Suitability matters
9 Suitability matters
Each of the following is a suitability matter in relation to a natural person—
whether the person is currently of good fame and character;
whether the person is or has been an insolvent under administration;
whether the person is or has been a legal practitioner director of an incorporated legal practice while the practice is or was a chapter 5 body corporate;
whether the person is or has been a director of a corporation while the corporation is or was a chapter 5 body corporate;
whether the person has been convicted of an offence in Australia or a foreign country, and if so—
the nature of the offence; and
how long ago the offence was committed; and
the person’s age when the offence was committed;
whether the person engaged in legal practice in Australia—
when not admitted to the legal profession, or not holding a practising certificate, as required under a relevant law or a corresponding law; or
if admitted to the legal profession, in contravention of a condition on which admission was granted; or
if holding an Australian practising certificate, in contravention of a condition applicable to the certificate or while the certificate was suspended;
whether the person has practised law in a foreign country—
when not permitted under a law of that country to do so; or
if permitted to do so, in contravention of a condition of the permission;
whether the person is currently subject to an unresolved complaint, investigation, charge or order under any of the following—
a relevant law;
a corresponding law;
a corresponding foreign law;
whether the person—
is the subject of current disciplinary action, however expressed, in another profession or occupation in Australia or a foreign country; or
has been the subject of disciplinary action, however expressed, relating to another profession or occupation that involved a finding of guilt;
whether the person’s name has been removed from—
a local roll but has not since been restored to or entered on a local roll; or
an interstate roll, but has not since been restored to or entered on an interstate roll; or
a foreign roll;
whether the person’s right to engage in legal practice has been suspended or cancelled in Australia or a foreign country;
whether the person has contravened, in Australia or a foreign country, a law about trust money or trust accounts;
whether, under a relevant law, a law of the Commonwealth or a corresponding law, a supervisor, manager or receiver, however described, is or has been appointed in relation to any legal practice engaged in by the person;
whether the person is or has been subject to an order under this Act, a previous Act, a law of the Commonwealth or a corresponding law, disqualifying the person from being employed by, or a partner of, an Australian legal practitioner or from managing a corporation that is an incorporated legal practice;
whether the person currently is unable to satisfactorily carry out the inherent requirements of practice as an Australian legal practitioner;
a matter declared under an Act to be a suitability matter.
A matter under subsection (1) is a suitability matter even though it happened before the commencement of this section.
This Act’s bill:Explanatory memorandum
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