Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au
Australian Capital Territory
Legal Profession (Barristers) Rules 2026
Subordinate law SL2026–1
made under the
Legal Profession Act 2006, s 579 (Rules for barristers)
1 Name of instrument
This instrument is the Legal Profession (Barristers) Rules 2026.
2 Commencement
This instrument commences on the day after it is notified.
3 Making of rules
The Council of the Australian Capital Territory Bar Association makes the attached Legal
Profession (Barristers) Rules 2026.
4 Revocation
This instrument revokes the Legal Profession (Barristers) Rules 2021 [SL2021-5].
Prue Bindon
President for the Australian Capital Territory Bar Association
15 January 2026
Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au2
Legal Profession (Barristers) Rules 2026
Subordinate law SL2026–1
made under the
Legal Profession Act 2006, s 579 (Rules for barristers)
Contents
PREAMBLE……………………………………………………………………………………….. 4
INTRODUCTION & INTERPRETATION………………………………………....................... 5
ADVOCACY RULES …………………………………………………………………….............. 8
Duty to client………………………………………………………………………....................................... 8
Disinterestedness…………………………………………………………………………………................. 8
Frankness in court………………………………………………………………………............................... 9
Delinquent or guilty clients………………………………………………………………………................10
Responsible use of court process and privilege…………………………………………………………….11
Efficient administration of Justice………………………………………………………………………….11
Integrity of evidence………………………………………………………………………………………..12
Duty to opponent……………………………………….………………………………………………….. 12
Integrity of hearings…………………………………………………………………….............................. 14
Prosecutor's duties………………………………………………………………………………… 15
OPINIONS…………………………………………………………………………………………17
BARRISTERS' WORK………………………………………………………….......................... 17
Referral to solicitor……………………………………………………………………................................19
Disclosure to direct access client………………………………………………………………………...... 19
SOLE PRACTITIONER RULES………………………………………………………………..19
Third-line forcing…………………………………………………………………………………………..20
CAB-RANK RULES & BRIEFS………………………………………………………………...20
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Cab-rank principle………………………………………………………………………………………… 20
Briefs which must be refused………………………………………………………………………………20
Briefs which may be refused……………………………………………………………………………….22
Return of briefs……………………………………………………………………………………………. 23
CONFIDENTIALITY AND CONFLICTS……………………………………………………..25
READING…………………………………………………………………………………………27
CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT (CPD)…………………………………27
DISCLOSURE OBLIGATIONS…………………………………………………………………27
DIRECT CLIENT ACCESS……………………………………………………………………..28
ADVERTISING…………………………………………………………………………………..28
SPECIALISATION………………………………………………………………………………28
DISCRIMINATION AND SEXUAL HARASSMENT………………………………………...29
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PREAMBLE
These Rules are made in the belief that:
The administration of justice is best served by reserving the practice of law to officers of the
Supreme Court who owe their paramount duty to the administration of justice.
As legal practitioners, barristers must maintain high standards of professional conduct.
The role of barristers as specialist advocates in the administration of justice requires them to
act honestly, fairly, skilfully, diligently and fearlessly.
Barristers owe duties to the courts, to other bodies and persons before whom they appear, to
their clients, and to their barrister and solicitor colleagues.
Barristers should exercise their forensic judgements and give their advice independently and
for the proper administration of justice, notwithstanding any contrary desires of their clients.
The provision of advocates for those who need legal representation is better secured if there
is a Bar whose members:
(a) must accept briefs to appear regardless of their personal prejudices;
(b) must not refuse briefs to appear except on proper professional grounds; and
(c) compete as specialist advocates with each other and with other legal practitioners as
widely and as often as practicable.
Barristers should be free to choose how they lawfully practise as barristers except only in
those cases where the unchecked exercise of that freedom would threaten harm to the greater
public interest that barristers' conduct be honourable, diligent, especially skilled,
disinterested and competitive and that access to barristers' services be enhanced.
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INTRODUCTION & INTERPRETATION
8. These Rules are made by the Bar Council. They may be cited as the ACT Barristers’ Rules.
9. These Rules are not, and should not be read as if they were, a complete or detailed code of
conduct for barristers. Other standards for, requirements of and sanctions on the conduct of
barristers are found in the inherent disciplinary jurisdiction of the Supreme Court and in the
general law (including the law relating to contempt of court).
10. These Rules should be read and applied so as most effectively to attain the objects and uphold
the values expressed in their Preamble.
11. General provisions of these Rules should not be read or applied in a limited way by reason
of any particular or illustrative provisions.
12. Headings in these Rules shall be read as part of these Rules, but shall not be used so as to
read or apply any of the Rules in a more limited way than would have been so if the headings
were not part of the Rules.
13. These Rules are not to be read by reference to any former rules made by the Bar Association,
whether or not the substance of any such rule is reflected in any of these Rules.
14. Barristers who are employed by a government or by an office or body created by statute, and
who have been accepted by the Bar Council as members of the Bar Association, while acting
pursuant to that employment, are not bound by Rules 74-92, Rule 115, or Rule 121.
15. Unless the context requires otherwise, the following expressions are defined as follows when
used in these Rules:
“allege” includes conduct constituted by settling, or opening on
pleadings or affidavits, or witness statements, and reading
or tendering affidavits or witness statements filed or
prepared for the client (whether or not they were drawn or
settled by the barrister).
“alternative dispute resolution” includes, but is not limited to mediation, arbitration, and
collaborative lawyering.
“Bar Association” means the Australian Capital Territory Bar Association.
“Bar Council” means the Council of the Bar Association.
“barrister" means a member of the Bar Association whose name is on
the Roll of Legal Practitioners of the Supreme Court of the
ACT and who practises in the ACT as a barrister only.
“barristers' work" means work permitted by Rule 74.
“case” means the litigation or proceedings in which the barrister in
question is briefed to appear, or the dispute in which the
barrister is advising, as the case may be.
“client” means the client of the barrister in question, and includes a
professional acting as such, and in Rules 32, 34 and 46
includes those officers, servants or agents of a client which
is not a natural person who are responsible for or involved
in giving instructions on behalf of the client.
“compromise” includes any form of settlement of the case, whether
pursuant to a formal offer under the rules or procedure of a
court, or otherwise.
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“court” means any body described as such and all other judicial
tribunals, and, except in Rule 4, all statutory tribunals, and,
except in Rules 4 and 87(j), all investigations and inquiries
established by statute or by the Legislative Assembly,
Royal Commissions, arbitrations and mediations.
“criminal proceedings” includes disciplinary proceedings, in which context other
expressions appropriate to criminal proceedings include
corresponding meanings appropriate to disciplinary
proceedings and in particular "a serious criminal offence"
includes a disciplinary shortcoming which, if proved,
involves the serious possibility of suspension or
deregistration (or the equivalent).
“current proceedings” means proceedings which have not been determined,
including proceedings in which there is still the real
possibility of an appeal or other challenge to a decision
being filed, heard or decided.
