• Professional Conduct

Role

The Council of the NSW Bar Association exercises statutory functions in relation to practising certificates and deals with disciplinary matters concerning barristers, pursuant to the Legal Profession Uniform Law (NSW) and associated legal profession legislation.

In carrying out those functions the Council is supported by a team of legally qualified staff who provide secretariat assistance to the Bar Council in exercising its regulatory functions under the Uniform Law, including certification of barristers to practice and investigation and resolution of complaints.

The Certification and Regulatory Lawyer administers the procedures for certification or registration of barristers in NSW in accordance with the Legal Profession Uniform Law (NSW) and associated legal profession legislation.

The staff of the Professional Conduct team also work with other Association lawyers and external stakeholders on policy matters and, when necessary, law reform issues.

Responsibilities

• Provide high-level professional assistance to the Bar Council, its Committees, the Executive Director, Director Professional Conduct and other Association staff in relation to the Bar Council’s statutory responsibilities under the legal profession legislation, including those relating to practising certificates and barristers’ practice matters generally.
• Ensuring the correct, up-to-date information about barristers is held on the NSW Bar Association’s databases, and complies with legislative requirements
• Administering the procedures for certification or registration of barristers in NSW in accordance with the Legal Profession Uniform Law (NSW) and associated legal profession legislation and rules
• Undertaking investigation of issues arising from the certification process (including disclosures and compliance with the provisions relating to trust money accounts) and/or working with the Professional Conduct lawyers and PCCs in complex matters
• Identifying issues that may affect a person’s fitness to hold a practising certificate and escalating to the Director Professional Conduct
• Researching, managing and responding to queries concerning the interpretation and application of the Legal Profession Uniform Law (NSW) and associated legal profession legislation, as they relate to the certification/registration process
• Monitoring compliance with conditions on barristers’ practising certificates (PCs), reporting to the Director, Professional Conduct on breaches and non-compliance, and reporting to Bar Council in cases that require action to be taken
• Ensuring compliance by barristers with their obligations to hold professional indemnity insurance (PII)
• The CRL is also the point of contact for external stakeholders on certification and registration issues, particularly members of the profession, the Law Society of NSW, the Legal Profession Admission Board, the NSW Legal Services Commissioner and equivalent interstate/overseas bodies
• Working collaboratively under the direction of the Director Professional Conduct, with the Lawyers Professional Conduct and external solicitors and counsel retained on behalf of the Bar Association to investigate practising certificate issues, including any matters proceeding to litigation
• Considering and processing PC applications made under the Mutual Recognition Act and Trans-Tasman legislation
• Respond to inquiries from the public and the profession in relation to the regulation of the profession generally.
• Liaise with co-regulators in NSW and regulatory counterparts inter-state and overseas.

Work outside the core standard hours may occasionally be necessary. The Certification and Regulatory Lawyer, Professional Conduct reports to the Director, Professional Conduct.

Essential skills and experience

• tertiary legal qualifications
• 3+ years PQE experience within the legal profession or in regulatory work
• demonstrated effective case management
• demonstrated analytical and flexible problem solving skills
• ability to manage a high volume of work
• excellent written and oral communication skills
• proven ability and aptitude to work with a small team
• ability to work with electronic database and case management systems.

If this sounds like the right opportunity for you, please click "Apply Now".

The Association is committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. We welcome applications from all eligible candidates, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religious affiliation, age or disability. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are encouraged to apply.

We work in a CBD location with hybrid work conditions (office/work from home).

If you require further information, please contact Ms Stephanie Mancell, Director, Professional Conduct on 9232 4055.