InBrief

Attorney General Robert McClelland has address to the Law Council's 36th Australian Legal Convention in Perth. The attorney touched on issues such as national security and counter-terrorism legislation, but focussed most of his attention on access to justice. In particular, he criticised the billable hour, noting that:

...the cost of legal services is undoubtedly a major barrier to people accessing the justice system. The perception, true or otherwise, that engaging a lawyer will be too costly discourages many from seeking legal advice. This perception is difficult to shift when many lawyers remain wedded to a time sheet costing that is based on time rather than outcomes. In some ways that system rewards inefficiency over value.

18 September 2009