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Ethics & Professional Responsibility

Click here for a consolidated PDF version (updated on 9 June 2023) of all the Practice Directions and Guidance Notes. 

A list of the latest Practice Directions and Guidance Notes issued by the Council of the Law Society may be found below. Selected Practice Directions and Guidance Notes have been expunged for one or more of the following reasons:

  • The relevant forms have been made available on e-Litigation;
  • Contents are now covered by the Supreme Court / State Courts Practice Directions;
  • Contents are now covered by current Act(s) / Subsidiary Legislation (including the PCR 2015);
  • Contents are now covered by another Practice Direction / Guidance Note; or
  • It is no longer relevant to current practice.

Click on the headers to view the Practice Directions and Guidance Notes on a particular topic.

1. Conduct of Proceedings

1. Client’s Interest

GN

  1. Clients’ Presence in Chamber Hearings

2. Communication with the Court

Expunge

  1. Vacating Dates Fixed for Hearing (Expunged)

3. Conduct of Criminal Prosecutions by Legal Practitioners

PD

  1. Request for Vacating or Adjournment of Criminal Cases in the State Courts

4. Court Etiquette

PD

  1. Extension of Time
  2. Punctuality for Court Hearings

Expunged

  • Counsel’s Robes and Gowns (Expunged)
  • Requests for Interpreters (Expunged)
  • Witnesses Attendances in the Subordinate Courts (Expunged)

5. Dealings with Witnesses

Expunged

  • Service of Subpoenas (Expunged)

6. Duty to the Court

PD

  1. Attestation of Documents
  2. Duty of Legal Practitioner to Lay Information of Criminal Offence

GN

  1. Guidelines on Reporting Subversion of the Administration of Justice

7. Legal Practitioner not to Act if he is a Witness

PD

  1. Legal Practitioners as Witnesses

8. Letters of Demand

PD

  1. Letters of Demand

9. Relationship with Client or Court

PD

  1. Appointment of a Solicitor or a Person Employed by a Solicitor to Act as Bailiff under Section 15A of the State Courts Act
  2. Commissioner for Oaths: Attestation by a Member of the Same Law Firm

1. Ad Hoc Admissions

GN

  1. Ad Hoc Admissions under Section 15 of the Legal Profession Act

2. Anti-Money Laundering Obligations

PD

  1. Prevention of Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism

3. Client and Conveyancing Accounts

PD

  1. Drawing Money for Legal Costs from Client Account
  2. Engagement of a Book-Keeper under the Legal Profession (Solicitors’ Accounts) Rules
  3. Query: Accountant’s Report Rules – Accounting Period Under Review and Reconciliation of Ledger Balance
  4. Query: Accountant’s Report Rules – Delivery of Accountant’s Report by Salaried Partners
  5. Query: Deposit Interest Rules – Application of Rule 2 to Client Moneys
  6. Query: Solicitors’ Accounts Rules – Application of the Rules on Cash, Cheques and Deposit Accounts
  7. Query: Solicitors’ Accounts Rules – Opening a Fixed Deposit Account with Finance Company
  8. Query: Solicitors’ Accounts Rules – Payment into Client and Office Accounts
  9. Query: Solicitors’ Accounts Rules – Self Representation by Solicitor or Representation by Firm Where Solicitor is Partner
  10. Responsibilities and Duties of a Second Signatory under the Legal Profession (Solicitors’ Accounts) Rules
  11. Online Digital Payments from Client Accounts

GN

  1. Deposit of Moneys in the Client Account of a Law Practice

Expunged

  • Moneys Drawn on Client Account in Satisfaction of Solicitor’s Costs (Expunged)

4. Cloud Computing

GN

  1. Cloud Computing

5. Description and Professional Stationery

PD

  1. Printing of Names on Envelopes
  2. Rule 33 of the Legal Profession (Professional Conduct) Rules 2015

Expunged

  • Corporate Stationery (Expunged)

6. Locum Solicitors

PD

  1. Client Confidentiality and Conflict of Interest for Locum Solicitors

7. Operating a Law Practice

PD

  1. Photocopy Charges
  2. Sole Practitioners – Arrangements for Continuance of Practice
  3. Telex and Facsimile Charges

GN

  1. Supervision of Paralegals

Expunged

  • Status of Associates (Expunged)

8. Outside Activities

PD

  1. Executive Appointments and Engagement in Business, Trade or Calling

9. Practice Trainees

PD

  1. Applications for Practice Trainees to Appear Before a Judge or Registrar
  2. Responsibilities in Supervising Practice Trainee

