Table of Contents

Participants of the Commission

Preface

Legal Profession Inquiry Publications

Summary of Principal Recommendations

Specialisation and Related Matters

Individual Advertising by Solicitors

Other Attraction of Business

Part I: Introduction

CHAPTER 1. THE LEGAL PROFESSION INQUIRY AND THIS REPORT

A. Introduction

B. The Scope of This Report

C. Our Methods of Inquiry

D. Discussion Papers and Background Papers

Part II: Specialisation and Related Matters

CHAPTER 2. INTRODUCTION

A. The General Question

B. The Focus of Discussion

C. Fields of Practice Schemes

CHAPTER 3. THE PRESENT POSITION

A. Introduction

B. The Present Position in New South Wales

I. Patterns of Specialisation

II. Designation of Specialists

III. Advertising about Fields of Practice

IV. A Proposed Development

I. Introduction

II. Developments in Legal Professions Outside New South Wales

III. Developments in Professions other than Law

CHAPTER 4. OUR DISCUSSION PAPER

A. Our Tentative Suggestions

I. Solicitors

II. Barristers

CHAPTER 5. SOME CONSEQUENCES OF SPECIALISATION AND OF ITS REGULATION

A. Introduction

B. Fragmentation of a Profession

C. Quality of Service

I. Advantages

II. Disadvantages

I. Advantages

II. Disadvantages

I. Impact on Practitioners

II. Impact on Clients

I. General Practitioners

II. Small or Outlying Practices

III. Young Practitioners

CHAPTER 6. OUR RECOMMENDATIONS: SOLICITORS

A. Introduction

B. Our General Approach

C. Advertising About Willingness to Accept Work in Particular Fields

I. Introduction

II. The Basic Scheme

III. Controls on Terminology

IV. Directories

I. Introduction

II. “Preference” or “Special Interest”

III. Qualifications

IV. Description of Fields

V. Control of the Scheme

VI. The Law Society’s Proposals

I. Introduction

II. Distinctions in Law or Official Practice

III. Regulation of Restrictive Practices

IV. Sections

CHAPTER 7. OUR RECOMMENDATIONS: BARRISTERS

A. Introduction

B. Under the Present Divided Structure

I. Some General Considerations

II. Advertising About Willingness to Accept Work in Particular Fields of Practice

III. Other Advertising About Fields of Practice

IV. Associations of Practitioners in Particular Fields of Practice

Part III: Individual Advertising by Solicitors

CHAPTER 8. INTRODUCTION

A. Individual Advertising and Other Attraction of Business

B. The Present Position

C. A Need for Change?

D. The Scope of this Part

CHAPTER 9. THE PRESENT POSITION

A. Introduction

B. The Present Position in New South Wales

I. Introduction

II. Newspapers, Periodicals and Directories

III. Radio and Television

IV. Office Signs, Brochures and Business Cards

V. Incidental Advertising

VI. Consumer Protection and Restrictive Practices Legislation

I. An Outline

II. The Range of Restrictions

CHAPTER 10. OUR DISCUSSION PAPER

A. Introduction

B. Our Suggestions

C. Some Responses

CHAPTER 11. A NEED FOR CHANGE?

A. Introduction

B. Advantages of Relaxing the Restrictions

I. Improved Access to Legal Services

II. Innovation, Efficiency and Lower Prices

III. New Practices and Small Practices

IV. Other Methods of Attracting Business

V. Greater Utilisation of the Profession’s Services

I. Commercialism and Shoddy Work

II. Excessive Cost

III. False or Misleading Claims

IV. Unnecessary or Ineffective Advertising

V. Stirring up Litigation

CHAPTER 12. OUR RECOMMENDATIONS: A GENERAL SCHEME

A. Introduction

B. Our General Approach

I. The Need for Change

II. A Range of Options

III. Our Recommended Approach

I. Basic Prohibitions

II. Special Areas: An Approved List

III. Special Areas: Controls on Terminology

CHAPTER 13. OUR RECOMMENDATIONS: SOME PARTICULAR MEDIA

I. Introduction

II. Radio and Television

III. Signs and Brochures

IV. Telephone Directory

V. Legal Services Directory

VI. Law Almanac

Part IV: Other Forms of Attraction of Business

CHAPTER 14. COMMUNITY DISCUSSION AND SOLICITATION BY SOLICITORS

A. Introduction

B. Community Discussion

I. Introduction

II. The Present Position

III. Our Discussion Paper

IV. The Need for Change

V. Our Recommendations

I. Introduction

II. The Present Position

III. Some Relevant Considerations

IV. Our Recommendations

CHAPTER 15. ATTRACTION OF BUSINESS BY BARRISTERS

A. Introduction

B. The Present Position

I. Individual Advertising

II. Community Discussion

III. Solicitation

D. The Need for Change

E. Our Recommendations

I. Individual Advertising

II. Community Discussion

III. Solicitation

CHAPTER 16. INSTITUTIONAL ADVERTISING

A. Introduction

B. The Present Position

C. Our Recommendations

APPENDICES

I. Terms of Reference

II. Individual Advertising by Solicitors

III. Advertising Rules in British Columbia

IV. Select Bibliography

INDEX