Lawyers

When you visit a lawyer for legal advice, there are laws which protect your interests.  As with many professional service providers, lawyers are subject to certain requirements to ensure that they deal fairly with clients, and they make clients' interests a priority. This includes an obligation for complete confidentiality, as well as ensuring that a client is not taken advantage of.

Lawyers' conduct is closely regulated in Australia. The law requires that a person may not be admitted to the legal profession or work as a lawyer unless they have attained certain professional qualifications, and are considered of good fame and character. During their professional career, the law regulates lawyers' conduct toward their clients, as well as their business activities. While each state and territory have slightly different laws concerning the legal profession, many aspects are the same. Importantly, the way in which lawyers deal with money on trust for clients and costs they charge to clients are similarly regulated in all states and territories. 

The relationship between and lawyer and client is considered to be a fiduciary relationship. This means that the lawyer has a duty to ensure that the interests of the client are put before the lawyer’s own interests in the clientÃ¥s case . It also means that a lawyer is required to do everything in his/her power to ensure the interests of the client are protected. In addition to this, the confidentiality of dealings and communications between a lawyer and client are protected by the law. This means that no other party may be given access to or information about the advice that a lawyer has given his/her client. Lawyer / client confidentiality is particularly important during court proceedings or police investigations, so it is important to understand your rights as a client to ensure you will get the best outcome.