GN

  1. Practice Training and Relevant Legal Training

Expunged

  • Practice Training Contracts (Expunged)

10. Practising Certificates

GN

  1. Application for Practising Certificate when Section 25A of the Legal Profession Act Applies
  2. Replacement on Roll of Solicitor who has been Struck Off

11. Prohibitions Concerning Unauthorised Persons

PD

  1. Signing the Name of the Law Practice
  2. Work Done by an Unauthorised Person

12. Storage and Destruction of Documents

PD

  1. Storage and Destruction of Documents

GN

  1. Storage of Documents in Electronic Form

13. Tax Matters

PD

  1. Capital Allowances and Deductions on Law Books

Expunged

  • International Law Conferences – Tax Deductions Allowable (Expunged)
  • Withholding Tax on Interest (Expunged)

14. Unclaimed Money Fund

PD

  1. Unclaimed Money Fund Framework

15. E-mail Correspondence

GN

  1. Use of E-mail Correspondence

1. Admiralty

PD

  1. Breach of Undertaking in Admiralty Proceedings

Expunged

  • Out of Hours Arrest of Vessels / Cargo in Admiralty (Expunged)

2. Charities

Expunged

  • Charity Proceedings (Expunged)

3. Criminal Practice

PD

  1. Procedure to Visit and Interview Clients in Prisons

4. Family Practice

Expunged

  • Adoption Procedure (Expunged)

5. Insurance

PD

  1. Payment of Cheques by Defendant Insurer to Plaintiff for Motor Accident Claims

Expunged

  • Notification of Proceedings – Motor Insurers’ Bureau (Expunged)

6. Wills and Probate

PD

  1. Wills – Inquiry if Any Made

Expunged

  • Estate Duty – Delays in Assessment (Expunged)

1. Equity in Lieu of Fees

PD

  1. Equity in Lieu of Fees

2. Fee Agreements

PD

  1. Fee Arrangements with Clients
  2. Non-Refundable Deposit or Retainer
  3. Two-Thirds Rule

Expunged

  • Fee Agreements in Writing (Expunged)

3. Payment of Legal Fees by Electronic Payment Methods

PD

  1. Use of Electronic Payment Methods and the Treatment of Fees Associated with Payment of Solicitors’ Bills of Costs

4. Prohibition Against the Use of Debt Collectors

PD

  1. Use of Debt Collectors for the Recovery of Legal Fees and Expenses

5. Sharing of Fees

PD

  1. Sharing of Fees between Legal Practitioners

6. Conditional Fee Agreements

GN

  1. Conditional Fee Agreements

1. Allegation Against Another Legal Practitioner

PD

  1. Allegation Against Another Legal Practitioner in Court Documents

2. Bill of Costs

Expunged

  • Bill of Costs – Objection Notation (Expunged)

3. Communications

PD

  1. Communication with Former Client
  2. Quoting of References in Correspondence

Expunged

  • Communication with Clients of Other Solicitors (Expunged)
  • Dealings with the Opposing Party (Expunged)

4. Confidentiality

PD

  1. Legal Practitioners’ Correspondence in Sealed Covers

5. Courtesy and Fairness

PD

  1. Acknowledgment of Documents
  2. Advising a Friend who is a Client of Another Legal Practitioner
  3. Draft Documents
  4. Legal Practitioner on Record Not Entitled to Refuse Service of Documents
  5. Obtaining Evidence of a Legal Practitioner’s Misconduct by Entrapment or by Illegal or Improper Means
  6. Phone Etiquette
  7. Professional Conference
  8. Protracted Arguments in Chambers
  9. Relations with Other Legal Practitioners
  10. Service of Originating Process on Legal Practitioners

Expunged

  • Draft Orders of Court – Disagreement (Expunged)
  • Exchange of Authorities (Expunged)
  • Waiting Time Before Proceeding to Tax Bills Ex Parte​ (Expunged)

6. Entering Judgment by Default

Expunged

  • Entering Judgment by Default – 2 Working Days’ Notice (Expunged)

7. Professional Undertakings

PD

  1. Undertakings Required of a Law Practice under Section 78(1) of the Legal Profession Act

8. Responsibilities for Fees

PD

  1. Responsibility for Third Party Fees

Expunged

  • Fees for Court Attendance by Government Doctors / Employees (Expunged)
  • Fees Payable to Notary Public (Expunged)

10. Third-Party Funding

1. Third-Party Funding

GN

  1. Third-Party Funding