Is a client agreement needed if professional fees are likely to exceed $750 plus gst as was the requirement under the Queensland Law Society Act 1952?

No, the position is rather different under the Legal Profession Act 2007 (LPA). There is no requirement to enter into a client agreement.

There is a disclosure requirement under sections 308 and 309 of the LPA if the professional fees are likely to exceed $1,500.00. Prior to 18 July 2008, the disclosure requirements had to be met if the professional fees were likely to exceed $750.00.

Subsection 311(2) of the LPA provides that if disclosure was not made because it was expected that professional fees would not exceed $1,500.00, there is an obligation to satisfy the disclosure requirements when the law practice considers that the professional fees are likely to exceed $1,500.00.