Law Council of Australia

The Law Council of Australia is an association of law societies and bar associations from the States and territories of Australia, and the peak body representing the legal profession in Australia. The Council was formed in 1933 to unite the various state legal associations, in order to represent the profession at a national level and at an international level. The Council is particularly vocal on subjects involving federal law, that is, laws made or considered by the Parliament of Australia. As of 2007, the Council represents over 56,000 lawyers across Australia.cite web | title=Submission of the Law Council of Australia | work=Australian Government Attorney-General's Department | url=http://www.ag.gov.au/agd/WWW/criminaljusticeHome.nsf/Page/Part1D_Division_11A_Submissions_Law_Council_of_Australia | accessdate=19 January | accessyear=2006]

The Council consists of representatives from its sixteen constituent bodies, and an executive body elected by the council. The current President is Ross Ray QC. Former Presidents include two former Chief Justices of Australia, Sir John Latham and Sir Garfield Barwick, and former High Court Justice Douglas Menzies.cite web | title=Law Council Past Presidents | work=Law Council of Australia | url=http://www.lawcouncil.asn.au/pastpres.html | accessdate=19 January | accessyear=2006] The Council also forms committees on various subjects, such as Indigenous legal issues, national criminal law, and alternative dispute resolution.

In 1986, the Council established a separate family law section, for practitioners specialising in Australian family law. It represents about 2000 lawyers across Australia.cite web | title=About the Family Law Section | work=Family Law Section | url=http://www.familylawsection.org.au/public/ps_a1.htm | accessdate=19 January | accessyear=2006] The Council administers a number of awards, including the John Koowarta Reconciliation Law Scholarship, awarded to Indigenous Australians studying law in Australian universities. The award is named for John Koowarta, the plaintiff in the famous "Koowarta v Bjelke-Petersen" case. The Council sponsors the Human Rights Law Award, awarded by the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission. Recent winners include barrister Julian Burnside.

The Council often comments on the legal policy of the Government of Australia, and on proposed legislation in the Parliament of Australia. It also often gives testimony to parliamentary inquiries. Recent stances adopted by the Council include strong criticism of the Australian Anti-Terrorism Act 2005,cite web | title=Legal Profession Opposes Anti-Terror Bill | work=Law Council of Australia | url=http://www.lawcouncil.asn.au/read/2005/2418318779.html | accessdate=19 January | accessyear=2006] cite web | title=Law Council Vows to Monitor Use of Counter-Terror Laws | work=Law Council of Australia | url=http://www.lawcouncil.asn.au/read/2005/2419109370.html | accessdate=19 January | accessyear=2006] and a criticism of profiteering in the insurance industry and weaknesses in personal injury legislation.cite web | title=LCA Report Reveals Insurer Profits Have Hit a 10-Year High – So Where are the Benefits? | work=Law Council of Australia | url=http://www.lawcouncil.asn.au/read/2005/2413325242.html | accessdate=19 January | accessyear=2006] cite web | title=Record Insurance Industry Profits At The Expense Of Injured Australians | work=Law Council of Australia | url=http://www.lawcouncil.asn.au/read/2005/2417672273.html | accessdate=19 January | accessyear=2006]

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