New QLS legal ethics website launched

A new website devoted to the ethics of the Australian legal profession was launched on 27 March 2010 by Queensland Chief Justice Paul de Jersey AC at the Queensland Law Society’s 48th Annual Vincents’ Symposium at the Brisbane Exhibition and Convention Centre.

The website, ethics.qls.com.au, is an initiative of the Society and aims to provide lawyers and the public with easy access to ethics information, tools and resources relevant to practising law.

Chief Justice de Jersey said that the website would create an interactive online community of lawyers, law students and members of the public who were interested in developing a better understanding of the professional standards expected of lawyers.

He said today’s legal practitioners faced a broad spectrum of ethical issues, caused by a wide range of pressures. These included pressures to satisfy the client, to impress their supervisor – and perhaps judges and magistrates – to be regarded as a “gun” lawyer, and to satisfy and improve their firm’s bottom line.

The website’s national focus represents an important contribution by the Society toward a national profession.

“This is an innovation for the legal profession, and with nationally uniform conduct rules on the horizon, the Australia Lawyers’ Ethics website will be welcomed by the profession throughout Australia as a ‘go to’ place for ethics advice and information,” QLS CEO Noela L’Estrange said.

The site is designed to enable all lawyers, particularly new and less experienced practitioners, to access a practical and interactive tool to raise and discuss ethical issues.

New material and resources will be regularly added to the site, keeping it dynamic and relevant.

The site features frequently asked legal ethics questions covering issues such as advertising, client capacity, duties to clients and duties to the court.

Visit ethics.qls.com.au and use the lawyers’ ethical ‘compass’ and ethics self-assessment tool, comment on the blogs and read the latest ethics news.