Victorian Consolidated Legislation

Legal Profession Act 2004 - SECT 3.4.18A.

Disclosure to associated third party payers

3.4.18A. Disclosure to associated third party payers



(1) If a law practice is required to make a disclosure to a client of the
practice under this Division, the practice must, in accordance with
subsections (2) and (3), also make the same disclosure to any associated third
party payer for the client, but only to the extent that the details or matters
disclosed are relevant to the associated third party payer and relate to costs
that are payable by the associated third party payer in respect of legal
services provided to the client.

(2) A disclosure under subsection (1) must be made in writing-

   (a)  at the time the disclosure to the client is required under this
        Division; or

   (b)  if the law practice only afterwards becomes aware of the legal
        obligation of the associated third party payer to pay legal costs of
        the client-as soon as practicable after the practice became aware of
        the obligation.

(3) Section 3.4.15 applies to a disclosure to an associated third party payer
under subsection (1) in the same way as it applies to a client.

(4) An associated third party payer for a client of a law practice has the
same right as the client to obtain reports under section 3.4.18(1)(b) of legal
costs incurred by the client, but only to the extent that the costs are
payable by the associated third party payer in respect of legal services
provided to the client, and the law practice must comply with that section
accordingly.

Division 4-Legal costs generally