“fee” includes any payment for the reimbursement of expenses.
“forensic judgments” do not include decisions as to the commencement of
proceedings, the joinder of parties, admissions or
concessions of fact, amendments of pleadings or
undertakings to a court, or in criminal proceedings as to a
plea, but do include advice given to assist the client or the
instructing solicitor to make such decisions.
“instructing solicitor” means the solicitor from whom the barrister in question has
accepted a brief or who is instructing that barrister in that
brief, as the case may be, but does not include a solicitor
appearing with the barrister as a joint advocate.
“insurance company” in Rule 55 includes any entity, whether statutory or
otherwise, which performs the function of indemnifying in
any way civil defendants.
“legal advice” includes assistance at or presiding over meetings.
“member” of a court, in Rule 87(j), does not include the holder of an
acting commission or appointment.
“opponent” means the legal practitioner appearing for the party opposed
to the client, or the party opposed to the client if that party
is unrepresented.
“order” includes a judgment, decision or determination.
“professional” when used as a noun means a person actively engaged in an
occupation generally recognised as being a profession, and
includes accountants, architects, doctors, engineers,
surveyors, town planners and valuers.
“prosecutor” means a barrister who appears for the complainant or
Crown in criminal proceedings.
“reader” means a person who has applied to be a barrister and who:-
(a) is admitted as a legal practitioner; and
(b) has passed, within a 10 month period of applying to be
a barrister, each of the Bar Exams; and
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(c) has not, during any part of the 36 month period prior to
applying, held an unrestricted barrister’s certificate.
“reading period” means the period commencing on the day the reader’s
practising certificate is issued and continuing for 12 months
from that day or for a longer time as determined by the Bar
Council.
“reading program” means a program of instruction for a reader approved by the
Bar Council.
“representative” means the barrister or, if no barrister, the solicitor who is
retained by the party in question.
“Senior Counsel” means and includes senior counsel appointed as such in
accordance with Rule 114, senior counsel appointed as such
in other states and territories pursuant to a similar
procedure, and Her Majesty's Counsel for the ACT and for
other states and territories of the Commonwealth.
“tutor” has the meaning in Rule 112.1.
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ADVOCACY RULES
Duty to client
16. A barrister must seek to advance and protect the client's interests to the best of the barrister's
skill and diligence, uninfluenced by the barrister's personal view of the client or the client's
activities, and notwithstanding any threatened unpopularity or criticism of the barrister or
any other person, and always in accordance with the law including these Rules.
17. A barrister must seek to assist the client to understand the issues in the case and the client's
possible rights and obligations, if the barrister is instructed to give advice on any such matter,
sufficiently to permit the client to give proper instructions, particularly in connection with
any compromise of the case.
17A. A barrister must inform the client or the instructing solicitor about the alternatives to fully
contested adjudication of the case which are reasonably available to the client, unless the
barrister believes on reasonable grounds that the client already has such an understanding of
those alternatives as to permit the client to make decisions about the client’s best interests in
relation to the litigation.
17B. A barrister must (unless circumstances warrant otherwise in the barrister’s considered
opinion) advise a client who is charged with a criminal offence about any law, procedure or
practice which in substance holds out the prospect of some advantage (including diminution
of penalty), if the client pleads guilty or authorises other steps towards reducing the issues,
time, cost or distress involved in the proceedings.8
Disinterestedness
18. A barrister must not act as the mere mouthpiece of the client or of the instructing solicitor
and must exercise the forensic judgements called for during the case independently, after
appropriate consideration of the client's and the instructing solicitor's desires where
practicable.
19. A barrister will not have breached the barrister's duty to the client, and will not have failed
to give reasonable consideration to the client's or the instructing solicitor's desires, simply by
choosing, contrary to those desires, to exercise the forensic judgements called for during the
case so as to:
(a) confine any hearing to those issues which the barrister believes to be the real issues;
(b) present the client's case as quickly and simply as may be consistent with its robust
advancement; or
(c) inform the court of any persuasive authority against the client's case.
20. A barrister must not make submissions or express views to a court on any material evidence
or material issue in the case in terms which convey or appear to convey the barrister's
personal opinion on the merits of that evidence or issue.
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Frankness in court
21. A barrister must not knowingly make a misleading statement to a court on any matter.
22. A barrister must take all necessary steps to correct any misleading statement made by the
barrister to a court as soon as possible after the barrister becomes aware that the statement
was misleading.
23. A barrister must take all necessary steps to correct any express concession made to the court,
in civil proceedings by the opponent in relation to any material fact, case-law or legislation:
(a) only if the barrister knows or believes on reasonable grounds that it was contrary to
what should be regarded as the true facts or the correct state of the law;
(b) only if the barrister believes the concession was an error; and
(c) not (in the case of a concession of fact) if the client’s instructions to the barrister
support the concession.
24. A barrister seeking any interlocutory relief in an ex parte application must disclose to the
court all matters which:
(a) are within the barrister's knowledge;
(b) are not protected by legal professional privilege; and
(c) the barrister has reasonable grounds to believe would support an argument against
granting the relief or limiting its terms adversely to the client.
24A. A barrister who has knowledge of matters which are within Rule 24(c):
(a) must seek instructions for the waiver of legal professional privilege if the matters are
protected by that privilege, so as to permit the barrister to disclose those matters
under Rule 24; and
(b) if the client does not waive the privilege as sought by the barrister:
(i) must inform the client of the client's responsibility to authorise such
disclosure and the possible consequences of not doing so; and
(ii) must inform the court that the barrister cannot assure the court that all
matters which should be disclosed have been disclosed to the court.
25. A barrister must, at the appropriate time in the hearing of the case and if the court has not yet
been informed of that matter, inform the court of:
(a) any binding authority;
(b) any authority decided by the Full Court of the Federal Court of Australia, a Court of
Appeal of a Supreme Court or a Full Court of a Supreme Court;
(c) any authority on the same or materially similar legislation as that in question in the
case, including any authority decided at first instance in the Federal Court or a
Supreme Court, which has not been disapproved; or
(d) any applicable legislation;
which the barrister has reasonable grounds to believe to be directly in point, against the
client's case.
26. A barrister need not inform the court of matters within Rule 25 at a time when the opponent
tells the court that the opponent's whole case will be withdrawn or the opponent will consent
to final judgment in favour of the client, unless the appropriate time for the barrister to have
informed the court of such matters in the ordinary course has already arrived or passed.
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27. A barrister who becomes aware of a matter within Rule 25 after judgment or decision has
been reserved and while it remains pending, whether the authority or legislation came into
existence before or after argument, must inform the court of that matter by:
(a) a letter to the court, copied to the opponent, and limited to the relevant reference
unless the opponent has consented beforehand to further material in the letter; or
(b) requesting the court to re-list the case for further argument on a convenient date,
after first notifying the opponent of the intended request and consulting the opponent
as to the convenient date for further argument.
28. A barrister need not inform the court of any matter otherwise within Rule 25 which would
have rendered admissible any evidence tendered by the prosecution which the court has ruled
inadmissible without calling on the prosecution or the defence.
