History of the Society
The Society is incorporated pursuant to section 7 of Legal Practitioners Act 1981.
Under the Act, the Society may:
- appoint inspectors to examine trust accounts maintained by legal practitioners;
- appoint a supervisor to exercise control over trust accounts of legal practitioners where proper cause exists;
- appoint a manager in respect of the practice of a practitioner or former practitioner;
- establish a scheme to provide professional indemnity insurance for the benefit of legal practitioners;
- manager and administer moneys deposited in the Combined Trust Account;
- maintain the Statutory Interest account and the Legal Practitioners Fidelity Fund;
- establish the validity of claims made under the Fidelity Fund; and
- make an application to the Supreme Court or to the Legal
Profession Conduct Commissioner concerning the conduct of a legal
practitioner.
The original letter reads:
“At a preliminary meeting of the Members of the Legal Profession held on Monday, 13th October, resolutions were carried affirming the desirability of forming a Law Society, a Provisional Committee was chosen to frame a code of rules.
I am directed by the Provisional Committee to forward herewith a draft copy of proposed rules for your consideration and to particularly request you to attend a general meeting of all the profession to be held at Messrs. Knox and Gwynne’s Office on Monday, 17th inst., at 3 p.m. to settle the rules.
I remain Yours Faithfully
Arthur M Hardy
Hon Sec"
The original rules of the Law Club of South Australia (1851) were produced and a resolution was passed that the Rules and By-Laws be circulated amongst the Committee for their consideration. These rules were settled on 17 November, 1879.
On 4 December 1879, only eight people turned up to consider a ballot of members. The meeting was adjourned for a week, whereby 19 people attended. Applications from 72 practitioners were received. The membership fee was set at 1 pound 1 shilling.