Legal Practitioners Admissions Board

ANNUAL REPORT

2012/2013

LAW SOCIETY HOUSE Level 5, 179 Ann Street BRISBANE QLD 4000 GPO Box 1785 BRISBANE QLD 4001

Telephone: [61] 07 3842 5985 Facsimile: [61] 07 3221 7193 Email: admission@qls.com.au OR m.timmins@qls.com.au ISSN 2200 - 9175

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Public Availability of Annual Report The Legal Practitioners Admissions Board’s Annual Report 2012/2013 is available to the public from Level 2, Law Society House, 179 Ann Street, Brisbane or by contacting Ms Melissa Timmins, Secretary to the Board at: By telephone: (07) 3842 5986 By facsimile: (07) 3221 7193 By email: m.timmins@qls.com.au OR admissions@qls.com.au By post: GPO Box 1785 BRISBANE QLD 4001 Alternatively, the Legal Practitioners Admissions Board’s Annual Report 2012/2013 is available online on the Queensland Law Society website at www.qls.com.au under ‘Knowledge centre’ and ‘Admission Board’. The official copy of the annual report, as tabled in the Legislative Assembly of Queensland, can be accessed from the Queensland Parliament’s tabled papers website database at http://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/view/legislativeAssembly/tabledPapers/home.asp

As part of the Board’s commitment to providing accessible services to Queenslanders from all culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, if you have difficulty in understanding the annual report, you can contact Melissa Timmins, Secretary to the Board, on (07) 3842 5986 and an interpreter will be arranged to effectively communicate the report to you.

© Legal Practitioners Admissions Board 2013

The Legal Practitioners Admissions Board 2012/2013 Annual Report is licensed by the Board under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) 3.0 Australia licence. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/au/

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9 September 2013 The Honourable Mr Jarrod Bleijie MP Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, GPO Box 149 BRISBANE Q 4001 Dear Attorney Re: Legal Practitioners Admissions Board Annual Report – 2012/2013 I am pleased to present the Annual Report 2012-2013 and financial statements for the Legal Practitioners Admissions Board. I certify that this Annual Report complies with:

• the prescribed requirements of the Financial Accountability Act 2009 (Qld) and the Financial and Performance Management Standard 2009;

• the detailed requirements set out in the Annual Report Requirements for Queensland Government

Agencies. A checklist outlining the annual reporting requirements can be located at Appendix 3 at the end of this annual report. I trust this is of assistance. Yours sincerely GREG MORONEY Chair of the Legal Practitioners Admissions Board Encl

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Table of Contents Availability of Annual Report i Letter of Compliance ii 1.0 Introduction 1

1.1 Board’s role and main functions (including vision and values) 1 1.2 Strategic direction and contribution of agency service areas to government objectives 2 1.3 Operating environment 2

1.3.1 Agency strategy, actions, and performance standards 2 1.3.2 Strategic risks, opportunities, and challenges 3 1.3.3 Review of proposed forward operations 3 1.3.4 Board meetings and flying minutes 3

2.0 Governance – organisational structure & management 4

2.1 Organisational structure – Board members 4 2.2 Stakeholders 4 2.3 Executive management 5 2.4 Committees 6 2.5 Public Sector Ethics Act 1994 6

3.0 Non-financial service standards and other measures – agency service areas 7

3. 1 Eligibility issues 7 3.1.1 Academic courses 7 3.1.2 Practical legal training courses 7 3.1.3 Supervised traineeship scheme 7

3.2 Suitability issues 8 3.2.1 Admission applications 8 3.2.2 Early consideration of suitability applications 8

3.3 Overseas graduates and legal practitioners 8 3.3.1 Applications for assessment/reassessment of academic qualifications 9 3.3.2 Applications for assessment/reassessment of PLT and experience in practice 9 3.3.3 Skilled migration certificates 10

4.0 Consultations 10 5.0 Financial performance and statements 10 6.0 Governance – risk management and accountability 11

6.1 Risk management committee 11 6.2 External scrutiny 11 6.3 Audit committee and internal audit function 11 6.4 Information systems and record keeping 11

7.0 Governance – human resources 11

7.1 Workforce planning, attraction and retention 11 7.2 Early retirement, redundancy and retrenchment 12

8.0 Disclosure of additional information 12

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9.0 Requirements of annual reporting under Financial Accountability Act 2009 12 10.0 Glossary 13 10.1 Organisations 13 10.2 Statutory instruments 13 10.3 General 13 11.0 Appendices 14

11.1 Audited 2012/2013 financial statements 14 11.2 Statistical data 2012/2013 14 11.3 Compliance checklist of annual reporting requirements 14

12.0 List of figures and tables 15 Figure 1 Organisational structure 6 Table 1 Assessment of overseas academic qualifications 9 Table 2 Assessment of practical legal training and experience in practice 9 Table 3 2012/2013 financial performance 10

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1.0 Introduction 1.1 Board’s role and main functions Established on 1 July 2004, the Legal Practitioners Admissions Board (“the Board”) is a statutory body under part 7.5 of the Legal Profession Act 2007 (Qld) (“the Act”) and is responsible for the administration of chapter 2, part 2.3 of the Act; ‘Admission of local lawyers’. The Board’s values and aims include supporting the judiciary, the legal profession, and the public interest by ensuring the integrity of those entering the legal profession as well as maintaining and safeguarding the educational and practical legal training standards of the legal profession. The Board’s values also include respect and being accountable to the judiciary, the profession and the public at large. The Board’s primary role is to assist the Supreme Court by making a recommendation about each application for admission as a lawyer in Queensland. In doing so, the Board considers whether an application is made under the Supreme Court (Admission) Rules 2004 (“the Rules”), whether an applicant is eligible and suitable for admission, and whether there are other matters the Supreme Court may consider relevant to the application. The Board’s other functions, responsibilities, and service areas include: · considering the eligibility and suitability of applicants seeking admission as a lawyer in Queensland; · ensuring all applications to become a lawyer in Queensland are made in accordance with the Rules; · making a recommendation to the Supreme Court in relation to each application for admission as a lawyer; · considering and making declarations as to an applicant’s suitability for admission in terms of applications

for early consideration of suitability; · approving, in conjunction with the Chief Justice of Queensland, academic qualifications and practical legal

training (‘PLT’) courses as ‘approved academic qualifications’ and ‘approved practical legal training’ respectively;

· assessing and approving academic, and practical legal training and experience in practice, of overseas law graduates and legal practitioners in accordance with the Uniform Principles for Assessing Qualifications of Overseas Applicants for Admission to the Australian Legal Profession (“the Uniform Principles”);

· overseeing the supervised traineeship scheme as ‘approved practical legal training’ and a prerequisite for those seeking to be admitted as a lawyer in Queensland in accordance with the Rules;

· providing information, service areas, and support to applicants seeking to complete the requirements and apply to the Supreme Court for admission as a lawyer in Queensland.

The Board has all powers necessary or convenient to perform its functions under the Act and the Rules, and is subject to various statutory requirements; for which purposes the Board is:

(1) a ‘statutory body’ for the Financial Accountability Act 2009 (Qld) (“FAA”) and the Financial and Performance Management Standard 2009 (Qld) (“FPMS”);

(2) a ‘public authority’ for the: (i) Right to Information Act 2009 (Qld) (“RTI”); (ii) Information Privacy Act 2009 (Qld) (Chapter 3) (“IPA”); (iii) Public Records Act 2002 (Qld) (“PRA”); (iv) Information Standard 40: Recordkeeping (“IS40”’); and (v) Information Standard 31: Retention and Disposal of Public Records (“IS31”);

(vi) a ‘public sector entity’ for the Public Sector Ethics Act 1994 (Qld) (“PSEA”) and the Public Interest Disclosure Act 2010 (Qld) (“PIDA”).

The Board’s offices are located at Law Society House, 179 Ann Street, Brisbane, Queensland; its secretariat and administrative support being provided by the Queensland Law Society (“the QLS”) in accordance with section 662 of

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the Act. There is a service level agreement between the Board and QLS as well as a financial delegations manual and confidentiality agreement in place. 1.2 Strategic direction and contribution of agency service areas to government objectives The Board’s activities continue to support the government’s objectives to the community with its strategic and operational direction for 2012 – 2016 encapsulating three strategies as follows:

Revitalise front-line services Board’s objective one: Revitalise processes for dealing with admission applications by investing in projects that deliver more efficient and cost-effective procedures while maintaining the integrity of the admission process

Board’s objective two: Safeguard standards and ensure adequacy of legal education and practical legal training required of entry-level lawyers, and streamline regulation of legal courses offered by Queensland tertiary institutions

Restore accountability in Government Board’s objective three: Improve compliance and accountability by discharging statutory obligations and improving governance

1.3 Operating environment 1.3.1 Agency strategy, actions, and performance standards Strategic objective one – Revitalise processes by investing in projects that deliver more efficient and cost-effective procedures During the reporting period, the Board intended performing a further review and update to its information kits to be used by prospective applicants for admission. Work on this objective did not go ahead due to the workload experienced by the Board throughout the reporting period. Discussions were held with the Supreme Court in relation to reviving a proposed online admission project. While interested parties remain hopeful and eager to advance this project, further conferences will need to be arranged in order to ensure future development of the project. Ad hoc amendments are made to the Board’s internal procedures as and when identified. Strategic objective two – Safeguard standards and ensure adequacy of legal education and practical legal training to those seeking admission to the legal profession while streamlining regulation As part of the Board’s strategic direction, two programs will be implemented to review and monitor academic and practical legal training courses to ensure compliance with national education and practical legal training requirements as well as requirements of external national and State stakeholders. At the present time, work has not commenced for either program. Until additional work is completed by the Law Admissions Consultative Committee (“LACC”) at a national level, any programs to review or monitor legal education and practical legal training programs remain in abeyance to avoid duplication of certain functions.

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Strategic objective three – Discharge statutory obligations and improve governance The Board continues to actively update information and documentation required in accordance with its statutory obligations. During the reporting period, the Board reviewed and updated its Right to Information and Information Privacy material with a view of publishing this material on the Queensland Law Society website. At present, the following documents are provided online in accordance with the Board’s statutory and legislative requirements:

• publication scheme; • disclosure log; • privacy statement of commitment; and • 2012 – 2013 strategic and operational plans.

In due course, the Board will review and update its risk management plan and risk register. 1.3.2 Strategic risks, opportunities and challenges The main risk to the Board achieving its strategic and operational directions is the Board’s workload and the number of staff providing support to the Board in order for it to fulfill its functions. Resultant delays occur in relation to preparing, approving, and finalising various strategies, operations, and statutory compliance requirements as a consequence of these factors. 1.3.3 Review of proposed forward operations At the beginning of 2012/2013, the Board reviewed and amended is strategic and operational directions in line with changes to the State government’s statement of objectives for the community. As a result of this review, finalisation of the Board’s collection notices, public interest disclosure policy, and code of conduct were delayed. It is anticipated work with recommence in respect of this material in the foreseeable future. It is anticipated that the Board will also commence in the foreseeable future a pilot trial to review its information kits. 1.3.4 Board meetings and flying minutes Board meetings There were eight Board meetings during 2012/2013 in conjunction with eight corresponding admission ceremonies held in Brisbane. During the course of its meetings, the Board considered approximately 869 applications for admission which were heard in Brisbane, and some 71 applications which were heard regionally in Cairns, Townsville or Rockhampton. During its meetings, the Board also considered the following applications:

• 16 domestic Mutual Recognition applications; • 21 Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition applications; • 14 applications for early consideration of suitability; • 3 requests for approval of assessments by Queensland universities of overseas academic qualifications; • 101 requests for assessments by the Board of overseas academic qualifications; • 40 requests for assessment by the Board of overseas practical legal training requirements;

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• 45 applications to register under the supervised traineeship scheme; and • 5 applications to cancel registration as a supervised trainee.

Flying minutes The Board considered a total of 29 flying minutes mainly involving:

• applications for admission in regional centres (59 applications); • applications for admission under the domestic mutual recognition legislation (25 applications); • applications for admission under Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition legislation (20 applications); and • matters relating to statutory governance and material submitted by applicants for admission in Brisbane.

