Legal Profession Uniform Law Australian Solicitors’ Conduct Rules 2015
20Delinquent or guilty clients
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20 Delinquent or guilty clients
20 Delinquent or guilty clients
20.1 A solicitor who, as a result of information provided by the client or a witness called on behalf of the client, learns during a hearing or after judgment or the decision is reserved and while it remains pending, that the client or a witness called on behalf of the client—
20.1.1 has lied in a material particular to the court or has procured another person to lie to the court,
20.1.2 has falsified or procured another person to falsify in any way a document which has been tendered, or
20.1.3 has suppressed or procured another person to suppress material evidence upon a topic where there was a positive duty to make disclosure to the court,
must—
20.1.4 (Repealed)
20.1.5 refuse to take any further part in the case unless the client authorises the solicitor to inform the court of the lie, falsification or suppression and must promptly inform the court of the lie, falsification or suppression upon the client authorising the solicitor to do so but otherwise may not inform the court of the lie, falsification or suppression.
20.2 A solicitor whose client in criminal proceedings confesses guilt to the solicitor but maintains a plea of not guilty—
20.2.1 may, subject to the client accepting the constraints set out in Rules 20.2.2–20.2.8, but not otherwise, continue to act in the client’s defence,
20.2.2 must not falsely suggest that some other person committed the offence charged,
20.2.3 must not set up an affirmative case inconsistent with the confession,
20.2.4 must ensure that the prosecution is put to proof on its case,
20.2.5 may argue that the evidence as a whole does not prove that the client is guilty of the offence charged,
20.2.6 may argue that for some reason of law the client is not guilty of the offence charged,
20.2.7 may argue that for another reason not prohibited by Rule 20.2.2 or 20.2.3 the client should not be convicted of the offence charged, and
20.2.8 must not continue to act if the client insists on giving evidence denying guilt or requires the making of a statement asserting the client’s innocence.