The Legal Profession Act 2006 (ACT) (LPA) empowers the Law Society of the ACT (Law Society) to make Rules for or in relation to practice as a solicitor, as an Australian-registered foreign lawyer and for incorporated legal practices and multi-disciplinary partnerships. The Rules apply to practitioners who are:
- legal practitioners who hold an unrestricted or restricted practising certificate issued by the Law Society; or
- legal practitioners who hold an interstate practising certificate that does not restrict the practitioner to practise only as a barrister; or
- Australian-registered foreign lawyers; or
- legal practitioners in an incorporated legal practice or a multi-disciplinary partnership.
The application of the Rules is not limited to practitioners in private practice but extend to practitioners employed by corporations and other entities as well as government lawyers who hold practising certificates. Section 585 of the LPA provides that the Rules are binding on legal practitioners to whom they apply. Failure to comply with the Rules can amount to unsatisfactory professional conduct or professional misconduct.
Revisions to the Solicitors' Conduct Rules
In 2025, the Rules were revised following sector-wide consultation to align the ACT with the Australian Solicitors’ Conduct Rules (ASCR) and address emerging issues in legal practice. The revised Rules commenced on 1 January 2026, replacing the Legal Profession (Solicitors) Conduct Rules 2015. At the same time, the ACT-specific Guidelines and Commentary were retired.
Practitioners are encouraged to refer to the ASCR Guidelines and Commentary for interpretive guidance. These materials do not form part of the Rules and should not be treated as definitive or exhaustive.
