Ethics Ruling Number
R5056
Area of Law
Criminal
Category
Conflict of Interest
Ethics Ruling Date
9/17/2026
Ethics Pub Date
10/2/2026
Ethics Background
A law practice act for a person accused of sexual offences. The matter has an upcoming trial in the County Court of Victoria. A witness made a statement to the police in 2019. At the time, the witness was doing a traineeship at the law practice’s office, which was arranged by an agency. The witness was not employed by the law practice except for that one week. The OPP has alleged that the law practice is conflicted from acting for the accused because a solicitor from the law practice walked the witness to the police statement to make their statement and told them they are not under an obligation to say anything to the police.
Ruling
In the opinion of the Ethics Committee and on the information presented: Having regard to the passage of time and interests of the administration of justice, the law practice are not conflicted in this trial and can continue acting as solicitors for their accused client in their criminal trial.

Law Institute of Victoria
Ethics Committee of Law Institute of Victoria Ltd
Legal Ethics Manager
Phone: 03 9607 9336
Email: ethics@liv.asn.au

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