2.0 Governance – organisational structure & management 2.1 Organisational structure - Board members The Board is constituted by eight (voluntary) members nominated under section 660 of the Act by the Honourable Chief Justice of Queensland, the Honourable Attorney-General of Queensland, the QLS, and the Bar Association of Queensland (“BAQ”). All members, except the Attorney-General’s nominee and the Brisbane Registrar, are appointed by the Chief Justice for a period of one year. For 2012/2013, the members Board are: Mr Greg Moroney (Chair) Mr James Bell QC (Deputy Chair) Mr Liam Kelly SC (BAQ nominee) Ms Joan Bennett (QLS nominee) Mr Noel Jensen Ms Jennifer Rosengren Mr Ryan Haddrick, Attorney-General’s representative (1 July 2012 to 21 November 2012) Ms Julie Steel, Brisbane Supreme Court Registrar The Board members are not remunerated for their service to the Board. On 1 June 2012, the Chair of the Board was appointed as the Queensland State representative of the LACC. Accordingly, Mr Moroney attended three LACC meetings during 2012/2013 on 11 October 2012, 21 February 2013, and 28 June 2013 in Melbourne; the overall cost of attending these meetings being $7,518.08. The Board did not incur any expenses for overseas travel. 2.2 Stakeholders The Board has a range of stakeholders including:

· the Queensland judiciary; · the Queensland Government and other Government agencies; · the Queensland and Australian legal profession; · Queensland and Australian legal profession regulatory bodies; · legal educators and training providers; and · the public.

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2.3 Executive management Secretary: Ms Melissa Timmins Ms Timmins’ role includes providing high level corporate secretariat and legal advice to the Board in relation to its legal and statutory obligations and responsibilities, and liaising with the Chair and Board members in relation to all matters of concern to the Board. The role also assists in administering the statutory requirements of corporate governance (including overseeing the Board’s strategic and operational planning process, preparing and monitoring annual budgetary requirements, and preparing the Board’s annual report). In addition, the role:

• manages and leads the LPAB team, and oversees the infrastructure of the Board; • reviews and manages all applications for admission; • coordinates the assessment of applications by overseas graduates and qualified lawyers for admission

and manages the Board’s Overseas Qualification Assessment Committee (“the OQAC”); • manages process for all Board Meetings by preparing and distributing agendas and minutes in a timely

and accurate manner, and ensuring meeting records are kept in compliance with appropriate statutory legislation;

• guides and assists all applicants for admission; • prepares briefs and instructs Counsel (where required), and prepares submissions and appears on

behalf of the Board before the Court of Appeal in respect of admission applications (where required) • considers issues raised by the LACC and briefs the Chair of the Board, the Queensland representative

on the LACC, in relation to all matters under consideration by the LACC; • reviews all law and PLT programs, and makes recommendations to the Board, as to the compliance of

programs with the requirements of attachments 1 and 2 of the LACC . During the reporting period, the Secretary to the Board hosted the national Administrators of Australian Law Admitting Authorities (“the AALAA”) Conference in Brisbane, Qld, on 7 November 2013 at a cost of $440. Staff: Full-time • Ms Breanna Sinclair, Senior Administrative Assistant • Mr Dennis Renderos, Junior Administrative Assistant Ms Sinclair and Mr Renderos provide administrative assistance to the Board’s Secretary as well as the Board’s two overseas assessors. Casual contractors

• Ms Jennifer Sheean, Overseas assessor • Ms Sarah Moore, Overseas assessor

Ms Sheean and Ms Moore form the Board’s OQAC performing assessment of overseas legal qualifications of law graduates and legal practitioners from foreign jurisdictions, and assessment of practical legal training and experience in practice of overseas legal practitioners.

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Figure 1: Legal Practitioners Admissions Board organisational structure 2.4 Committees In July 2010, the Board established the OQAC at the behest of LACC and engaged two external legal practitioners to conduct assessments and, where necessary, reassessments of:

(a) overseas legal qualifications of law graduates and legal practitioners from foreign jurisdictions; and (b) practical legal training and experience in practice of overseas legal practitioners.

