Australian Bar Association consultation regarding proposed amendments to the Legal Profession Uniform Conduct (Barristers) Rules 2015

25/06/2021

The Australian Bar Association invites comments and submissions on a proposal to amend Rules 123 and 125 of the Legal Profession Uniform Conduct (Barristers) Rules.

Submissions can be sent to the Australian Bar Association on or before 2 August 2021 by email to ceo@austbar.asn.au.

The proposal to amend the Barristers Conduct Rules stems from, among other matters, the ABA’s consideration of the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) National Inquiry into Sexual Harassment in Australian Workplaces. The ABA considers the Rules should be amended to:

• expand the application of rule 123 beyond conduct in the ‘course of practice’ to include conduct ‘in connection with’ a barrister’s ‘profession’;

• provide some inclusive examples of what that broader expression is intended to capture; and

• expand the application of rule 123 to prohibit bullying ‘in connection with’ a barrister’s ‘profession’, rather than ‘workplace bullying’.

Further details are available here.