Model Rules of Professional Conduct

The Model Rules of Professional Conduct and Practice of the Law Council of Australia were originally promulgated in February 1997.

Over a two year period to March 2002, the Rules were the subject of extensive consideration by a small working group whose task was to simplify the Rules where possible, to express them in plainer English and to eliminate duplication between the Rules of general application and the Advocacy and Litigation Rules. In addition, the category relating to Legal Practice was expanded to incorporate a general standard of conduct expected of a practitioner and to provide for a new disclosure rule. The working group also considered the recommendations about the Rules made by the Australian Law Reform Commission in its February 2000 “Managing Justice” Report (ALRC 89).

These revised rules were adopted by the Law Council at its meeting on 16 March 2002.

• Model Rules of Professional Conduct and Practice
  Date of Policy: March 2002