Recording: Legal Practice Ethics: Destruction of client documents – s 713A LPA

A new section 713A of the Legal Profession Act 2007 (Qld) came into force on 1 February 2024, following the passing of the Justice and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2023 (Qld) on 13 September 2023.

Section 713A prescribes the circumstances in which a law practice (including a community legal services) and the Queensland Law Society may destroy client documents, and the circumstances in which the destruction of client documents will constitute unsatisfactory professional conduct or professional misconduct.

The aim of this amendment is to address the increasing risk to clients’ privacy and confidentiality arising from the prolonged retention of client documents by law practices, the Queensland Law Society and community legal centres, and the mounting substantial costs associated with securely storing large volumes of client files that are no longer of utility in the Legal Profession Act 2007 (Qld).

In this webinar, MinterEllison will discuss the application of section 713A and what is best practice when it comes to the destruction of client documents.

Solicitors and Barristers can claim 1 CPD ethics point for this webinar.