Lawyers in Australia

Lawyers in Australia is a wide-ranging and detailed examination of the legal profession and its ethical framework. It contextualises the role, responsibilities and ethics of lawyers in contemporary Australian society and discusses recent trends and issues. It has proved to be a popular text for the teaching of Legal Ethics courses since the first edition in 2007. This third edition incorporates the latest developments in both law and contextual issues, and provides detailed coverage of the new Legal Profession Uniform Law and associated Rules. It also updates statistical information relating to lawyers and the make-up of the legal profession in Australia, and references recent studies and commentary in relation to lawyers and the legal profession. Revised discussion and research questions relating to each chapter continue to make it a useful teaching resource. Its detailed examination of the legal profession, its ethical framework, access to justice and consideration of future issues confronting the legal profession, all make it of interest and relevance to academic, student and practitioner.

PART I - THE SOCIOLOGICAL CONTEXT Lawyers Legal Education in Australia The Development of the Legal Profession in Australia Legal Culture The Judiciary The Delivery of Legal Services Access to Justice — Meeting the Costs Access to Justice — Equality before the Law Access to Justice — Indigenous Australians PART II - THE ETHICAL CONTEXT Ethics, Values and Professional Responsibility Conduct, Complaints and Discipline The Lawyer-Client Relationship — The Retainer and the Duty of Representation The Lawyer-Client Relationship — The Duty to Advise The Lawyer-Client Relationship— The Duty of Competence and Care The Lawyer-Client Relationship — The Duty of Loyalty The Lawyer's Duty to the Court and the Proper Administration of Justice The Lawyer's Duty to Other Members of the Profession and to Third Parties

Karina Murray is currently a lecturer in the Law school at the University of Wollongong. John Littrich is a senior lecturer in law at the University of Wollongong. Ainslie Lamb is an Honorary Professorial Fellow at the University of Wollongong.