LEGAL PROFESSION ACT 1987 - SECT 54 Functions of Law Society

This legislation has been repealed.

LEGAL PROFESSION ACT 1987 - SECT 54

54 Functions of Law Society

(1) In addition to its other functions, the Law Society Council may:

(a) take such steps as in the opinion of the Law Society Council may be necessary or proper for or with respect to the investigation in accordance with this Act of any question:

(i) as to the conduct of a solicitor,

(ii) as to the conduct of a person who is or was a clerk to a solicitor or who is or was employed or paid by a solicitor in connection with the solicitor's practice as a solicitor, or

(iii) as to conduct that is, or may be, a contravention of a provision of Part 3A, or

(iv) as to conduct that is, or may be, a contravention of a provision of Part 3C,

(b) appear by barrister or solicitor before, and be heard by, the Supreme Court in the exercise of the functions of the Supreme Court under this Act or otherwise in relation to solicitors or locally registered foreign lawyers registered by the Law Society Council,

(c) institute prosecutions and other proceedings for the breach of any of the provisions of this Act or the regulations or rules made under this Act,

(d) appear by solicitor or counsel before, and be heard by, any court in any matter affecting the Law Society or its members or in which the Law Society is concerned or interested, and

(e) recover as a debt due to the Law Society any money payable to the Law Society under this Act or the regulations.

(1AA) The Law Society Council also has the function of disseminating information to increase public awareness of the requirements of this Act and the Corporations Act 2001 of the Commonwealth relating to solicitors who negotiate the making of or act in respect of regulated mortgages (within the meaning of Part 9) or are involved in managed investment schemes (within the meaning of the Corporations Act 2001 of the Commonwealth).

(1A) The Law Society Council may delegate to any of its committees or to an officer of the Law Society Council the exercise of any of the Law Society Council's functions under this Act, other than this power of delegation.

(2) In this section:

"solicitor" includes:

(a) a firm of solicitors,

(b) a former solicitor, and

(c) a deceased solicitor and a deceased former solicitor, and

(d) in relation to the provision of legal services, an incorporated legal practice or a former or dissolved incorporated legal practice.