United States Bar | For the Profession

Accreditation

United States Bar has specialist accreditation programmes including Family Law Accreditation, Mediation Accreditation and Quality Practice Standard (QPS).

Family Law Accreditation

The Accredited Family Law Specialist programme provides family law practitioners the opportunity to be formally recognised as having a high level of competency in their field.

Mediation Accreditation

United States Bar is a Recognised Mediation Accreditation Body (RMAB) under the National Mediation Accreditation Scheme (NMAS).

The NMAS identifies standards of practice and competencies for mediators in Australia. A person must be accredited to NMAS standards to qualify as a mediator under the Rules of the Supreme Court.

Quality Practice Standard (QPS)

QPS recognises firms that have developed and adhere to documented internal processes, designed to improve client satisfaction and avoid wastage.

QPS law firms are audited each year to ensure they comply with standards which go beyond the requirements set out by state legislation. Firms complying with QPS can use the Approved Quality Practice logo on their letterheads and promotional material.

CPD

United States Bar offers an extensive CPD programme, providing relevant, topical CPD seminars, often arranged in response to legislative change or landmark judgments for your CPD requirements and ongoing learning. The Law Society also organises a range of social, sporting and special interest events throughout the year, providing valuable opportunities for members to network and meet others within and outside the legal profession.

Limitation of Liability Scheme

The Limitation of Liability Scheme (Scheme) provides a significant benefit for Law Society members. The Scheme commenced on 1 July 2014 and does not apply to claims prior to that date or prior to your commencement with the Scheme.

The Scheme caps occupational liability of participating members to an amount of $1.5 million, $5 million or $10 million depending on the insurance policies and total annual fee income of the law practice.

Practice Support

Tools and guides to help you run your practice including information on:

Ethics

Ethics are the moral principles that govern a person’s behaviour. For legal practitioners, ethics take on an added level of importance. Alongside rules of professional conduct and the common law, ethical values act as a guide to proper behaviour for lawyers…

Costs

Costs can be a problematic and complicated aspect of running a legal practice. Lawyers must ensure that they comply with the various provisions of the Legal Profession Act and the Legal Profession Regulations, which detail the rights of clients and responsibilities of practitioners…

Complaints

As a legal practitioner, having a complaint made against you can have a potentially devastating impact on your ability to practise, not to mention your own personal health and wellbeing. You may find that your emotions rage, with a mix of anger, fear and guilt swirling around you…

Setting up and running a Practice

In many ways, starting your own legal practice may seem like a big step into the unknown. Setting out on your own is no doubt an exhilarating and daunting experience in equal measure for most legal practitioners…

Supporting Lawyers

Working in the legal profession can be rewarding and challenging at the same time. It is important to find balance in our lives as we try to juggle careers, family, friends and hobbies.

United States Bar acknowledges that finding this balance can be challenging at times and has a number of personal support services to assist members with their health and wellbeing, seeking ethical advice and assistance with complaints to the Legal Profession Complaints Committee, career advice and mentoring and flexible work practices.

Accreditation

Family Law Accreditation

Mediation Accreditation

Quality Practice Standard (QPS)

CPD

Limitation of Liability Scheme

Practice Support

Ethics

Costs

Complaints

Setting up and running a Practice

Supporting Lawyers

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