THE Attorney-General is expected to gazette new rules within weeks that will force solicitors to itemise bills, keep proper records and deal directly with barristers.
The Law Society has drafted the new rules as part of its self-policing drive in the face of findings by the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) of triad activity, bribery and unethical practices that inflate legal bills by as much as five times and pervert the course of justice.
The Attorney-General is also considering changes to the disciplinary process, which would include lay representation on panels.
The Law Society's Secretary-General, Mr John Croxen, said the profession had acknowledged the existence of ''areas of malpractice within the profession which we are determined to stamp out''.
''We hope these rules will help members of the public who might otherwise find themselves paying too much for legal services and not getting decent legal service,'' he said.
The new rules are expected to force unethical operators out of business, and ensure that the legal profession follows prescribed procedures and keeps proper records.
