16 December 2005
The Monash Law School hosted a conference to examine the new Legal Profession Act on Monday 12 December, the day of the act's commencement.
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| Professor Peter Sallmann |
The Act, which replaces the Legal Practices Act 1996, is based on the recommendations of a report written by Professor Peter Sallmann in his capacity as Victorian Crown Counsel - the chief legal advisor to the Attorney-General. Professor Sallman now has a position with the Monash Law School.
The Act has introduced a new regulatory system for the Victorian legal profession and changes crucial areas of practice, including trust accounts and costs.
It implements a national scheme agreed to by the Standing Committee of Attorneys-Generals and is one of the longest Acts passed by the Victorian Parliament.
The conference was attended by the new Legal Services Commissioner Ms Victoria Marles; the Law Institute's Chief Executive Officer Mr John Cain; the outgoing Legal Ombudsman Ms Kate Hamond; Executive Director, Legal and Equity, Department of Justice, Ms Elizabeth Eldridge; and academics from the five Victorian law schools.
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| Victoria's outgoing legal ombudsman Ms Hamond. |
Each attendee examined different aspects of the Act, including its place in the national scheme, international dimensions, historical context, the likely effect on stakeholders; and changes to complaint and dispute handling, disclosure and billing, mediation, and handling of trust money.
Convener of the conference and Monash Law lecturer, Dr Matt Harvey said the event raised many issues for further research and collaboration between scholars in the area.
"The conference may become an annual event because there are still many aspects of the new Act which can only be worked out in practice," he said. | 
