Aussie attorney-general orders commission to review affordability of legal fees

CANBERRA, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- Australia's top law officer has called for a review of legal fees in the nation to "maximise access to justice for ordinary Australians."

George Brandis, Australia's attorney-general, on Friday announced that he has asked the Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC) to review class action and litigation proceedings and provide recommendations on how the practices can be made more affordable.

"With class actions becoming more common in courts across Australia, the Turnbull government wants to ensure the costs of such proceedings are appropriate and proportionate and that the interests of plaintiffs and class members are protected," Brandis said in a media release on Friday.

"There is a significant risk, in such proceedings, that members of plaintiff groups may be required to pay lawyers' fees which are exorbitant and unjustifiable."

The ALRC will review third party funders, specialist companies that finance a client's legal fees in exchange for a share of the case proceeds, as unlike lawyers they are not bound by professional or ethical standards.

The report, which will be delivered by Dec. 21 2018, will provide the government with recommendations on to what extend class action proceedings and third party litigation funders should be subjected to federal regulation.

In analyzing the practices, the ALRC will consult legal experts from the court system and academic community as well as third party funders. Enditem