Victorian Consolidated Legislation

Legal Profession Act 2004 - SECT 1.2.4.

Terms relating to associates and principals of law practices

1.2.4. Terms relating to associates and principals of law practices



(1) For the purposes of this Act, an associate of a law practice is-

   (a)  an Australian legal practitioner who is-

   (i)  a sole practitioner (in the case of a law practice constituted by the
        practitioner); or

   (ii) a partner in the law practice (in the case of a law firm); or

   (iii) a legal practitioner director in the law practice (in the case of an
        incorporated legal practice); or

   (iv) a legal practitioner partner in the law practice (in the case of a
        multi-disciplinary partnership); or

   (v)  a supervising legal practitioner of a community legal centre; or

   (vi) an employee of, or consultant to, the law practice; or

   (b)  an agent of the law practice who is not an Australian legal
        practitioner; or

   (c)  an employee of the law practice who is not an Australian legal
        practitioner; or

   (d)  an Australian-registered foreign lawyer who is a partner in the law
        practice; or

   (da) a person (not being an Australian legal practitioner) who is a partner
        in a multi-disciplinary partnership; or

   (e)  an Australian-registered foreign lawyer who has a relationship with
        the law practice, being a relationship that is of a class prescribed
        by the regulations.

(2) For the purposes of this Act-

   (a)  a legal practitioner associate of a law practice is an associate of
        the practice who is an Australian legal practitioner;

   (b)  a lay associate of a law practice is an associate of the practice who
        is not an Australian legal practitioner.

(3) For the purposes of this Act, a principal of a law practice is an
Australian legal practitioner who is-

   (a)  a sole practitioner (in the case of a law practice constituted by the
        practitioner); or

   (b)  a partner in the law practice (in the case of a law firm); or

   (c)  a legal practitioner director in the law practice (in the case of an
        incorporated legal practice); or





   (d)  a legal practitioner partner in the law practice (in the case of a
        multi-disciplinary partnership); or

   (e)  a supervising legal practitioner of a community legal centre.