Professional Standards Scheme Participation/Exemption Form

The Law Society’s Professional Standards Scheme allows Members of the Law Society (including Barrister Members and ILP Company Members) to cap their occupational liability to a limit of $1.5million or $10million, depending on the size and turnover of the Legal Practice, and to the extent that liability can be limited under the Professional Standards Act 2004 (SA).

All practitioners in private practice should elect to either participate or apply for an exemption, using this online form.

Generally, within a Legal Practice, all practitioners will either participate or exempt (i.e. all do the same thing). You should first check with your HR Manager / Practice Manager as to whether you should select ‘Participate’ or ‘Exempt’.

Participation

Admitted members who hold a practising certificate automatically participate in the Professional Standards Scheme as part of the Professional Standards Act 2004 (SA) and subject to eligibility under the Professional Standards Scheme Instrument.

If you have previously received an exemption and wish to revoke that exemption, you can do so by completing this form.

Information about the size and turnover of the Legal Practice allows us to determine the applicable liability cap.

The participation fee is comprised of an annual registration fee payable to the Professional Standards Council, plus an administration fee which is pro rated quarterly and subject to GST.

The fee for the period 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025 is $324, inclusive of the registration fee payable to the Professional Standards Council.

Exemption

Practitioners who do not want to participate should complete the Exemption application form. Exemptions require the approval of the Law Society’s Professional Standards Scheme Committee.

Barristers who are members of the South Australian Bar Association and covered by the SABA Professional Standards Scheme, should apply for exemption from the Law Society Professional Standards Scheme.

Australia Registered Foreign Lawyers are ineligible to participate in the Scheme however must still apply for an exemption.

For any questions please contact the Law Society at pss@lawsocietysa.asn.au.

Privacy Statement

The information in this form is collected to enable the Law Society of South Australia (the Society) to administer the the Society Professional Standards Scheme and to comply with the requirements of the Professional Standards Act 2004 (SA) (Act). Information in this form may be disclosed by the Society to Professional Standards Council established under the Act. The Society is bound by the National Privacy Principles set out in the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth). The information you have provided on this form can be accessed by you in accordance with these principles and the Society's Privacy Policy which is available at www.lawsocietysa.asn.au/privacy.