Ethics in law refers to the moral principles and values that guide the conduct of legal professionals, such as lawyers and judges. These principles and values include issues such as integrity, honesty, fairness, and professionalism.
In Victoria, Australia, ethics in law is governed by the professional rules and codes of conduct that have been established by the legal profession for lawyers and judges. These rules and codes of conduct are designed to ensure that legal professionals maintain high standards of ethical behavior and to protect the public interest.
The rules and codes of conduct for lawyers in Victoria are governed by the Legal Profession Uniform Law (Victoria) which is the legislation that applies to the legal profession in Victoria. The law sets out the standards of professional conduct and practice that lawyers must abide by, including rules around confidentiality, conflicts of interest, and duties to the court.
The rules and codes of conduct for Judges in Victoria are governed by the Judicial College of Victoria which is responsible for the professional development, education and conduct of judges in Victoria. The judicial conduct framework is set out in the Judicial College of Victoria Act 2014, the Judicial Conduct Rules 2014 and the judicial conduct principles
It's important to note that legal professionals in Victoria are also subject to other federal and state laws and regulations that govern their conduct and practice, such as the Australian Solicitors Conduct Rules and the Australian Bar Association's rules of professional conduct.