29. A barrister will not have made a misleading statement to a court simply by failing to disclose
facts known to the barrister concerning the client's character or past, when the barrister makes
other statements concerning those matters to the court, and those statements are not
themselves misleading.
30. A barrister who knows or suspects that the prosecution is unaware of the client's previous
conviction must not ask a prosecution witness whether there are previous convictions, in the
hope of a negative answer.
31. A barrister must inform the court in civil proceedings of any misapprehension by the court
as to the effect of an order which the court is making, as soon as the barrister becomes aware
of the misapprehension.
Delinquent or guilty clients
32. A barrister whose client informs the barrister, during a hearing or after judgment or decision
is reserved and while it remains pending, that the client has lied to the court or procured
another person to lie to the court or has falsified or procured another person to falsify in any
way a document which has been tendered:
(a) must refuse to take any further part in the case unless the client authorises the
barrister to inform the court of the lie or falsification;
(b) must promptly inform the court of the lie or falsification upon the client authorising
the barrister to do so; but
(c) must not otherwise inform the court of the lie or falsification.
33. A barrister briefed to appear in criminal proceedings whose client confesses guilt to the
barrister but maintains a plea of not guilty:
(a) may return the brief, if there is enough time for another legal practitioner to take over
the case properly before the hearing, and the client does not insist on the barrister
continuing to appear for the client;
(b) in cases where the barrister keeps the brief for the client:
(i) must not falsely suggest that some other person committed the offence
charged;
(ii) must not set up an affirmative case inconsistent with the confession; but
(iii) may argue that the evidence as a whole does not prove that the client is guilty
of the offence charged; and
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(iv) may argue that for some reason of law the client is not guilty of the offence
charged.
(v) may argue that for any other reason not prohibited by (i) and (ii) the client
should not be convicted of the offence charged.
34. A barrister whose client informs the barrister that the client intends to disobey a court's order
must:
(a) advise the client against that course and warn the client of its dangers;
(b) not advise the client how to carry out or conceal that course; but
(c) not inform the court or the opponent of the client's intention unless:
(i) the client has authorised the barrister to do so beforehand; or
(ii) the barrister believes on reasonable grounds that the client's conduct
constitutes a threat to any person's safety.
Responsible use of court process and privilege
35. A barrister must, when exercising the forensic judgements called for throughout a case, take
care to ensure that decisions by the barrister or on the barrister's advice to invoke the coercive
powers of a court or to make allegations or suggestions under privilege against any person:
(a) are reasonably justified by the material then available to the barrister;
(b) are appropriate for the robust advancement of the client's case on its merits;
(c) are not made principally in order to harass or embarrass the person; and
(d) are not made principally in order to gain some collateral advantage for the client or
the barrister or the instructing solicitor out of court.
36. A barrister must not allege any matter of fact in:
(a) any court document settled by the barrister;
(b) any submission during any hearing;
(c) the course of an opening address; or
(d) the course of a closing address or submission on the evidence;
unless the barrister believes on reasonable grounds that the factual material already available
provides a proper basis to do so.
37. A barrister must not allege any matter of fact amounting to criminality, fraud or other serious
misconduct against any person unless the barrister believes on reasonable grounds that:
(a) available material by which the allegation could be supported provides a proper basis
for it; and
(b) the client wishes the allegation to be made, after having been advised of the
seriousness of the allegation and of the possible consequences for the client and the
case if it is not made out.
38. A barrister must not make a suggestion in cross-examination on credit unless the barrister
believes on reasonable grounds that acceptance of the suggestion would diminish the
witness’s credibility.
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39. A barrister may regard the opinion of the instructing solicitor that material which is available
to the solicitor is credible, being material which appears to the barrister from its nature to
support an allegation to which Rules 36, 37 and 38 apply, as a reasonable ground for holding
the belief required by those rules (except in the case of a closing address or submission on
the evidence).
40. A barrister must make reasonable enquiries to the extent which is practicable before the
barrister can have reasonable grounds for holding the belief required by Rule 38(a), unless
the barrister has received and accepted an opinion from the instructing solicitor within Rule
39.
Efficient administration of justice
41. A barrister must seek to ensure that:
(a) the barrister does work which the barrister is briefed to do, whether expressly or
impliedly, specifically or generally, in relation to steps to be taken by or on behalf
of the client, in sufficient time to enable compliance with orders, directions, rules or
practice notes of the court; and
(b) warning is given to the instructing solicitor or the client, and to the opponent, as
soon as the barrister has reasonable grounds to believe that the barrister may not
complete any such work on time.13
42. A barrister must seek to ensure that work which the barrister is briefed to do in relation to a
case is done so as to:
(a) confine the case to identified issues which are genuinely in dispute;
(b) have the case ready to be heard as soon as practicable;
(c) present the identified issues in dispute clearly and succinctly;
(d) limit evidence, including cross-examination, to that which is reasonably necessary
to advance and protect the client’s interest which are at stake in the case; and
(e) occupy as short a time in court as is reasonably necessary to advance and protect the
client’s interests which are at stake in the case.
42A. A barrister must take steps to inform the opponent as soon as possible after the barrister has
reasonable grounds to believe that there will be an application on behalf of the client to
adjourn any hearing, of that fact and the grounds of the application, and must try, with the
opponent’s consent, to inform the court of that application promptly.
Integrity of evidence
43. A barrister must not suggest or condone another person suggesting in any way to any
prospective witness (including a party or the client) the content of any particular evidence
which the witness should give at any stage in the proceedings.
44. A barrister will not have breached Rule 43 by expressing a general admonition to tell the
truth, or by questioning and testing in conference the version of evidence to be given by a
prospective witness, including drawing the witness's attention to inconsistencies or other
difficulties with the evidence, but must not coach or encourage the witness to give evidence
different from the evidence which the witness believes to be true.
45. Deleted.
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46. A barrister must not confer with, or condone another legal practitioner conferring with, more
than one lay witness (including a party or client) at the same time, about any issue:
(a) as to which there are reasonable grounds for the barrister to believe it may be
contentious at a hearing; and
(b) which could be affected by, or could affect, evidence to be given by any of those
witnesses;
unless the barrister believes on reasonable grounds that special circumstances require such a
conference.
47. A barrister will not have breached Rule 46 by conferring with, or condoning another legal
practitioner conferring with, more than one client about undertakings to a court, admissions
or concessions of fact, amendments of pleadings or compromise.
48. A barrister must not confer with any witness (including a party or client) called by the
barrister on any matter related to the proceedings while that witness remains under cross-
examination, unless:
(a) the cross-examiner has consented beforehand to the barrister doing so; or
(b) the barrister:
(i) believes on reasonable grounds that special circumstances (including the
need for instructions on a proposed compromise) require such a conference;
(ii) has, if possible, informed the cross-examiner beforehand of the barrister's
intention to do so; and
(iii) otherwise does inform the cross-examiner as soon as possible of the barrister
having done so.
