Lawyers' Business Structures

The Law Council endorsed a new Policy on Lawyers' Business Structures at the October 2001 Council meeting. The policy covers both multidisciplinary practices (MDPs) and incorporated legal practices (ILPs).

The policy incorporates all of the key elements of 1998 Law Council Policy on MDPs. However, it has been strengthened by the inclusion of additional provisions dealing with conflicts of interest and legal professional privilege in MDPs. These provisions were developed from the recommendations contained in the Law Council's MDP Issues Paper released in October 2000.

The approach adopted has been to focus on the development of nationally consistent principles, while leaving the detail of implementation to each jurisdiction.

Relevant papers can be downloaded below.

• Policy Statement on Lawyers' Business Structures
  Date of Policy: October 2001
• Multidisciplinary Practices: Legal Professional Privilege and Conflict of Interest
  Date of Issues Paper: September 2000
• Policy Statement on Multidisciplinary Practices
  Date of Policy: December 1998 (Superseded)
• State & Territory provisions prohibiting Multidisciplinary Practices