The Legal Practitioners Act 1981 and Legal Practitioners Regulations 2014 apply where a reference to the Act or a regulation is made unless otherwise specified.
Pursuant to Section 44(2) of the Legislation Interpretation Act 2021, if an Act or legislative instrument requires or allows a thing to de done but the last day for doing it is a day that is not a business day, then the thing must be done on the next day that is a business day.
Please contact [email protected] if you have any questions. We are here to help.
31 March
Mandatory Continuing Professional Development End of the MCPD year. Last date to complete prescribed MCPD units. If you are non-compliant at this date, see the Law Society's MCPD webpage for further information regarding rectifying MCPD non-compliance.
Download iCalendar Reminder for 31 March Mandatory Continuing Professional Development.
1 April
Legal Practice Annual Trust Account Signatories Notification
During April of each year, the law practice must give the Society written notice of the associates (including their names and addresses) who are authorised as at 31 March of that year – see regulation 33(3)(b).
Please use the Legal Practice Annual Trust Account Signatories Notification Online Form after 31 March and no later than 30 April.
Download iCalendar Reminder for 1 April Legal Practice Annual Trust Account Signatories Notification.
14 April
Mandatory Continuing Professional Development [Lodgement of Compliance Certificate, or Rectification Plan, or Intimation Form] Last Date to:
See all MCPD-related forms available to you via your Law Society account, under My MCPD.
Download iCalendar Reminder for 14 April Mandatory Continuing Development [Lodgement of Compliance Certificate, or Rectification Plan, or Intimation Form].
31 May
Legal Practitioners Combined Trust Account [CTA Calculation] End of Combined Trust Account calculation period 1 December to 31 May. See Section 53 of the Act. Law practices with a general trust bank account must complete a CTA calculation (online option) and may be required to make a deposit or lodge a CTA Notice of Withholding (online) no later than 14 June. See our Trust Accounting Forms.
Download iCalendar Reminder for 31 May Legal Practitioners Combined Trust Account [CTA Calculation].
Law practices that are exempt from the PII scheme must submit their Currency of Insurance for the proceeding policy year. Please see Law Claims for more information about the PII scheme and exemptions.
Download iCalendar Reminder for 31 May PI Insurance Exemption.
Last date to complete rectification of MCPD non-compliance. See all MCPD-related forms available to you via your Law Society account, under My MCPD.
Download iCalendar Reminder for 31 May Mandatory Continuing Professional Development [Rectification].
Last date to lodge statutory declaration confirming completion of MCPD rectification. See all MCPD-related forms available to you via your Law Society account, under My MCPD.
Download iCalendar Reminder for 7 June Mandatory Continuing Professional Development [Rectification Submission].
Last date to make a deposit to the Legal Practitioners Combined Trust Account or lodge an online CTA Notice of Withholding for the CTA calculation period 1 December to 31 May. Refer to Section 53 of the Act. See our Trust Accounting Forms.
Download iCalendar Reminder for 14 June Legal Practitioners Combined Trust Account [CTA Deposit or Withholding Due Date].
Complete the online Statement Regarding Receipt or Holding of Trust Money. This applies to all law practices regardless of whether a trust bank account is maintained, or other trust money has been received or held. If directed in the Statement, send the Statement to your appointed External Examiner no later than 31 August. See our Trust Accounting Forms.
If applicable (per completion of Statement AB), book a date to have the law practice accounts and records externally examined as quickly as possible. Give the examiner sufficient time in which to conduct the examination, prepare the report, and submit same to the Society no later than 31 October.
Download iCalendar Reminder for 30 June End of Financial Year Obligations for all Law Practices.
Expiry of Practising Certificates, PI Insurance and Law Society Membership, unless renewed. Ensure the Law Society records for yourself and your law practice are up to date by visiting your Law Society Account.
Download iCalendar Reminder for 30 June Practising Certificates, PI Insurance, and Law Society Membership [Expiry].
Commencement of new Practising Certificates, PI Insurance and Law Society Membership. Ensure the Law Society records for yourself and your law practice are up to date by visiting your Law Society Account.
Download iCalendar Reminder for 1 July Practising Certificates, PI Insurance and Law Society Membership [Commencement].
During July, provide clients with trust account statements unless exemptions apply pursuant to regulation 40(7). Please see Trust Accounting Regulations and Resources for more information about trust accounting management.
Download iCalendar Reminder for 1 July Trust Account Statements.
Last date to submit Low Income Sole Practitioner Declaration in respect of taxable income for the sole practice in respect of the previous financial year. See our Insurance Forms. Ensure the Law Society records for yourself and your law practice are up to date by visiting your Law Society Account.
Download iCalendar Reminder for 31 August Low Income Sole Practitioner Obligations [Declaration].
Last date on which to complete and submit the Statement Regarding Receipt or Holding of Trust Money to the Society or to your External Examiner as directed in the Statement. See our Trust Accounting Forms.
Download iCalendar Reminder for 31 August End of Financial Year Obligations for all Law Practices.
Last date for External Examiners to submit law practice External Examination Reports to the Society for the financial year ended 30 June. See our External Examiners/External Examinations Forms.
Download iCalendar Reminder for 31 October External Examination of Accounts and Records.
End of Combined Trust Account calculation period 1 June to 30 November. See Section 53 of the Act. Law practices with a general trust bank account must complete a CTA calculation (online option) and may be required to make a deposit or lodge a CTA Notice of Withholding (online) no later than 14 December. See our Trust Accounting Forms.
Download iCalendar Reminder for 30 November Legal Practitioners Combined Trust Account [CTA Calculation].
All law practices seeking exemption from the PII Scheme must submit an application for exemption by 31 December. The exemption application is for the next policy year, i.e., commencing 1 July the next year. All practices with existing exemptions will be contacted regarding re-application. For more information about seeking an exemption from the PII scheme, please click here to access the Revised Exemption Protocol on Applications for Exemption from the obligation to insure with the SA PII Scheme.
Download iCalendar Reminder for 1 December PII Scheme Exemption.
Last date on which to make a deposit to the Legal Practitioners Combined Trust Account or lodge a CTA Notice of Withholding (online) for the CTA calculation period 1 June to 30 November. Refer to Section 53 of the Act. See our Trust Accounting Forms.
Download iCalendar Reminder for 14 December Legal Practitioners Combined Trust Account [CTA Deposit or Withholding Due Date].
All individual legal practitioners must complete 10 units of CPD activity (which includes the 4 required units) over the course of the CPD year (1 April – 31 March) as a condition of every Practising Certificate issued to an individual in South Australia. The 4 required units are:
The Society has resources and information pertaining to Trust Accounts, which can assist legal practitioners in complying with the relevant legislation.
The Society established and operates the Legal Practitioners Professional Indemnity Insurance Scheme (the Scheme) pursuant to the Legal Practitioners Act 1981 (SA), with all practising certificates issued by the Law Society subject to the requirement to satisfy insurance obligations either: