Our Role
The Law Council of Australia exists to represent the legal profession at the national level, to speak on behalf of its Constituent Bodies on national issues, and to promote the administration of justice, access to justice and general improvement of the law.
The Law Council advises governments, courts and federal agencies on ways in which the law and the justice system can be improved for the benefit of the community. The Law Council also represents the Australian legal profession overseas, and maintains close relationships with legal professional bodies throughout the world.
The Law Council was established in 1933, and represents 16 Australian state and territory law societies and bar associations and Law Firms Australia. The Law Council's Constituent Bodies are:
- Australian Capital Territory Law Society
- Australian Capital Territory Bar Association
- Law Society of New South Wales
- New South Wales Bar Association
- Law Society Northern Territory
- Northern Territory Bar Association
- Queensland Law Society
- Bar Association of Queensland
- Law Society of South Australia
- South Australian Bar Association
- Tasmanian Independent Bar
- Law Society of Tasmania
- Law Institute of Victoria
- The Victorian Bar
- Law Society of Western Australia
- Western Australian Bar Association
- Law Firms Australia
Through this representation, the Law Council effectively acts on behalf of more than 65,000 lawyers across Australia.
The Law Council of Australia speaks on issues of national and international importance, federal law and the operation of federal courts and tribunals.
Through its specialist Sections, working groups, standing and ad-hoc committees, the Law Council provides interest groups and professional development opportunities for lawyers across a variety of specialised areas of law.