In the latest development in a series of conflicting statements between Queensland Law Society (QLS) and Attorney General and Minister for Justice Jarrod Bleijie, the country’s Large Law Firm Group has called for an urgent decision on the proposed National Legal Profession Reforms.

The proposals -- which aim to revise legal profession rules and regulation -- are scheduled for implementation in New South Wales and Victoria next year, but have been heavily criticised by Queensland lawyers. The large firms – which have been lobbying for the enhanced powers to be handed to the national law council -- generally support the proposals.

Overdue reforms

QLS President Dr John de Groot told Australasian Legal Business this week that the society considers that ‘the reforms are important, sensible and well overdue’ and that it intends to implement them. However, Dr de Groot has previously written that Queensland would only accept the rules if certain changes were made.

Stuart Clark, chairman of the Large Law Firm Group and a litigation partner at law firm Cloayton Utz, has criticised the confusion, saying: ‘We are saddened by what we see as a failure of leadership and a lack of imagination within the state and territory law society leaders that have not endorsed the reforms.’ He added that opposition will ‘affect all lawyers and law firms that undertake work in more than two states or territories’.

Additional costs

According to The Australian newspaper, consultation over the rules in Queensland continues, with Legal Services Commissioner John Briton warning that the changes demanded by QLS would affect procedures already in force in other states. Mr Bleijie said that while discussions are continuing, ‘if the national reform is likely to create additional cost for Queenslanders, then we won’t be signing up’.

• Elsewhere in Australia, the Sydney Morning Herald has reported that Prime Minister Julia Gillard has for the first time spoken at length to defend herself against claims that she acted inappropriately while working as a lawyer at leading national business law Slater & Gordon. Ms Gillard dismissed the claims as ‘false and highly defamatory’, adding that she has been made ‘the subject of a very sexist smear campaign’.