Legal Profession Act 2007

A law practice may do any of the following in relation to trust money held in a general trust account or controlled money account of the practice for a person—

exercise a lien, including a general retaining lien, for the amount of legal costs reasonably due and owing by the person to the practice;

withdraw money for payment to the practice’s account for legal costs owing to the practice if the relevant procedures or requirements under this Act or prescribed under a regulation are complied with;

after deducting any legal costs properly owing to the practice, deal with the balance as unclaimed money under section 713.

Subsection (1) applies despite any other provision of this part but has effect subject to part 3.4.