XN000022-1996-02-06 — Page 6

5 -

The Law Society has published a Guide to Professional Conduct which sets out standards of client care, including the provision of information costs.

The Bar Association has abolished the two-counsel rule; it has required all practising barristers to take out professional indemnity insurance; and it proposes to amend its Code of Conduct so that employed barristers may instruct practising barristers directly.

The Administration welcomed these initiative and would monitor the continuing implementation of these recommendations, Mr Mathews noted.

Furthermore, he said, since a number of other proposals that were supported by the public relate to matters of professional practice, the Administration would encourage the two professional bodies to implement them themselves.

These recommendations are:

*

advertising restrictions should be relaxed;

the Bar Association should actively encourage the dissemination of information about the services offered and fees charged by barristers;

there is a need to improve the standard of client care;

solicitors' firms should have a complaints-handling procedure; and

the Law Society and Bar Association should be able to investigate allegations of shoddy work and to require a legal practitioner to take specified remedial action.

Further study by Administration

AGC, on its part, will conduct further study into:

Retention of the status of Queen's Counsel (under a different name) The Administration continues to give support for this recommendation and for solicitors who acquire full rights of audience to be eligible to acquire the status. It will discuss with the Chief Justice, the Bar Association and the Law Society the best method of implementing it.