EXTERNAL EXAMINER’S CHECK LIST
Legal Profession Uniform Law and
Legal Profession Uniform General Rules (2015)
for the period to
1.The External Examiner’s Check List for:--
______
INSERT NAME OF LAW PRACTICE
was completed on:Insert date
Completed by:
Insert name of External examiner
Signature of External Examiner
Index / Content / Page / Yes / N/A
Division 1 / Trust Money
This division requires the External Examiner to address questions on the rules which are common to trust money and trust records. / 4
Division 2 / General Trust Account / 7
Division 3 / Controlled Money / 15
Division4 / Transit Money / 18
Division 5 / Trust Money Subject to Specific Power / 18
Division 6 / Trust Money Subject to Written Direction / 18
Division 7 / Register of Powers and Estates in Relation to Trust Money / 19
Division 8 / Investment of Trust Money / 19
Division 9 / Register of Investments / 20
Division 10 / Registers and Matter Files / 20
Division11 / Mortgage Money / 21
Division 12 / Statutory Deposit / 22
Note:Divisions 1 to 11 include a question which allows the person completing the check list to indicate the whole division is not applicable. It is not required to tick each not applicable box in the division. If, for example, the law practice has not received, disbursed or held controlled money then a tick will be placed in “Not Applicable” and move to the next division.
2.The review period is 1 April to 31 March. The applicable legislation is Legal Profession Uniform Law and Legal Profession Uniform General Rules 2015 which commenced on 1 July 2015.
Examiners will note that the checklist records some breaches with a “-“ at the end of the breach followed by a number. This has been introduced for rules with more than one requirement for the record. It now allows the Examiner to report only that piece of information that is not recorded in the required record.
3.The External Examiner’s Report is required to be completed by aperson who is registered asa designated person with the Designated Local Regulatory Authority.
4.Upon being appointed as an Examinerby a law practice, the Examiner should remind the law practice of its obligation to notify the designated local regulatory authority in writing of such appointment if they have not already done so. A notification form – Notification of Appointment or Cessation of External Examiner is available on thewebsite of the designated local regulatory authority.
5.The Check List has been prepared to guide the law practice and Examiners through the examination of the various forms of trust records maintained by the law practice and to assist in the assessment of compliance with the Legal Profession Uniform General Rules.The use of the Check List is not mandatory.
6.A completed copy of the check list together with other review documentation should be retained by the Examiner as part of their work papers.
7.The Examiner should apply professional judgement together with the various standards prescribed by the professional bodies which cover the individual circumstances of each examination.
8.The objective of the check list is to assist the Examiner to form an opinion, amongst other things, on the following whether:
- any information recorded in the law practice’s or approved clerk’s Law Practice Confirmation and Statement of Trust Money is not true.
- the trust records for the various types of trust money have been properly kept in accordance with the provisions of the Legal Profession Uniform Law and Legal Profession Uniform General Rules (2015).
- all necessary trust records were produced to the Examiner as requested for the purpose of the examination and that the records were kept in a way that enables the records to be conveniently and properly externally examined.
- the trust records have been kept in a way that at all times discloses the true position in relation to trust money received by the law practice.
9.It is necessary to conduct appropriate examination, sampling techniques and enquiries to form an opinion as to whether the accounting records have been maintained in accordance with the Legal Profession Uniform Law and Legal Profession Uniform General Rules (2015). Examiners must use their own judgement, from the examination of the trust records, to form an opinion. The designated local regulatory authorities will not offer advice as to whether an issue in the records warrants a breach of the Act or Rules or a qualified report.
10.Breachesof the Legal Profession Uniform Law and Legal Profession Uniform General Rules (2015) are to be recorded on Schedule 1 of the External Examiner’s Report with suitable comments as to the dates of the recorded breach if applicable.
11.The name of the law practice should be accurately recorded at Law Practice and Approved Clerks Confirmation and Statement of Trust Money. Any change to the name of the law practice during the period may require a separate External Examiner’s Report to be prepared for the relevant period.
12.All legal practitioners who were principals of a law practice or in the case of a sole principal, the legal practitioner, or in the case of an incorporated legal practice, all legal practitioner directors at any time during the applicable period – 1 April to 31 Marchor part period thereof should be listed in Paragraph 5 Law Practice and Approved Clerks Statement of Trust Money Part B.
13.All general trust accounts operated during the period should be included in the Law Practice and Approved Clerks Statement of Trust Money Part B in the Table headed “Trust Bank Details that have been opened or closed during the period”. Examples of where this may be relevant are:
(i)change of authorised ADI’s
(ii)change or closure of the relevant branch of the authorisedADI
(iii)opening/closure of additional general trust accounts
(iv)change of authorisedADI account number
Particular emphasis should be placed upon general trust accounts closed during the reporting period. Any general trust account recorded as having a balance as at 31 Marchmust be included in Law Practice and Approved Clerks Statement of Trust Money Part B in the Table headed “Trust Bank Details that have been opened or closed during the period”.
