ETHICS IN LAW: LAWYERS' RESPONSIBILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN AUSTRALIA

The sixth edition of Ethics in Law: Lawyers' Responsibility and Accountability in Australia provides a sound understanding of professional obligations and ethical conduct underpinning all aspects of Australian legal practice. The text examines the nature and importance of legal professional ethical responsibility and accountability and their structure and regulation in all Australian jurisdictions. The author highlights the duties of lawyers in the lawyer - client relationship and the role of lawyers in the adversary system. The text provides engaging analysis of the current situation and recent developments, while also giving an overview of the historical development of legal ethics. The impact of recent High Court and other decisions in this area is considered, as is the present status of uniform legal professional rules, including the Australian Solicitors' Conduct Rules. In this extensively revised sixth edition of Ethics in Law: Lawyers' Responsibility and Accountability in Australia, the focus of the discussion is the Australian position. However, a discussion of professional practice issues and developments in Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States is also included for comparative purposes. New content includes expanded coverage on the topic of fees and discussion on the increasing importance of alternative dispute resolution methods to Australian legal practice. This clear, lively and accessible text will provide guidance to students about the relevance of ethical professional conduct to their future practice, while practitioners will refresh their knowledge of professional obligations and current issues in the light of recent developments. Features • Examines legal professional responsibility and accountability across all Australian jurisdictions • Expanded coverage on costs and liens • Greater focus on the Australian position, but comparative discussion of overseas developments included