Abbott government urged to fund lawyers' uniform regulatory scheme Victoria's Attorney-General Robert Clark, whose state and NSW are completing a scheme to allow lawyers to work for more than one entity. Picture: Stuart McEvoy Source: Herald Sun THE new federal government has been urged to support the proposed uniform regulatory scheme for lawyers in order to streamline the operation of corporate legal departments. The Australian Corporate Lawyers Association said the proposed uniform scheme would eliminate restrictions preventing lawyers with corporate practising certificates working for other companies that are part of the same corporate group. ACLA chief executive Trish Hyde said the uniform scheme prepared by Victoria and NSW would end the rule that meant lawyers with corporate practising certificates could work only for their direct employer. "We want this fixed," Ms Hyde said. Lawyers in private practice can work for related entities. Of course, corporate lawyers should be able to as well. ACLA wanted the federal government to increase consultation with corporate lawyers on regulatory change. "The regulatory burden is one of the largest issues for general counsel," she said. The uniform scheme, which is close to completion, will initially cover about 72 per cent of the nation's lawyers when it takes effect in Victoria and NSW. It has been designed to encourage other jurisdictions to join the scheme and its start-up costs will be discussed at next week's meeting of the standing committee on law and justice. Victoria's Attorney-General, Robert Clark, said the two states had made substantial improvements to the previous uniform legal profession model to avoid duplication, reduce costs and decentralise administration. As well as easing restrictions on holders of corporate practising certificates, the scheme would also benefit small law firms. "A significant benefit for small and sole practitioners is the proposed increase to the threshold at which practitioners must provide a full disclosure of costs," Mr Clark said. The proposal, to be considered by the new Legal Services Council when it is established under the scheme, would significantly simplify disclosures by allowing firms to have a single, standard-form disclosure for all matters under the threshold. Under the uniform law, in-house practitioners will no longer be constrained to act for their direct employer, but may also act for its related entities. The law will also make clear that in-house practitioners are not precluded from claiming client legal privilege. He said Victoria and NSW were committed to implementing the uniform scheme and would continue to encourage other jurisdictions to join once they had seen it in operation. Mr Clark said the uniform scheme would be raised with the commonwealth and other state and territory attorneys-general when the standing committee on law and justice met in Sydney next Thursday and Friday. "The Victorian and NSW governments will also take up the issue of the commonwealth's contribution to the start-up costs of the scheme," Mr Clark said. Victoria and NSW had previously appealed unsuccessfully to former attorney-general Mark Dreyfus to honour a pledge by one of his predecessors, Robert McClelland, who said the federal government would provide the start-up funding for the new system. That funding is estimated to be worth about $800,000.