LEGAL PROFESSION ACT 1987 - SECT 174 Clients' rights under Part

This legislation has been repealed.

LEGAL PROFESSION ACT 1987 - SECT 174

174 Clients' rights under Part

(1) This Part gives the following rights to any client of a barrister or solicitor:

(a) the client is to be given information about how a barrister or solicitor will charge for costs for legal services and an estimate of the likely cost of legal services (Division 2),

(b) the client need not pay the barrister's or solicitor's bill until it has been assessed by a costs assessor if the client is not given the information about how costs will be charged (Division 2),

(c) the client can enter into a costs agreement with the barrister or solicitor, including a conditional costs agreement under which costs are only payable if the matter is successful (Division 3),

(d) the client is not liable to pay interest on unpaid costs unless notice that interest will be charged is set out in the bill of costs (Division 4),

(e) proceedings against the client for the recovery of costs cannot be brought unless a bill of costs in the proper form has been given to the client and at least 30 days have passed (Division 5),

(f) if the client disputes the barrister's or solicitor's bill, or is ordered to pay costs in proceedings, the client may apply to have the bill or costs assessed by a costs assessor (Division 6). The client has no right to have a bill as to costs that are covered by a costs agreement assessed unless there is some inequality affecting the agreement as set out in Division 6.

(2) Nothing in this section confers any additional rights on a client or derogates from any rights conferred on a client under this Part.