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The book "Lawyers' Professional Responsibility" by Gino Evan Dal Pont is a comprehensive treatise on the legal and professional responsibilities of lawyers in Australia. Here is a detailed overview of the book, including its key themes, structure, and critical reception:

Key Themes

  1. Professional Responsibility: The book explores the concept of professional responsibility in the legal profession, including the ethical and legal obligations that lawyers must uphold.

  2. Client Duties: It delves into the various duties that lawyers have towards their clients, including duties to act in the best interests of the client, maintain confidentiality, and avoid conflicts of interest.

  3. Administration of Justice: The book discusses the duty of lawyers to the administration of justice, including their obligations to the court and the legal system as a whole.

  4. Costs and Billing: It covers the rules and regulations regarding costs disclosure, costs agreements, and the recovery of costs from clients.

  5. Disciplinary Procedures: The book examines the disciplinary procedures and jurisdiction over lawyers, including types of misconduct and the processes for addressing such misconduct.

Structure

The book is divided into six parts, each addressing a specific aspect of lawyers' professional responsibility:

  1. Introduction:

    • Chapter 1: The Concept of Professional Responsibility
    • Chapter 2: Admission to Practice
    • Chapter 3: The Lawyer–Client Relationship

  2. Lawyers’ Duty to the Client:

    • Chapter 4: Duties to the Client and their Enforcement
    • Chapter 5: Lawyers’ Duty to Clients in Tort
    • Chapter 6: Lawyer–Client Conflict and Influence
    • Chapter 7: Concurrent Conflicts
    • Chapter 8: Acting against Former Clients
    • Chapter 9: Duty to Account
    • Chapter 10: Confidentiality
    • Chapter 11: Legal Professional Privilege
    • Chapter 12: Privilege in Aid of Settlement
    • Chapter 13: Employed (In-house) Lawyers

  3. Costs:

    • Chapter 14: Costs Disclosure and Costs Agreements
    • Chapter 15: Recovery of Costs from Clients
    • Chapter 16: Solicitors’ Liens

  4. Lawyers’ Duty to the Administration of Justice:

    • Chapter 17: Duty to the Court
    • Chapter 18: Particular Applications of the Duty to the Administration of Justice
    • Chapter 19: Duty to Obey and Uphold the Law

  5. Other Lawyer Responsibilities:

    • Chapter 20: Conduct of Practice
    • Chapter 21: Relations with the Profession and Third Parties
    • Chapter 22: Undertakings

  6. Discipline of Lawyers:

    • Chapter 23: The Disciplinary Jurisdiction
    • Chapter 24: Disciplinary Procedures
    • Chapter 25: Types of Misconduct

Critical Reception

The book is widely regarded as a comprehensive and authoritative resource on lawyers' professional responsibility in Australia. It is praised for its detailed footnoting of relevant provisions and rules in each Australian jurisdiction, making it a valuable tool for both students and practitioners.

The seventh edition, in particular, includes content and commentary on the Legal Profession Uniform Law as implemented in New South Wales and Victoria, along with the various uniform rules for both solicitors and barristers. This edition also provides comparative coverage from main common law jurisdictions, enhancing its utility for international practitioners.

Overall, "Lawyers' Professional Responsibility" by Gino Evan Dal Pont is a seminal work in the field, offering a thorough examination of the ethical and legal obligations that underpin the practice of law in Australia.