For the purposes of s 335(5)(a) of the Legal Profession Act 2007 (Qld), the 12-month limitation period for a costs application runs from the date the first bill (whether lump sum or itemised) is given to the client; the subsequent delivery of an itemised bill does not trigger a fresh limitation period. A client who receives a lump sum bill and later requests an itemised bill must still bring any costs application within 12 months of the original bill, or seek an extension of time under s 335(6). Similar provisions in other States' legal profession legislation are likely to be construed consistently.
The full text is available to signed-in members, including the 1 later case that cites this judgment.