The Professional Standards Scheme provides a significant benefit for Law Society members. The (original) Scheme commenced on 1 July 2014 and does not apply to claims prior to that date or prior to your commencement with the Scheme.  That Scheme ceased on 30 June 2019 and was replaced by the second Professional Standards Scheme which will operate from 1 July 2019 to 30 June 2024.

Limitation of liability

Subject to any member’s application for a higher maximum liability cut-off, the Scheme caps occupational liability of participating members to an amount of $1.5 million, $5 million or $10 million depending on the insurance policies and total annual fee income of the law practice.

Participation

The Scheme applies to Ordinary, Life and Incorporated Legal Practice members. The Law Society requires members to whom the Scheme applies to complete a Participant Information Form.

2023-24 – Please complete the relevant online Participant Information Form below

  • New Members Online Form – please complete and submit (our team will process your information and be in contact with an invoice).
  • Renewing Members Online Form – please complete form (payment will be made via the Membership Renewal invoice sent to you by the Law Society).

An annual fee per Scheme participating member, including ILPs consists of a $50 fee set by the Professional Standards Council (PSC) (GST Free), and a $45 administration fee (GST inclusive). In total, the annual Scheme fee per participant is $95 and is not subject to pro-rata. The $50 component of the annual fee is remitted by us to the PSC under legislation.

To join the Law Society as an Ordinary or ILP member please visit lawsocietywa.asn.au/join

 

2022-23 – Please use the forms below for participation related to the 2022/23 Financial Year

  • New Members Online Form – please complete and submit (our team will process your information and be in contact with an invoice).
  • Renewing Members Online Form – please complete form (payment will be made via the Membership Renewal invoice sent to you by the Law Society).

Exemption

This is an opt-out Scheme which, subject to the provisions of the Professional Standards Act 1997 (WA) applies to Law Society members. Subject to the Act, members may “opt out” by applying for exemption from the Scheme by completing the Application for Exemption form:

The Scheme will cease to apply to such a member from the date the exemption is granted.

Please be advised that due to COVID-19 we will be unable to process your exemption application via a hard-copy form until further notice and, as such, the form is no longer available to download from our website. Please forward all exemption correspondence via email to exemptions@lawsocietywa.asn.au.

Higher Maximum Amount

The Law Society has discretionary authority, on application by a participating member, to specify a higher maximum amount of liability:

Disclosure

Participating members need to disclose their limited liability status. Non-disclosure is an offence under the Professional Standards Act 1997 (WA). Further information regarding disclosure is available in the Professional Standards Scheme Guide, and on the Professional Standards Council website.

Helpful Resources

Further Information

If the Professional Standards Scheme Guide does not address your query, please contact the Scheme Coordinator on (08) 9324 8653 or pss@lawsocietywa.asn.au.