Ethics & Professional Responsibility
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
2. Communication with the Court
Expunge
- Vacating Dates Fixed for Hearing (Expunged)
3. Conduct of Criminal Prosecutions by Legal Practitioners
PD
4. Court Etiquette
PD
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
GN
7. Legal Practitioner not to Act if he is a Witness
PD
8. Letters of Demand
PD
9. Relationship with Client or Court
PD
2. Law Society
1. Relationship with the Law Society
PD
- Challenging Another Legal Practitioner on Law Society’s Rulings
- Complaints under Section 85 of the Legal Profession Act
- Enquiries to Relevant Committee
- Representations Made by the Law Society
Expunged
- Confidentiality of Law Society Circulars (Expunged)
3. Legal Practitioner's Practice: Operational Matters
1. Ad Hoc Admissions
GN
2. Anti-Money Laundering Obligations
PD
3. Client and Conveyancing Accounts
PD
- Drawing Money for Legal Costs from Client Account
- Engagement of a Book-Keeper under the Legal Profession (Solicitors’ Accounts) Rules
- Query: Accountant’s Report Rules – Accounting Period Under Review and Reconciliation of Ledger Balance
- Query: Accountant’s Report Rules – Delivery of Accountant’s Report by Salaried Partners
- Query: Deposit Interest Rules – Application of Rule 2 to Client Moneys
- Query: Solicitors’ Accounts Rules – Application of the Rules on Cash, Cheques and Deposit Accounts
- Query: Solicitors’ Accounts Rules – Opening a Fixed Deposit Account with Finance Company
- Query: Solicitors’ Accounts Rules – Payment into Client and Office Accounts
- Query: Solicitors’ Accounts Rules – Self Representation by Solicitor or Representation by Firm Where Solicitor is Partner
- Responsibilities and Duties of a Second Signatory under the Legal Profession (Solicitors’ Accounts) Rules
- Online Digital Payments from Client Accounts
GN
Expunged
- Moneys Drawn on Client Account in Satisfaction of Solicitor’s Costs (Expunged)
4. Cloud Computing
GN
5. Description and Professional Stationery
PD
Expunged
- Corporate Stationery (Expunged)
6. Locum Solicitors
PD
7. Operating a Law Practice
PD
- Photocopy Charges
- Sole Practitioners – Arrangements for Continuance of Practice
- Telex and Facsimile Charges
GN
Expunged
- Status of Associates (Expunged)
8. Outside Activities
PD
9. Practice Trainees
PD
- Applications for Practice Trainees to Appear Before a Judge or Registrar
- Responsibilities in Supervising Practice Trainee
GN
Expunged
- Practice Training Contracts (Expunged)
10. Practising Certificates
GN
- Application for Practising Certificate when Section 25A of the Legal Profession Act Applies
- Replacement on Roll of Solicitor who has been Struck Off
11. Prohibitions Concerning Unauthorised Persons
PD
12. Storage and Destruction of Documents
PD
GN
13. Tax Matters
PD
Expunged
- International Law Conferences – Tax Deductions Allowable (Expunged)
- Withholding Tax on Interest (Expunged)
14. Unclaimed Money Fund
PD
15. E-mail Correspondence
GN
4. Legal Practitioner's Practice Areas
1. Admiralty
PD
Expunged
- Out of Hours Arrest of Vessels / Cargo in Admiralty (Expunged)
2. Charities
Expunged
- Charity Proceedings (Expunged)
3. Criminal Practice
PD
4. Family Practice
Expunged
- Adoption Procedure (Expunged)
5. Insurance
PD
Expunged
- Notification of Proceedings – Motor Insurers’ Bureau (Expunged)
6. Wills and Probate
PD
Expunged
- Estate Duty – Delays in Assessment (Expunged)
7. Equity Capital Market
GN
5. Legal Practitioner's Remuneration
1. Equity in Lieu of Fees
PD
2. Fee Agreements
PD
Expunged
- Fee Agreements in Writing (Expunged)
3. Payment of Legal Fees by Electronic Payment Methods
PD
4. Prohibition Against the Use of Debt Collectors
PD
5. Sharing of Fees
PD
6. Conditional Fee Agreements
GN
6. Publicity and Media Related Matters
1. Ethics and Information Technology
PD
GN
2. Scope of Publicity and General Responsibilities
PD
- Advertisement and Media Publicity
- Distribution of Flyers or Leaflets
- Identification of Legal Practitioners or Law Practices
- Publicity by Legal Practitioners Through Public Appearances and Contributions to Publications
- Visiting Cards – Legal Practitioners
Expunged
- Greeting Cards (Expunged)
- Third Party Publicity (Expunged)
7. Relationship and Dealings with Clients
1. Client Care
PD
- Confirming Instructions and Keeping Attendance Notes
- Limitation of Civil Liability
- Trade Marks and Company Names
GN
- Informing a Client of his Right to Taxation or Review of a Fee Agreement
- Advisory on Dispute Resolution Options for Potential Litigants
2. Conflict of Interest
PD
- Acting Against a Public Authority
- Acting for Both Applicant Creditor and Provisional Liquidator
- Acting for Both Complainant and Accused
- Acting for Both Debenture Holder of a Company and Receiver Appointed by the Holder
- Council Ruling: Conflict of Interest – Acting Against Former Client in Litigation Pertaining to Same Transaction
- Council Ruling: Conflict of Interest – Mortgagor / Mortgagee
Expunged
- Interest in a Public Authority (Expunged)
3. Termination of Retainer and Withdrawal
PD
- Copies of Documents
- Legal Practitioner on Record
- No Taking Over Brief Until Retainer Determined and Basis of Second Opinion
- Transfer of Clients’ Moneys on Dissolution
GN
4. Warrant to Act, Letter of Engagement and Referrals from Third Parties
PD
- Correspondences to Potential Clients Where Legal Practitioner is Permitted to Act for More than One Client in a Transaction
- Reservation of Rights in Warrant to Act or Letter of Engagement
- Warrant to Act, Letter of Engagement and Referrals from Third Parties
GN
8. Relationship between Legal Practitioners
1. Allegation Against Another Legal Practitioner
PD
2. Bill of Costs
Expunged
- Bill of Costs – Objection Notation (Expunged)
3. Communications
PD
Expunged
- Communication with Clients of Other Solicitors (Expunged)
- Dealings with the Opposing Party (Expunged)
4. Confidentiality
PD
5. Courtesy and Fairness
PD
- Acknowledgment of Documents
- Advising a Friend who is a Client of Another Legal Practitioner
- Draft Documents
- Legal Practitioner on Record Not Entitled to Refuse Service of Documents
- Obtaining Evidence of a Legal Practitioner’s Misconduct by Entrapment or by Illegal or Improper Means
- Phone Etiquette
- Professional Conference
- Protracted Arguments in Chambers
- Relations with Other Legal Practitioners
- 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
8. Responsibilities for Fees
PD
Expunged
- Fees for Court Attendance by Government Doctors / Employees (Expunged)
- Fees Payable to Notary Public (Expunged)
9. Sustainable Practice
GN
9. Relationship with Third Parties
1. Specific Dealings with Third Parties
PD