Regulatory Compliance
The Law Society of NSW seeks to align the commercial imperatives that drive the business of legal practice with the regulatory framework largely contained in the Legal Profession Uniform Law (NSW) and associated Rules (the ‘Uniform Law Regime’).
This approach encourages solicitors to view regulatory compliance, not as an authoritative burden, but as a means to generate client satisfaction and drive profitability.
Sole principals: planning for the unexpected
As sole practitioners, sole principals of incorporated legal practices and sole principals of unincorporated legal practices, (‘sole principals’) you are particularly vulnerable to disruption if you are suddenly unable to manage your law practice.
For more information, please see our Contingency plan for sole principals: how to nominate your personal representative and an alternate.
ADD
Establishing a law practice
- Sole Practitioner
Commencing practice as a sole practitioner checklist - Law Firm
Commencing a law firm partnership checklist - Incorporated Legal Practice
Commencing an incorporated legal practice (ILP) checklist
ILP Toolkit - Unincorporated Legal Practice
Commencing an unincorporated legal practice (ULP) checklist - Law Practice Marketing
Solicitor and law practice marketing – how do I meet my regulatory obligations?
Advertising Legal Services - Professional Standards Scheme
Law Society of NSW Professional Standards Scheme - Trust Accounting
Trust Money and Fidelity Fund
Practice Management
Supervision
Compliance Review
A Quick Guide to Supervised Legal Practice
Generative AI: Supervision and Risk Management
A Principal’s Responsibilities Under the Uniform Law
Unauthorised Employment of Lay Associates who are Disqualified Persons
Remote staff supervision: Managing the risks
Reasonable supervision: what does it mean for you and your staff
Are you supervising as you should? Your staff & your practice depend on it
File Management
File Handling and Safe Custody
An Overview of File Ownership
Data and Cyber Security
Cyber Risk Management Checklist
Data and Cyber Security for Law Practices
Cyber Incident Procedure and Emergency Contacts
Client Flyer – Don’t Be a Victim of Cyber Fraud
Lawcover Cyber Resources
Law Practice Promotion
Solicitor and Law Practice Marketing – How Do I Meet My Regulatory Obligations?
Posting on Social Media: Boon or Bane for Lawyers?
Witnessing and Certifying Documents
Checklist for Witnessing Signatures and Certifying Documents in NSW
Your practising entitlements
- Transition from law school to legal practice
- How to apply for your practising certificate, conditions of practice and more
- Supervised legal practice - What is it? When and how can you apply to remove condition?
- Show cause/disclosure issues – find out if and when you need to disclose certain events to the Law Society
- Practising foreign law in NSW – how to register as an Australian-registered foreign lawyer
- Interstate practitioners – do you need to notify the Law Society of your practice in NSW
- Checklist for witnessing signatures and certifying documents in NSW
- What a lawyer can and cannot do at each stage of their career
Cyber security
The Law Society of NSW and its partner insurer Lawcover are alerting lawyers about the growing risk of cyber fraud as legal practitioners increasingly shifted their businesses online during 2020.
- Click here to download a free resource on Cyber Incident Procedure and Emergency Contacts
- Click here to download a free checklist on how to prevent cyber fraud.
- Click here to download a flyer which you can distribute to clients to help them reduce the risk of cyber fraud.
- Data and cyber security for law practices - this guide provides tips on how to safeguard data held by your practice, what to do if you fall victim to a cybercrime event, and the obligations law practices have in collecting and holding 'personal information'.
- For more information and to download resources go to Lawcover’s website.
Ceasing or transferring a practice
Need more information on practising under the Uniform Law?
View our range of fact sheets, including regulatory obligations for law practices and individuals.
Responding to the COVID-19 working conditions
Checklist to assist Principals of NSW law practices respond to COVID-19 working conditions