Australia – UK Legal Services Regulatory Dialogue delivers report
7 July 2026
The Law Council of Australia and Legal Services Council have welcomed the release of the report of the Australia – UK Legal Services Regulatory Dialogue, setting out recommendations to support the delivery of cross-border legal services between Australia and the United Kingdom and strengthen regulatory cooperation.
The Dialogue was established for a three-year term under the Australia–UK Free Trade Agreement, as a formal mechanism for regulators and professional bodies to engage on issues affecting trade in legal services.
“The process provided a structured forum for collaboration on issues such as admission, requalification, legal business structures and regulatory settings that affect cross-border legal practice,” Law Council of Australia President Tania Wolff said.
“The report provides a comparative overview of the legal sector in each country and makes recommendations to governments, regulators and legal professional bodies.”
Recommendations include monitoring the uptake, effectiveness and operation of registration and requalification pathways (including conditional admission), promoting a consistent approach in Australia to assessing applications for admission from lawyers qualifying under the Solicitors Qualifying Examination in England and Wales, and looking at how professional indemnity insurance can better support cross-border legal practice.
“Australia and the UK are among the world’s most open and well-regulated professions according to the OECD’s Services Trade Restrictiveness Index,” Ms Wolff said. “But there is more work that can done to support cross-border practice, including improving information sharing, reducing regulatory friction and developing more consistent approaches to admission and requalification.”
Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Legal Services Council Stephen Bray said of the Dialogue: “It has created an opportunity to strengthen relationships and gain a deeper understanding of UK systems and processes at a time when both jurisdictions are navigating change. The Legal Services Council, Admissions Committee and Law Admissions Consultative Committee look forward to progressing the recommendations set out in the report.” Participating organisations have agreed to continue to meet annually to share developments and discuss any areas of concern.
Contact: Kristen Connell | 0400 054 227 | kristen.connell@lawcouncil.au
Last Updated on 07/07/2026