49. A barrister must not take any step to prevent or discourage prospective witnesses or witnesses
from conferring with the opponent or being interviewed by or on behalf of any other person
involved in the proceedings.
50. A barrister will not have breached Rule 49 simply by telling a prospective witness or a
witness that witness need not agree to confer or to be interviewed.
Duty to opponent
51. A barrister must not knowingly make a false statement to the opponent in relation to the case
(including its compromise).
52. A barrister must take all necessary steps to correct any false statement unknowingly made
by the barrister to the opponent as soon as possible after the barrister becomes aware that the
statement was false.
53. A barrister will not have made a false statement to the opponent simply by failing to correct
an error on any matter stated to the barrister by the opponent.
54. A barrister must not deal directly with the opponent's client unless:
(a) the opponent has previously consented;
(b) the barrister believes on reasonable grounds that:
(i) the circumstances are so urgent as to require the barrister to do so; and
(ii) the dealing would not be unfair to the opponent's client; or
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(c) the substance of the dealing is solely to enquire whether the person is represented
and, if so, by whom.
55. A barrister must not confer with or deal directly with the party opposed to the client unless:
(a) the party, not being indemnified by an insurance company which is actively engaged
in contesting the proceedings, is unrepresented and has signified willingness to that
course; or
(b) the party, being indemnified by an insurance company which is actively engaged in
contesting the proceedings, is otherwise unrepresented and the barrister:
(i) has no reasonable grounds to believe that any statements made by the party
to the barrister may harm the party's interests under the insurance policy; or
(ii) has reasonable grounds for the belief referred to in (i) but has clearly
informed the party beforehand of that possibility; or
(c) the party, being indemnified by an insurance company which is actively engaged in
contesting the proceedings, is personally represented but not in the case and the
barrister:
(i) has notified the party's representative of the barrister's intention to do so; and
(ii) has allowed enough time for the party to be advised by the party's
representative.
56. A barrister must not, outside an ex parte application or a hearing of which the opponent has
had proper notice, communicate in the opponent's absence with the court concerning any
matter of substance in connection with current proceedings unless:
(a) the court has first communicated with the barrister in such a way as to require the
barrister to respond to the court; or
(b) the opponent has consented beforehand to the barrister dealing with the court in a
specific manner notified to the opponent by the barrister.
57. A barrister must promptly tell the opponent what passes between the barrister and a court in
a communication referred to in Rule 56.
58. A barrister must not raise any matter with a court in connection with current proceedings on
any occasion to which the opponent has consented under Rule 56(b), other than the matters
specifically notified by the barrister to the opponent when seeking the opponent's consent.
Integrity of hearings
59. (a) Subject to sub rule (b), a barrister must not publish or take any steps towards the
publication of any material concerning any current or potential proceedings which:-
(i) is inaccurate;
(ii) discloses any confidential information;
(iii) appears to or does express the opinion of the barrister on the merits of the
current or potential proceeding or on any issue arising in the proceeding
other than in the course of genuine educational or academic discussion on
matters of law.
(b) may publish or assist the publishing of material concerning a current proceeding, by
supplying only:-
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(i) copies of pleadings or court documents in their current form, which have
been filed and which have been served in accordance with the court’s
requirements;
(ii) copies of affidavits or witness statements, which have been read, tendered
or verified in open court, clearly marked so as to show any parts which have
not been read, tendered or verified or which have been disallowed on
objection;
(iii) copies of transcript of evidence given in open court, if permitted by
copyright and clearly marked so as to show any corrections agreed by other
parties or directed by the court;
(iv) copies of exhibits admitted in open court and without restriction on access;
(v) answers to unsolicited questions concerning the current proceedings and the
answers are limited to information as to the identity of the parties or of any
witness already called, the nature of the issues in the case, the nature of the
orders made or judgment given including any reasons given by the court and
the client’s intentions as to any further steps in the case.
provided that where the barrister is engaged in the current proceeding the barrister
does so only with the consent of the client first obtained.
60. A barrister will not have breached Rule 59 simply by advising the client about whom there
has been published a misleading or coloured report relating to the case, and who has sought
the barrister's advice in relation to that report, and who has sought the barrister's advice in
relation to that report, that the client may take appropriate steps to present the client's own
position for publication.
61. A barrister must not in the presence of any of the parties or solicitors deal with a court, or
deal with any legal practitioner appearing before the barrister when the barrister is a referee,
arbitrator or mediator, on terms of informal personal familiarity which may reasonably give
the appearance that the barrister has special favour with the court or towards the legal
practitioner.
Prosecutor’s Duties
62. A prosecutor must fairly assist the court to arrive at the truth, must seek impartially to have
the whole of the relevant evidence placed intelligibly before the court, and must seek to assist
the court with adequate submissions of law to enable the law properly to be applied to the
facts.
63. A prosecutor must not press the prosecution's case for a conviction beyond a full and firm
presentation of that case.
64. A prosecutor must not, by language or other conduct, seek to inflame or bias the court against
the accused.
65. A prosecutor must not argue any proposition of fact or law which the prosecutor does not
believe on reasonable grounds to be capable of contributing to a finding of guilt and also to
carry weight.
66. A prosecutor must disclose to the opponent as soon as practicable all material (including the
names of and means of finding prospective witnesses in connection with such material)
available to the prosecutor or of which the prosecutor becomes aware which could constitute
evidence relevant to the guilt or innocence of the accused, unless:
(a) such disclosure, or full disclosure, would seriously threaten the integrity of the
administration of justice in those proceedings or the safety of any person; and
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(b) the prosecutor believes on reasonable grounds that such a threat could not be avoided
by confining such disclosure, or full disclosure, to the opponent being a legal
practitioner, on appropriate conditions which may include an undertaking by the
opponent not to disclose certain material to the opponent's client or any other person.
66A. A prosecutor who has decided not to disclose material to the opponent under Rule 66 must
consider whether:
(a) the defence of the accused could suffer by reason of such non-disclosure;
(b) the charge against the accused to which such material is relevant should be
withdrawn; and
(c) the accused should be faced only with a lesser charge to which such material would
not be so relevant.
66B. A prosecutor must call as part of the prosecution's case all witnesses:
(a) whose testimony is admissible and necessary for the presentation of all of the
relevant circumstances;
(b) whose testimony provides reasonable grounds for the prosecutor to believe that it
could provide admissible evidence relevant to any matter in issue;
(c) whose testimony or statements were used in the course of any committal
proceedings; and
(d) from whom statements have been obtained in the preparation or conduct of the
prosecution's case unless the opponent consents to the prosecutor not calling a
particular witness;
and except where:-
(e) the only matter with respect to which the particular witness can give admissible
evidence has been dealt with by an admission on behalf of the accused;
(f) the prosecutor believes on reasonable grounds that the administration of justice in
the case would be harmed by calling a particular witness or particular witnesses to
establish a particular point already adequately established by another witness or
other witnesses; or
(g) the prosecutor believes on reasonable grounds that the testimony of a particular
witness is plainly untruthful or is plainly unreliable by reason of the witness being
in the camp of the accused;
provided that:-
(h) the prosecutor must inform the opponent as soon as practicable of the identity of any
witness whom the prosecutor intends not to call on any ground within (e), (f) or (g)
together with the grounds on which the prosecutor has reached that decision.
