Professional conduct
The Bar Association's Professional Conduct Department facilitates the investigation and reporting to Bar Council of conduct complaints referred to the Bar Council by the Office of the Legal Services Commissioner.
Relevant legislation
The Legal Profession Uniform Conduct (Barristers) Rules 2015 came into force on 1 July, along with the rest of the Uniform Law Scheme. The new Uniform Conduct Rules were based on the Australian Bar Association’s ‘Model Rules’, which had been adopted in NSW, in the NSW Barristers Rules 2014. For more information about the Uniform Law Scheme, visit our Uniform Law page.
Disclosing matters to the Bar Council
Barristers are required to apply to renew their practising certificates before 30 June in each year. The renewal form includes questions relating to disclosures barristers are required to make to the Bar Council. For the assistance of members, there is an outline of the disclosures which barristers are required to make.
Ethical guidance
Barristers requiring ethical guidance may contact the senior counsel on the association's Professional Conduct committees. The names and telephone numbers of senior counsel can be obtained by telephoning the association’s Professional Conduct Department: ph (02) 9232 4055.
Guidelines on Cybersecurity in Legal Practice
Cybersecurity is a significant and challenging issue for the Bar and the legal profession as a whole. To meet these challenges the Bar Association has developed Guidelines on issues arising from cybersecurity in Legal Practice which may be accessed here.
The Cybersecurity Guidelines provide barristers with valuable guidance as to the preventative steps they should take to protect against cybersecurity threats. A failure to implement at least core measures to protect against such threats could result in significant harm, including to a barrister's clients, in the event of a cyber-attack. Such failures may, in certain circumstances, constitute a breach of the Barrister's Rules and may be unsatisfactory professional conduct or professional misconduct.
The recommended minimum steps at all NSW Barristers should take to protect against cybersecurity threats include installing security updates and use of secure passwords and multi-factor authentication. Additional steps may also be appropriate, depending on the nature of the barrister's practice and the information and work data held.
Barristers should consistently be thinking about what steps they can or should take in their practice to minimise cybersecurity risk and to ensure compliance with the Barrister's Rules.
Updated guidelines for NSW Barristers on the use of AI language models in legal practice
The Bar Council has approved updated Guidelines on Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence by NSW Barristers, which can be accessed here. These replace the original guidelines first published on 12 July 2023.
Developed by the Bar Association's Media and Information Law and Technology Committee, in consultation with a Professional Conduct Committee, the updated Guidelines reflect recent legal, professional, practical and technological developments in relation to artificial intelligence (AI), particuarly generative AI, and its use by members of the legal profession and the broader community.
The Guidelines are designed to assist barristers in understanding their duties and professional obligations under the Legal Profession Uniform Conduct (Barristers) Rules 2015 (NSW) when using or confronted by AI in their practice. This includes information about relevant practice notes, recent legal decisions and litigation concerning the use of AI.
Barristers fulfil a critical role in the administration of justice. Decisions about the use of any form of AI should be made with reference to the Barristers Rules, including a barrister's fundamental duty to the court and the administration of justice, as well as to applicable legislation, contractual and tortious duties and practice notes.
The Bar Association acknowledges the rapid rate at which AI tools and techniques are continuaing to evolve. We will stay up to date on legal and technological developments in this area and will continue to monitor and review the Guidelines as required.
Information for barristers responding to a complaint referred to the New South Wales Bar Association
What happens when the Bar Association receives a complaint about a barrister? What action should a barrister take in relation to a complaint? How long will it take for the complaint to be processed? Learn more here.
Latest disciplinary cases
The Bar Association's Professional Conduct Department publishes a list of the latest disciplinary decisions of courts and tribunals, regarding holders of NSW practising certificates. View the list here.
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