Friday, 17 October 2025
The Law Society has statutory responsibilities with respect to maintaining professional standards of the local legal profession and protection of consumers of legal services and the public generally. Under the Legal Profession Act 2006 (the Act), the Society may investigate complaint(s) about the conduct of a legal practitioner, unqualified practitioner, and associates of legal practices in the ACT. The Law Society is committed to ensuring that individuals granted a practising certificate are assessed as being fit and proper persons to engage in legal practice.
The Council has delegated certain functions under the Act to regulatory committees, as provided in s 577 of the Act. Each committee acts under delegation from the Council and in compliance with relevant legislation and Society policies. These committees are supported by the Society’s Regulatory Services team.
Professional Standards Committee
The Professional Standards Committee is delegated authority by the Council to conduct the preliminary assessment and investigation of complaints, gather documents and information, determine a non-disciplinary outcome, or refer a matter for further investigation or to the Conduct Committee or Council as required by policy and guidelines issued by the Council.
The committee is made up of volunteer practitioners from a wide range of practice areas and meets on a fortnightly basis.
Conduct Committee
Established in August 2025 on an interim basis with the support of non-executive members of the Council, the Conduct Committee is delegated by the Council to consider and resolve complaints about legal practitioners, to make determinations on disciplinary matters, and to support fair, transparent, and effective application of the Society’s compliance and enforcement functions.
The committee is made up of volunteer practitioners from a wide range of practice areas and generally meets on a monthly basis.
Instrument of delegation for the Conduct Committee.
Licensing Committee
In August 2025, the Council approved the establishment of a Licensing Committee delegated by the Council to consider and determine applications for practising certificates and to support effective, fair, and transparent management of the Society’s licensing functions.
An EOI process for this committee is planned to be conducted towards the end of 2025. In the meantime, the Executive Committee of the Council continues to exercise licensing functions under delegation of the Council
Instrument of delegation for the Conduct Committee.
