Page 6095 - Week 18 - Thursday, 12 December 1991
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Mr Speaker, the provisions of this Bill tighten certain matters dealing with the conduct of solicitors. They provide, quite properly, for remuneration to the person performing statutory functions. Moreover, there is a penalty revision. The issues that are still not faced, in terms of the Legal Practitioners Act, relate to the general modernisation of a number of things concerning legal practice. I have mentioned those before and I will not detain the house by speaking of them now.
I welcome, of course, further development of the conditions and nature of admission of barristers and solicitors in this city. Certainly, there are some subsisting inconsistencies, which are reflected at clause 8 of this Bill - namely, the provisions for the admission to unrestricted practice of persons who have not practised in private practice whatsoever but have practised in government practice. Worthwhile and compelling though that service be, there are aspects of private practice which one can learn only by being an apprentice, as it were, a restricted practitioner, and later an unrestricted practitioner.
I am still unhappy about the accelerated method of entry for government lawyers. I recall relevant experience at one time myself in that regard. It still means that private apprentices often have more private background experience on going into private practice than do government apprentices. Elevating, worthwhile and extremely important though that government experience be, it is far from, at times, the day-to-day minutiae of a solicitor's office in dealing with the public. That is a matter that is being put aside constantly and not being faced up to. I trust that one day the society will come to terms with that issue.
MR CONNOLLY (Attorney-General, Minister for Housing and Community Services and Minister for Urban Services) (6.48), in reply: I thank members for their contributions. There were some minor technical errors picked up by the Scrutiny of Bills Committee, which will be corrected. I am told that they can be corrected by a Clerk's amendment. I wish the Bill a speedy passage, and thank members for their comments.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
Bill agreed to in principle.
Leave granted to dispense with the detail stage.
Bill agreed to.
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