Professional Conduct

Lawyers can advertise for business, particularly the areas of law in which they claim to specialise, though practices which are likely to bring lawyers or the legal system into ‘disrepute’ are not allowed. Lawyers must be competent in carrying out their work, complete work in a reasonable time and keep the client informed of significant developments.

Lawyers must not disclose any information to others acquired while handling the client’s work, without the client’s consent. A lawyer must disclose any interest they may have or conflict of interest. Lawyers can act for more than one person in relation to something but only if there is unlikely to be any conflict of interest. If a conflict does develop, a lawyer will be unable to continue to act for either client.

A lawyer must inform their client of any eligibility they may have for legal aid. A lawyer must also keep the legal aid agency (the Legal Aid Commission of Tasmania) informed if the client no longer has any reasonable prospect of succeeding in their case, or of any change in their financial circumstances. The client should be informed of any advice their lawyer will give the Commission.