Media release
1 March 2007
Attorney-General The Hon Philip Ruddock MP and Minister for Trade The Hon Warren Truss MP
US Chief Justices Urge Better Access for Australian Lawyers
A resolution by the United States Conference of Chief Justices urging improved access for Australian lawyers in the US has been welcomed by the Australian Government.
The resolution by this prestigious and influential body was adopted at its February meeting in New Orleans and is believed to be the first time that practitioners of a specific country have been given such support.
The resolution urges the Supreme Court of every US state and territory to consider permitting Australian university law graduates who have been admitted to practise here to sit US bar exams for admission to practise there without having to undertake further study.
The development follows lobbying by the Government and the Law Council of Australia, as part of an initiative under the Australian-United States Free Trade Agreement (AUSFTA).
Only five US states automatically recognise Australian law degrees as providing eligibility to sit that state’s bar exam. All other US states and territories require applicants to have graduated from an American Bar Association accredited law school before they can sit a bar exam.
This resolution will support our efforts to negotiate for improved access with US states. We are currently negotiating such an agreement with Delaware, and are making approaches to other US states of commercial interest to Australia.
The Resolution comes after a presentation to the Chief Justices from an Australian delegation representing the Australia-United States Legal Services Initiative, which was launched under the Australia-United States Free Trade Agreement Working Group on Professional Services.
The Legal Services Initiative enjoys the joint support of the Law Council of Australia, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Attorney-General’s Department, the International Legal Services Advisory Council, the Council of Australian Law Deans and the Department of Education, Science and Technology.
The Initiative is also progressing mutual recognition discussions with individual US States with the objective of gaining greater access for Australian lawyers and law firms to the US legal services market.
Media Inquiries: Minister Truss' office 02 6277 7420 - Michael Pelly (Mr Ruddock) - 02 6277 7300