Legal Profession Act 2007

A law practice must not withdraw trust money from a general trust account otherwise than by—

cheque; or

if the practice is authorised by the law society to withdraw trust money from a general trust account by electronic funds transfer—electronic funds transfer.

Without limiting subsection (1), the following are specifically prohibited by the subsection—

cash withdrawals;

ATM withdrawals or transfers;

telephone banking withdrawals or transfers;

unless the law practice is authorised by the law society to withdraw trust money from a general trust account by electronic funds transfer—withdrawals by electronic funds transfer.

A regulation may make provision in relation to withdrawals by cheque or electronic funds transfer, including, for example, the matters the law society must have regard to in deciding to authorise a law practice to withdraw trust money from a general trust account by electronic funds transfer.

This section has effect despite anything to the contrary in a direction given to the law practice concerned, even if the direction is given by a person who is otherwise legally entitled to give the law practice directions in relation to dealings with the trust money.