14.Alisting of Authorised ADI’s is available on the designated local regulatory authorities website. For NSW:
For Victoria:
15.Ascertain all general trust accounts, controlled money accounts, accounts subject to a power and details of any investment of trust money disclosed by the accounting records which will be subject to the check list. Details should be summarised in the Law Practice and Approved Clerks Statement of Trust Money Part B.
16.Transit Money (Division 4) - There is no particular accounting records or register required by the Legal Profession Uniform Law to be maintained for transit money. Law Practices entrusted with no other form of trust money other than transit money are not required to lodge an External Examiner’s Report. It should be noted that section 143(1) of Legal Profession Uniform Law requires transit money received in the form of cash is to be deposited in the first instance to the general trust account.
17.Trust Money Subject to a Power –Para 3 of the Law Practice and Approved Clerks Statement of Trust Money Part Brequires the recording of the total value of trust money subject to a power as at 31 March. If a precise figure cannot be determined, then an approximation should be provided. If a meaningful approximation cannot be made, then the box should be marked “not known”.
18.The decision as to whether or not paid cheques need to be sighted is left to the discretion of the Examiner.The method and number of transactions selected is determined by each Examiner. If the External Examiner is satisfied that the source records substantiate the payment transactions then the External Examiner may determine that the sighting of the paid cheques is not required.
19.In relation to the calculation of the Statutory Deposit, the Designated Local Authority does not require the Examiner to check the calculation but asks to confirm that a calculation has been made in the relevant period and the amount held on statutory deposit is supported by a Authorised ADI document.
20.The External Examiner’s Report must be lodged with designated local regulatory authority by 15 May to ensure processing and any matters arising may be addressed within the financial year. In the event that 15 May falls on a Saturday or Sunday or a public holiday, the External Examiner’s Report may then be lodged on the next working day. If the External Examiner’s Report is delayed as a result of an Authorised ADI’s delay in providing information, examiners are requested to lodge the External Examiner’s Report with a note in paragraph 7 of the Report advising that the examiner is awaiting information from the Authorised ADI. It is imperative that the Examiner notifies the Designated Regulatory Authority as soon as possible after receipt of the information from the Authorised ADI advising that satisfactory information has been received from the Authorised ADI and that no further action is required by the designated local regulatory authority. If substantial matters are noted in paragraph 7 of the External Examiner’s Report examiner’s are asked to forward a copy of the External Examiner’s Report to designated local regulatory authority for:
- NSW - The Chief Trust Account Investigator & Supervisor, Law Society of New South Wales, 170 Phillip Street Sydney NSW 2000or by email to .
- VIC – all documentation will be submitted via LSB Online.
21.The Examiner is required to submit the External Examiner’s Report to the online lodgement system. A copy should be provided to the law practice.
Final Report - 2016-11-25 - Session 7E - Annexure E - External Examiner s Check List.DOC 1 of 22
DIVISION 1 (TRUST MONEY)
Section / 1. / KEEPING OF TRUST RECORDSOBJECTIVE:is to ensure the law practice has maintained records in accordance with the rules and has complied with the requirements of the Legal Profession Uniform Law and Legal Profession Uniform General Rules (2015) and the former Legal Profession Act, 2004 and Legal Profession Regulation, 2005 during the period covered by the examination.
Clause(s) / Item /
Yes
/No
/N/A
/Comments
The objective is to ensure that the law practice is keeping trust records as defined in permanent form.S147(2)(d) / 1.1 / Are Trust Records retained for seven years?
Section / 2. / COMPUTERISED ACCOUNTING SYSTEMS
OBJECTIVE: is to ensure that law practice computerised accounting system complies with the requirements of the Rules.
Rule(s) /Item
/Yes
/No
/N/A
/Comments
2.1 / Are Trust Records maintained by means of a computerised accounting system? /If response is “NO” go to Section 3
2.2 / Is a record kept of all changes (by creation, amendment or deletion) to:39(2)(a) / 2.21 / client name?
39(2)(b) / 2.22 / client address?
39(2)(c) / 2.23 / matter reference?
39(2)(d) / 2.24 / matter description?
39(2)(e) / 2.25 / ledger account number or other descriptor? (if different from matter reference)?
39(2) / 2.3 / Is the record of changes retained by the law practice?
40(2)(a)-1 / 2.4 / (i)Does the program accept an entry of a transaction resulting in a debit balance to any ledger account?
40(2)(a)-2 / 2.5 / (ii)Is a report of such entries produced?
2.6 / Does the program allow the deletion of a trust account ledger if there:
40(2)(b)(i)-a / 2.61 / (i)is a balance on the ledger?
40(2)(b)(i)-b / 2.62 / (ii)are unpresented cheques relating to the ledger?
40(2)(b)(ii) / 2.7 / Are copies of deleted ledgers retained in permanent form?
40(2)(c) / 2.8 / Are the entries in records produced in permanent form in chronological sequence
40(2)(d) / 2.9 / Are pages of printed reports numbered so as no page can be extracted?
40(2)(e) / 2.10 / Are entries already recorded capable of being amended otherwise than by a transaction separately recorded?
40(2)(f) / 2.11 / Are fields requiring input compulsory?
41(2)(a) / 2.12 / Is a back-up copy of all records made at least once per month?