67. A prosecutor who has reasonable grounds to believe that certain material available to the
prosecution may have been unlawfully obtained must promptly:
(a) inform the opponent if the prosecutor intends to use the material; and
(b) make available to the opponent a copy of the material if it is in documentary form.
68. A prosecutor must not confer with or interview any of the accused except in the presence of
the accused's representative.
69. A prosecutor must not inform the court or the opponent that the prosecution has evidence
supporting an aspect of its case unless the prosecutor believes on reasonable grounds that
such evidence will be available from material already available to the prosecutor.
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70. A prosecutor who has informed the court of matters within Rule 69, and who has later learnt
that such evidence will not be available, must immediately inform the opponent of that fact
and must inform the court of it when next the case is before the court.
71. A prosecutor must not seek to persuade the court to impose a vindictive sentence or a
sentence of a particular magnitude, but:
(a) must correct any error made by the opponent in address on sentence;
(b) must inform the court of any relevant authority or legislation bearing on the
appropriate sentence; and
(c) must assist the court to avoid appealable error on the issue of sentence;
(d) may submit that a custodial or non-custodial sentence is appropriate; and
(e) may inform the court of an appropriate range of severity of penalty, including a
period of imprisonment, by reference to relevant appellate authority.
72. A barrister who appears as counsel assisting an inquisitorial body such as the National Crime
Authority, the Australian Securities Commission, a Royal Commission or other statutory
tribunal or body having investigative powers must act in accordance with Rules 62, 64 and
65 as if the body were the court referred to in those Rules and any person whose conduct is
in question before the body were the accused referred to in Rule 64.
OPINIONS
73. A barrister must give the barrister's truthful opinion on any matter submitted to the barrister
for advice or opinion.
BARRISTERS' WORK
74. A barrister must confine the barrister's professional work to:
(a) appearing as an advocate;
(b) preparing to appear as an advocate;
(c) negotiating for the client with the opponent to compromise the case;
(d) representing the client in a case appraisal, mediation, arbitration, collaborative law
practice and procedures, and any other form of alternative dispute resolution;
(e) giving legal advice;
(f) preparing or advising on documents to be used by the client or by others in the client's
affairs;
(g) acting as a referee, arbitrator or mediator; and
(h) carrying out work properly incidental to the kinds of work referred to in (a)-(g).
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75. A barrister must not:
(a) act as a person’s general agent or attorney in that person’s business or dealings with
others;
(b) conduct contentious correspondence in the barrister’s name on behalf of any person
with others (including public authorities) with whom that person is dealing,
otherwise than the opponent;
(c) place herself or himself at risk of becoming a witness, by investigating facts for the
purposes of appearing as an advocate or giving legal advice, otherwise than by:-
(i) conferring with the client, the instructing solicitor, prospective witnesses or
experts;
(ii) examining documents provided by the instructing solicitor or the client as
the case may be, or produced to the court;
(iii) viewing a place or things by arrangement with the instructing solicitor or the
client, as the case may be; or
(iv) library research;
(d) act as a person’s only representative in dealings with any court, otherwise than when
actually appearing as an advocate;
(e) serve any process of any court;
(f) conduct the conveyance of any property for any other person;
(g) administer any trust estate or fund for any other person;
(h) obtain probate or letters of administration for any other person;
(i) incorporate companies or provide shelf companies for any other person;
(j) prepare or lodge returns for any other person, unless the barrister is registered or
accredited to do so under the applicable taxation legislation; or
(k) hold, invest or disburse any fund for any other person.
76. A barrister will not have breached Rule 75 by:-
(a) doing any of the matters referred to in that Rule on the barrister’s own behalf;
(b) doing any of the matters referred to in that Rule without fee and as a private person
on behalf of a member of the barrister’s family;
(c ) doing any of the matters referred to in Rule 75 (d) to (k) by way of assistance to a
friend, without fee and as a private person.
77. A barrister will not have breached Rule 75 (a), (g) or (k) if the barrister becomes such an
agent, is appointed so to act or becomes responsible for such funds as a private person and
not as a barrister or a legal practitioner.
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Referral to Solicitor
78. A barrister who is asked by any person to do work or engage in conduct which is not
barristers' work, or which appears likely to require work to be done which is not barristers'
work, must promptly inform that person:
(a) of the effect of Rules 74 and 75 as they relevantly apply in the circumstances; and
(b) that, if it be the case, solicitors are capable of providing those services to that person.
79. A barrister who provides information under Rule 78 to a person must not inform the person
that the barrister will perform barristers' work for that person on condition that a particular
solicitor briefs the barrister to do so.
80. Disclosure to direct access client - Deleted see Rule 115.2
RULES
81. A barrister must be a sole practitioner, and must not practise:
(a) in partnership with any person;
(b) as the employer of any legal practitioner who acts as a legal practitioner in the course
of that employment; or
(c) as the employee of any person.
(d) a barrister must not hold or have any interest in a law practice, other than a barrister’s own
practice, whether directly or indirectly, unless that interest is a shareholding in an
incorporated legal practice which is a listed public company.
82. A barrister must not make or have any arrangement with any person in connection with any
aspect of the barrister's practice which imposes any obligation on the barrister of such a kind
as may prevent the barrister from:
(a) accepting any brief to appear for reasons other than those provided by the exceptions
to the cab-rank principle in Rules 87, 89 and 91; or
(b) competing with any other legal practitioner for the work offered by any brief for
reasons other than those referred to in Rules 87, 89 and 91.
83. A barrister will not have breached Rules 81 and 82 by carrying out a specific task of research
or chamber work given to the barrister by another barrister, or by giving such a task to another
barrister, so long as:
(a) the barrister who was briefed to do the chamber work takes full personal
responsibility for the work;
(b) the work is delivered under the name of the barrister who was briefed;
(c) the arrangement between the barristers does not go beyond an ordinary devilling or
reading arrangement and in particular does not involve any standing retainer or
employment terms; and
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(d) the arrangement between the barristers does not provide and is not intended to enable
the barrister giving the task to make a profit from the other barrister's work, over and
above reasonable remuneration for supervision of and responsibility for the other
barrister's work.
Third-line forcing
84. A barrister must not require that any other particular legal practitioner be instructed or
briefed, as the case may be, so as in any way to impose that requirement as a condition of the
barrister accepting any brief or instructions.
