpaid work experience issues fall outside the scope of the current amendments forming part of the consultation. The Society is, however, considering whether separate guidance may assist practitioners in relation to unpaid work experience.
The suggestion concerning Rule 8 may be more appropriately addressed through amendments to the Law Council of Australia’s Guidelines and Commentary, rather than amendment of the Rules at this stage, having regard to its interaction with the AML/CTF reforms and tipping off offences. The Society has passed this feedback on to the Law Council of Australia for its consideration.
What you need to know
Members should familiarise themselves with the new Rules and consider any necessary updates to workplace policies, procedures, and internal training to ensure compliance from commencement.
For interpretive guidance, members can refer to the Australian Solicitors’ Conduct Rules Guidelines and Commentary, which will continue to be updated by the Law Council of Australia in response to changes to the ASCR.
Members are also encouraged to familiarise themselves with the Society’s AML/CTF Hub, noting that AML/CTF obligations commence for captured legal practitioners from 1 July 2026. The resources on the hub, together with those published on the AUSTRAC website, are available to support members in understanding their obligations. Please note the Society cannot provide direct advice on member’s individual circumstances.
Transition arrangements
While the Legal Profession (Solicitors) Conduct Rules 2025 (No 2) are revoked from 1 July 2026, they remain relevant in determining the applicable standard for conduct that occurred prior to commencement of the new Rules.
Further information
For any queries about your ethical obligations or the application of the new Rules, please contact the ACT Law Society at memberconnect@actlawsociety.asn.au