41(2)(c) / 2.13 / Is the most recent back-up copy kept in a separate location so that any incident that may adversely affect the records would not also affect the back-up copy?
Section / 3. / TRUST ACCOUNT STATEMENTS -TRUST MONEY
Rule(s) /
Item
/Yes
/No
/N/A
/Comments
The objective is to ensure that Trust Accounts Statements are sent for all Trust Money received (other than transit money and written direction money)Note: The provisions of Rule 52relating to the furnishing of Trust Account Statements do not apply to acommercial or government clients to the extent to which the client directs the law practice not to provide trust account statements – see Rule 53.
3.1 / Are trust account statements given as soon as practicable after:
52(4)(a) / 3.1.1 / (a)completion of each matter?
52(4)(b) / 3.1.2 / (b)a reasonable request from the person on whose behalf the money is held?
82(6)(c) / 3.2 / Were trust account statements as soon as practicable sent after 30 June 2015 for accounts not except in 3.21, 3.22 and 3.23 below?
Note: the provisions of clause 82(6) the Legal Profession Regulation, 2005 are applicable for statements issued after 30 June 2015
If statements were not sent for certain accounts,
3.2.1 / (a)were the accounts open for less than six months? or
3.2.2 / (b)was the balance of the ledger account or record zero and no transaction has taken place within the previous 12 months? Or
3.2.3 / (c)has a trust account statement been furnished within the previous 12 months and there have been no subsequent transactions affecting the ledger account or record ?
3.3 / Do trust account statements disclose:
52(3)(a) / 3.3.1 / (a)the same detail as required by Rule47 for trust ledgers?
52(3)(b) / 3.3.2 / (b)the remaining balance (if any) of the money ?
52(7) / 3.3.3 / Are copies of trust account statements retained?
Section / 4. / WITHDRAWING TRUST MONEY FOR LEGAL COSTS /
Comments
Rule(s) /Item
/Yes
/No
/N/A
The objective is to ensure the law practice is complying with the procedures in regard to the withdrawal of money from a trust or controlled money account for legal costs.NOTE: This Ruleprescribes, for the purposes of section 144(2) of Legal Profession Uniform Law the procedure for the withdrawal of trust money held in a general trust account or controlled money account of a law practice for payment of legal costs owing to the practice by the person for whom the trust money was paid into the account.
42(3) / 4.1 / The law practice may withdraw the trust money if the law practice has given the person a bill relating to the money and referring to the proposed withdrawal, and:
(a)if the person does not, at the end of the period of 7 business days after the person was given the bill, object to the amount specified in the bill, or
(b)if the person objects to the amount specified in the bill within the period of 7 business days after being given the bill but has not referred the matter to the designated local regulatory authority or for costs assessment, and the period of 30 days after the later of the following dates has expired:
(i)the date on which the person was given the bill,
(ii)the date on which the person received an itemised bill following a request made in accordance with section 187 of the Uniform Law, or
(c)if the money otherwise becomes legally payable.
42(4) / 4.2 / The law practice may withdraw the trust money (whether or not the law practice has given the person a bill relating to the money):
(a)if the money is withdrawn in accordance with instructions that have been received by the law practice and that authorise the withdrawal, and
(b)if, before effecting the withdrawal, the law practice gives or sends to the person:
(i)a request for payment, referring to the proposed withdrawal, or
(ii)a written notice of withdrawal.
Note:In relation to the instructions (See Rule 42(7)):
(i)if given in writing, must be kept as a permanent record, or
(ii)if not given in writing, must be confirmed in writing either before, or not later than 5 working days after, the law practice effects the withdrawal and a copy must be kept as a permanent record.
In relation to an authorisation for withdrawal of part only of the money (See Rule 42(7)):
(i)the law practice may withdraw the money to that extent only, and
(ii)if the person has given the person a bill relating to the money, Rule 42(3)(b) is taken to apply is taken to apply to the remaining part of the amount specified in the bill.
42(5) / 4.3 / The law practice may withdraw the trust money:
(a)if the money is owed to the law practice by way of reimbursement of money already paid by the law practice on behalf of the person, and
(b)if, before effecting the withdrawal, the law practice gives or sends to the person:
(i)a request for payment, referring to the proposed withdrawal, or
(ii)a written notice of withdrawal.
Note:
Money is taken to have been paid by the law practice on behalf of the person when the relevant account of the law practice has been debited. (See Rule 42(8)).
42(6) / 4.4 / The law practice may withdraw the trust money, if the law practice has given the person who is a commercial or government client a bill specifying the amount payable by the person for legal costs, so long as:
(a)the money is withdrawn in accordance with a costs agreement between the law practice and the person, and
(b)the costs agreement complies with the legislation under which it is made and authorises the withdrawal, and
(c)before effecting the withdrawal, the law practice gives or sends to the person a request for payment, referring to the proposed withdrawal.
42 / 4.5 / Have withdrawals from the general trust account or controlled money account been in accordance with rules42(3), 42(4), 42(5) or 42(6)?
Section / 5. / AUTHORISED SIGNATORIES
Rule(s) / Item /
Yes