CAB-RANK RULES & BRIEFS
Cab-rank principle
85. A barrister must accept a brief from a solicitor to appear before a court in a field in which
the barrister practises or professes to practise if:
(a) the brief is within the barrister's capacity, skill and experience;
(b) the barrister would be available to work as a barrister when the brief would require
the barrister to appear or to prepare, and the barrister is not already committed to
other professional or personal engagements which may, as a real possibility, prevent
the barrister from being able to advance a client's interests to the best of the barrister's
skill and diligence;
(c) the fee offered on the brief is acceptable to the barrister; and
(d) the barrister is not obliged or permitted to refuse the brief under Rules 87, 90 or 91.
86. A barrister must not set the level of an acceptable fee, for the purposes of Rule 85(c), higher
than the barrister would otherwise set if the barrister were willing to accept the brief, with
the intent that the solicitor may be deterred from continuing to offer the brief to the barrister.
Briefs which must be refused
87. A barrister must refuse to accept or retain a brief or instructions to appear before a court if:
(a) the barrister has information which is confidential to any other person in the case
other than the prospective client, and:
(i) the information may, as a real possibility, be helpful to the prospective
client's case; and
(ii) the person entitled to the confidentiality has not consented to the barrister
using the information as the barrister thinks fit in the case;
(b) the barrister has a general or special retainer which gives, and gives only, a right of
first refusal of the barrister's services to another party in the case and the barrister is
offered a brief to appear in the case for the other party within the terms of the retainer;
(c) the barrister has reasonable grounds to believe that the barrister may, as a real
possibility, be a witness in the case;
(d) the brief is to appear on an appeal and the barrister was a witness in the case at first
instance;
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(e) the barrister has reasonable grounds to believe that the barrister's own personal or
professional conduct may be attacked in the case;
(f) the barrister has a material financial or property interest in the outcome of the case,
apart from the prospect of a fee in the case of a brief under a speculative costs
agreement;
(g) the brief is on the assessment of costs which include a dispute as to the propriety of
the fee paid or payable to the barrister, or is for the recovery from a former client of
costs in relation to a case in which the barrister appeared for the client;
(h) the brief is for a party to an arbitration in connection with the arbitration and the
barrister has previously advised or appeared for the arbitrator in connection with the
arbitration;
(i) the brief is to appear in a contested hearing before the barrister's parent, sibling,
spouse or child or a member of the barrister's household, or before a bench of which
such a person is a member (unless the hearing is before the High Court of Australia
sitting all available judges);
(j) there are reasonable grounds for the barrister to believe that the failure of the client
to retain an instructing solicitor would, as a real possibility, seriously prejudice the
barrister's ability to advance and protect the client's interests in accordance with the
law including these Rules.
87A Without limiting the generality of Rule 87, a barrister must refuse to accept or retain a brief
of instructions to appear before a court (excluding a statutory or other tribunal) if the brief is
to appear before a court of which the barrister was formerly a member or judicial registrar
(other than in an acting capacity), or before a court from which appeals lay to a court of
which the barrister was formerly a member (except the Federal Court of Australia in case of
appeals from the Supreme Court of any State or Territory) and the appearance would occur:
(a) within 2 years after the barrister ceased to be a member of the court in question, if
the barrister was a member of the court for less than 2 years;
(b) within a period after the barrister ceased to be a member of the court in question
equivalent to the period for which the barrister was a member of the court, if the
barrister was a member of the court for 2 years or more but less than 5 years; or
(c) within 5 years after the barrister ceased to be a member of the court in question, if
the barrister was a member of the court for 5 years or more.
87B. Without limiting the generality of Rule 87 a barrister must refuse to accept or retain a brief
or instructions to appear before a statutory or other tribunal if:-
(a) the brief is to appear before such a tribunal which does not sit in divisions or lists to
which its members are assigned and the barrister is a member of the tribunal;
(b) the brief is to appear before such a tribunal which sits in divisions or lists to which
its members are assigned and:-
(i) the barrister is a member of the tribunal assigned to a division or list; and
(ii) the brief is to appear in a proceeding in that division or list;
(c) the brief is to appear before such a tribunal:-
(i) which does not sit in divisions or lists to which its members are assigned and
the barrister was formerly a member of the tribunal – where the appearance
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would occur within two years after the barrister ceased to be a member of
the tribunal;
(ii) which does sit in divisions or lists to which its members are assigned and
the barrister was assigned as a member to a division or list – where the brief
is to appear in a proceeding in a division or list to which the barrister was
assigned and the appearance would occur within two years after the barrister
ceased to be assigned to that division or list.
88. A barrister need not refuse a brief notwithstanding the application of Rules 87(c) or (e) if:
(a) the barrister believes on reasonable grounds that:
(i) allegations involving the barrister in such a way as to apply one of those
Rules have been raised in order to prevent the barrister from accepting the
brief; and
(ii) those allegations can be met without materially diminishing the barrister's
disinterestedness; and
(b) the President of the Bar Association or a member of the Bar Council who is Senior
Counsel approves of the barrister accepting the brief after the barrister has informed
that Senior Counsel of the circumstances.
89. A barrister must refuse a brief if the barrister has information which is confidential to any
person with different interests from those of the prospective client if:
(a) the information may, as a real possibility, be helpful to the advancement of the
prospective client's interests in the matter on which advice is sought; and
(b) the person entitled to the confidentiality has not consented beforehand to the barrister
using the information as the barrister thinks fit in giving advice.
90. A barrister must not accept a brief to appear on a day when the barrister is already committed
to appear or is reasonably likely to be required to appear on another brief unless:
(a) the person offering the later brief has expressly permitted the barrister to do so; and
(b) the instructing solicitor in the earlier brief has been informed beforehand of the
barrister's intention to accept the later brief.
Briefs which may be refused
91. A barrister may refuse a brief if:
(a) the brief is not offered by a solicitor;
(b) the barrister considers on reasonable grounds that the time or effort required for the
brief threatens seriously to prejudice the barrister's practice or other professional or
personal engagements;
(c) the barrister has reasonable grounds to doubt that the fee will be paid reasonably
promptly or in accordance with the costs agreement;
(d) the brief may, as a real possibility, require the barrister to cross-examine or criticise
a friend or relation;
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(e) the solicitor does not agree to a request by the barrister that appropriate attendances
by the instructing solicitor, solicitor's clerk or client representative will be arranged
from time to time for the purposes of:
(i) ensuring that the barrister is provided with adequate instructions to permit
the barrister properly to carry out the work or appearance required by the
brief;
(ii) ensuring that the client adequately understands the barrister's advice;
(iii) avoiding any delay in the conduct of any hearing or compromise
negotiations; and
(iv) protecting the client or the barrister from any disadvantage or inconvenience
which may, as a real possibility, otherwise be caused;
(f) the prospective client is also the prospective instructing solicitor, or a partner,
employer or employee of the prospective instructing solicitor, and has refused the
barrister's request to be instructed by a solicitor independent of the prospective client
and the prospective client's firm; or
(g) the barrister, being Senior Counsel, considers on reasonable grounds that the case
does not require the services of Senior Counsel.
92. A barrister may regard the current listing of a solicitor by the Bar Association as one who
has failed to pay another barrister's fee without reasonable excuse as a reasonable ground for
the doubt referred to in Rule 91(c).
Return of briefs
93. A barrister must not return a brief to defend a charge of a serious criminal offence unless:
(a) the barrister believes on reasonable grounds that:
(i) the circumstances are exceptional and compelling; and
(ii) there is enough time for another legal practitioner to take over the case
properly before the hearing; or
(b) the client has consented after the barrister has clearly informed the client of the
circumstances in which the barrister wishes to return the brief and of the terms of
this Rule and Rule 94.
94. A barrister who holds a brief to defend a charge of a serious criminal offence and also any
other brief, both of which would require the barrister to appear on a particular day, must
return the other brief as soon as possible, unless the barrister became aware of the appearance
being required on that day in the first brief after the barrister was committed to appear on
that day in the other brief.
95. A barrister must not return a brief to appear in order to accept another brief to appear unless
the instructing solicitor or the client, as the case may be, in the first brief has permitted the
barrister to do so beforehand, after the barrister has clearly informed the instructing solicitor
or the client, as the case may be, of the circumstances in which the barrister wishes to return
the brief and of the terms of this Rule and Rule 97.
96. A barrister must not return a brief to appear on a particular date in order to attend a social
occasion unless the instructing solicitor or the client, as the case may be, has expressly
permitted the barrister to do so.
97. A barrister who wishes to return a brief which the barrister is permitted to return must do so
in enough time to give another legal practitioner a proper opportunity to take over the case.
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98. A barrister must promptly inform the instructing solicitor or the client, as the case may be,
as soon as the barrister has reasonable grounds to believe that there is a real possibility that
the barrister will be unable to appear or to do the work required by the brief in the time
stipulated by the brief or within a reasonable time if no time has been stipulated.
99. A barrister may return a brief if, after acceptance of the brief:
(a) the instructing solicitor or client, as the case may be, has refused the barrister's
request that appropriate attendances by the instructing solicitor, solicitor's clerk or
client representative will be arranged from time to time for the purposes of:
(i) ensuring that the barrister is provided with adequate instructions to permit
the barrister properly to carry out the work or appearance required by the
brief;
(ii) ensuring that the client adequately understands the barrister's advice;
(iii) avoiding any delay in the conduct of any hearing or compromise
negotiations; or
(iv) protecting the client or the barrister from any disadvantage or inconvenience
which may, as a real possibility, otherwise be caused;
(b) subject to paragraph (d) the barrister's advice as to the preparation or conduct of the
case, not including its compromise, has been rejected or ignored by the instructing
solicitor or the client, as the case may be; or
(c) fees have not been paid reasonably promptly or in accordance with the costs
agreement, and have remained unpaid after reasonable notice by the barrister to the
instructing solicitor or client, as the case may be, of the barrister's intention to return
the brief for that reason.
(d) the provisions of rule 99A relating to Speculative Fee Agreement applies.
99A. A barrister may return a brief accepted under a Speculative Fee Agreement if:-
(a) the barrister, and the instructing solicitor if any, consider on reasonable grounds that
the client has unreasonably rejected a reasonable offer of compromise contrary to
the barrister's advice;
(b) the client has refused to pay the barrister a reasonable fee for all work done or to be
done after the client's rejection of the offer;
(c) the client was informed before the barrister accepted the brief of the effect of this
Rule; and
(d) the barrister has the firm view that the client has no reasonable prospects of success
or of achieving a result better than the offer.
99B. Nothing in this Part entitles the barrister to enter into a Speculative Fee Agreement in
criminal proceedings or proceedings relating to parenting of children under the Family Law
Act 1975.
100. A barrister may return a brief accepted under a Speculative Fee if:
(a) the barrister, and the instructing solicitor if any, consider on reasonable grounds that
the client has unreasonably rejected a reasonable offer of compromise contrary to
the barrister's advice;
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(b) the client has refused to pay the barrister a reasonable fee for all work done or to be
done after the client's rejection of the offer;
(c) the client was informed before the barrister accepted the brief of the effect of this
Rule; and
(d) the barrister has the firm view that the client has no reasonable prospects of success
or of achieving a result better than the offer.
101. A barrister who has reasonable grounds to believe that there is a real possibility that the
barrister may cease to be solely a disinterested advocate by becoming also a witness in the
case or a defender of the barrister's own personal or professional conduct against criticism
must return the brief as soon as it is possible to do so without unduly endangering the client's
interests, unless:
(a) the barrister believes on reasonable grounds that:
(i) allegations which involve the barrister in that way have been raised in order
to remove the barrister from the case; and
(ii) those allegations can be met without materially diminishing the barrister's
disinterestedness; and
(b) the President of the Bar Association or a member of the Bar Council who is Senior
Counsel approves of the barrister keeping the brief after the barrister has informed
that Senior Counsel of the circumstances.
102. A barrister must return a brief to appear in a contested hearing before a court constituted by
a person whose relationship with the barrister is such as to make such appearance undesirable
unless:
(a) the barrister learns of the identity of the person or persons constituting the court so
close to the hearing date that return of the brief would not give another legal
practitioner enough time to take over the case properly before the hearing; and
(b) the barrister has sought to draw the circumstances to the court's attention so as to
permit the constitution of the court to be changed.
CONFIDENTIALITY & CONFLICTS
103. A barrister must not disclose (except as compelled by law) or use in any way in the course
of practice confidential information obtained by the barrister concerning any person to whom
the barrister owes some duty or obligation to keep such information confidential unless or
until:
(a) the information has been published;
(b) the information is later obtained by the barrister from another person who is not
bound by the confidentiality owed by the barrister to the first person and who does
not give the information confidentially to the barrister; or
(c) the person has consented to the barrister disclosing or using the information
generally or on specific terms.
104. A barrister must not disclose (except as compelled by law) or use confidential information
under Rule 103(c) in any way other than as permitted by the specific terms of the person's
consent.
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105. A barrister will not have breached Rules 103 and 104 simply by showing briefs to or
disclosing information contained in a brief to the barrister’s instructing solicitor in the matter,
to a member of the barrister’s staff for purposes of that person undertaking clerical or
administrative work in relation to the matter or to a reader or to another barrister doing work
as permitted by Rule 83 so long as the barrister has reminded the reader of barrister’s duties
of confidentiality including Rules 103 and 104.
106. A barrister who is shown a brief as a reader or under an arrangement covered by Rule 83 is
bound by the same duties of confidentiality which bind the barrister whose brief it is,
including the duties imposed by Rules 103 and 104.
107. A barrister who has accepted a brief must return the brief as soon as possible after the
barrister becomes aware that the barrister has information confidential to a person other than
the client which may, as a real possibility, be helpful to the client's case or to the advancement
of the client's interests, being information which the barrister is prohibited from disclosing
or using by Rules 103, 104 or 106, unless the person entitled to the confidentiality consents
to the barrister disclosing or using the information as the barrister thinks fit.
108. A barrister who is briefed to appear for two or more parties in any case must determine as
soon as possible whether the interests of the clients may, as a real possibility, conflict and, if
so, the barrister must then return the brief for:
(a) all the clients in the case of confidentiality to which Rule 103 would apply; or
(b) in other cases, one or more of the clients:
(i) giving preference to the earliest brief if the barrister was briefed at different
times; and
(ii) so as to remove that possibility of conflict.
109. A barrister who, during the hearing of the case, becomes aware that the interests of the clients
or some of them do or may, as a real possibility, conflict, must return the brief for:
(a) all the clients in the case of confidentiality to which Rule 103 would apply; or
(b) in other cases, one or more of the clients:
(i) giving preference to the earliest brief if the barrister was briefed at different
times; and
(ii) so as to remove that possibility of conflict.
110. A barrister need not return any briefs to appear under Rules 108 or 109, if the barrister has
informed the instructing solicitor or the clients, as the case may be, of the barrister's view as
to the clients' conflicting interests, and the instructing solicitor or the clients, as the case may
be, inform the barrister that all the clients nonetheless wish the barrister to continue to appear
for them.
111. A barrister who believes on reasonable grounds that the interests of the client may conflict
with the interests of the instructing solicitor, or that the client may have a claim against the
instructing solicitor, must:
(a) advise the instructing solicitor of the barrister's belief; and
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(b) if the instructing solicitor does not agree to advise the client of the barrister's belief,
seek to advise the client in the presence of the instructing solicitor of the barrister's
belief.
READING
112.1 A reader must, unless exempted by the Bar Council, complete the reading program within
the reading period.
112.2 At any time during the reading period, the reader or the reader’s tutor may seek guidance
from the Bar Council as to:-
(a) any step necessary required of the reader to complete the reading program; and
(b) any matter relating to the relationship between the reader and a tutor of the reader.
112.3 Each tutor and reader must, in relation to the Reader’s reading program, comply with any
direction or decision made by the Bar Council.
CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT (CPD)
113. A member of the association who is a local practising barrister must undertake each year the
requirements of any continuing professional development programme established by the bar
council from time to time.
114 – Deleted
DISCLOSURE OBLIGATIONS
Disclosure Requirements
115. In this Rule, a “disclosable event” in relation to a barrister means any of the following:-
(a) the making of a sequestration order against, or the filing of a debtor’s petition by the
barrister pursuant to the Bankruptcy Act 1966 (Cth);
(b) the entry by the barrister into a debt agreement pursuant to Part IX of the Bankruptcy
Act 1966 (Cth) or an agreement, composition or arrangement to Part X of that Act;
(c ) the disqualification of the barrister from managing or being involved in the
management of any body corporate under any law in force in any jurisdiction within
Australia, including disqualification form managing corporations under Part 2D.6 of
the Corporations Act 2001; or
(d) the conviction of the barrister of an offence under any law in force in Australia or in
any overseas country or a finding that such an offence is proved against the barrister
where the maximum penalty for the offence is a term of imprisonment of 12 months
or more or where fraud or dishonesty is an element of the offence.
115A. Where a disclosable event occurs in relation to a barrister, the barrister must within 28 days
after the disclosable event occurs:-
(a) inform the Secretary of the Bar Association in writing of the occurrence of the
disclosable event; and
(b) provide the Secretary of the Bar Association with written details of the circumstances
giving rise to the disclosable event sufficient to enable the Secretary of the Bar
Association to determine whether the occurrence of the disclosable event in relation
Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au28
to the barrister or any circumstances giving rise to it, may affect the barrister’s
suitability to engage in legal practice as a barrister for the purposes of the relevant
legislation in force in each jurisdiction.
(c ) A barrister in relation to whom a disclosable event occurs must, within 14 days after
receiving a written request from the Secretary of the Bar Association to do so,
provide such further information concerning the disclosable event or any of the
circumstances giving rise to it, as the Secretary of the Bar Association may require.
DIRECT CLIENT ACCESS
115.1 A barrister may do barristers' work for a client without the intervention of an instructing
solicitor.
115.2 A barrister who proposes to accept instructions directly from a person who is not a solicitor
or a professional acting as such must inform the prospective client in writing of:
(a) the effect of Rules 74 and 75;
(b) the fact that circumstances may require the client to retain an instructing solicitor at
short notice, and possibly during the case;
(c) any other disadvantage which the barrister believes on reasonable grounds may, as
a real possibility, be suffered by the client if the client does not retain an instructing
solicitor; and
(d) the relative capacity of the barrister in performing barristers' work to supply the
requested facilities or services to the client compared to the capacity of the barrister
together with an instructing solicitor to supply them.
ADVERTISING
116.1. A barrister may advertise.
116.2 An advertisement must not be of a kind that is or might reasonably be regarded as:
(a) false, misleading, or deceptive;
(b) in contravention of any legislation;
(c) vulgar, sensational, or otherwise such as would bring or be likely to bring the barrister or the
legal profession into disrepute.
SPECIALISATION
117. A barrister may advertise or hold himself or herself out as being a specialist or as offering specialist
services, but only if:
(a) the barrister is not a reader and has had at least two years extensive experience in the relevant
field,
(b) the barrister has given at least 2 months' notice to the Bar Council of the intention to do so,
and
(c) the Bar Council does not disapprove.
118. Deleted
119. Deleted
120. Deleted
Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au 29
120.1 – 121.3 Deleted
121. Deleted
DISCRIMINATION, SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND BULLYING
Discrimination
122.1 A barrister shall not in any professional context discriminate against a client, solicitor, or
another barrister on the basis of the person’s religion, age, race, impairment, political belief
or activity, trade union activity, sex, marital status, pregnancy, parental status, lawful sexual
activity or association with, or relation to, a person identified on the basis of any of the above.
Sexual Harassment
122.2 (a) A barrister shall not, in any professional context, engage in sexual harassment.
(b) For the purposes of sub-rule (a) a barrister sexually harasses another person if:
(i) the barrister makes an unwelcome sexual advance, or an unwelcome request
for sexual favours, to that person; or
(ii) engages in other unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature in relation to that
person;
in circumstances in which a reasonable person, having regard to all the
circumstances, would have anticipated that that person would be offended,
humiliated or intimidated.
“Conduct of a Sexual Nature” includes making a statement of a sexual nature to the
person allegedly harassed or in the presence of that person, whether the statement is
made orally or in writing.
Bullying
122.3
(a) A barrister shall not, in any professional context, engage in conduct which is bullying.
(b) For the purposes of sub-rule (a), bullying means unreasonable behaviour that could
reasonably be expected to intimidate, degrade, humiliate, isolate, alienate, or cause serious
offence to a person working in a workplace.
Procedure
122.4 (a) The person allegedly discriminated against, harassed or bullied may lodge a report
or complaint about the barrister in accordance with the complaint and report
processes approved by the Bar Council from time to time. Such complaint and report
processes as approved by the Bar Council will be published in the appropriate ACT
Bar Association policies against discrimination, sexual harassment and bullying.
123. Deleted