The Board retains Ms Jennifer Sheean and Ms Sarah Moore on a contractual basis to form the OQAC. During the reporting period, the Board’s assessors considered some 101 applications for assessment or reassessment of academic qualifications, and some 40 applications for assessment or reassessment of PLT and experience in practice. The Board’s assessors are paid $40 for each assessment or reassessment completed. 2.5 Public Sector Ethics Act 1994 The Board’s values, as detailed in the Board’s strategic plan, include:

integrity accountability respect maintaining standards supporting the legal profession

Ms Melissa Timmins Secretary

Ms Jennifer Sheean

Overseas Assessor

Ms Sarah Moore

Overseas Assessor

Ms Breanna Sinclair

Senior Admin

Assistant

Mr Dennis Renderos

Junior Admin

Assistant

Legal

Practitioners Admissions

Board

Mr

Greg Moroney

Chair

Mr

James Bell QC

Deputy Chair

Mr

Liam Kelly SC

Ms

Joan Bennett

Mr

Noel Jensen

Ms

Jennifer Rosengren

Ms

Julie Steel

Mr

Ryan Haddrick

(1 July 2012 to 21 November 2012)

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The Board’s code of conduct taking into account the ethical principles and values outlined in the PSEA is currently in draft form, and will be finalised for consideration and approval by the Board in the near future. The Board members and the Board’s Secretary are all members of the legal profession; obtaining education and training about ethics as part of the QLS and BAQ’s continued professional development. The QLS provides the Board’s management practices and administrative procedures. 3.0 Non-financial service standards and other measures - agency service areas Throughout the reporting period, the work performed by the Board involved consideration of a variety of applications and other matters as follows: 3.1 Eligibility issues 3.1.1 Academic courses During the reporting period, the Board, in conjunction with His Honour the Chief Justice considered the following in terms of academic courses:

• in October 2012, amendments to the Bachelor of Laws programs offered by Central Queensland University (‘CQU’);

• from May 2013 to the present, revisions to the Bachelor of Laws programs offered at the University of Southern Queensland (‘USQ’), those revisions incorporating requirements implemented by USQ to comply with the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency’s (‘TEQSA’) national standard requirements;

• in May 2013, proposed additional offering of the CQU Bachelor of Law programs at the university’s campus in Brisbane; and

• from May to July 2013, a proposed new law program to be offered by the University of the Sunshine Coast (‘USC’), which has subsequently been approved by His Honour the Chief Justice and the Board in August 2013.

3.1.2 Practical legal training courses (‘PLT’) Although the Board did not consider any new ‘PLT’ courses or review any of the existing programs during the reporting period, in August 2012, it considered a proposal by the Australasian Professional Legal Education Council (‘APLEC’) to review the current PLT requirements. This review of the PLT requirements is also being considered by the LACC and remains ongoing. 3.1.3 Supervised traineeship scheme During the 2012/2013 reporting period, the Board registered some 37 law graduates intending to complete ‘approved practical legal training requirements’ under the supervised traineeship scheme. In addition, it received 5 applications to cancel registration of a supervised traineeship. The Board proposes implementing a program to review the supervised traineeship scheme within the next few years. It is anticipated any review program will include consideration of matters such as:

• onsite visits to law firms currently involved in the scheme; • conducting interviews with principals or persons in charge of law firms or offices;

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• conducting interviews of any relevant trainee; • reviewing relevant documentation such as Traineeship Plans and Registers and, where possible,

Traineeship Diaries; • use by firms or offices of internal training to supplement training received during client work experience; • monitoring standards of training being provided to trainees; • the identification of ‘gaps’ within training being provided to trainees.

During the reporting period, there have not been any applications from Queensland or interstate PLT providers seeking alterations to, or approval, of ‘approved programmed training’ and/or ‘approved supplementary training’ on the basis of compliance with Attachment 2 to the Rules for the purposes of the supervised traineeship. 3.2 Suitability issues 3.2.1 Admission applications During the reporting period, the Board considered some 940 applications for admission; those applications being listed in the Supreme Court in Brisbane, or regionally in Rockhampton, Townsville or Cairns. In considering these applications, the Board took the following approach:

• recommending 861 applicants; • recommending 49 applicants on condition the applicants seek an exemption from the Supreme Court in

respect of an eligibility matter or draw relevant suitability matters to the attention of the Court as part of their application; such applications requiring the Board to prepare written submissions to the Court;

• opposing 1 application on the basis of relevant suitability matters, such applicant proceeding with their application where the application was ultimately refused by the Court.

Of the 940 applications, 29 applicants adjourned their applications either in Court or on the papers. In addition, the Board considered one application for readmission; that application being opposed by the Board and ultimately refused by the Court. 3.2.2 Early consideration of suitability During 2012/2013, the Board received 14 new applications for early consideration of suitability. In accordance with the provisions of the Act, the Board made declarations as to the suitability for admission of all applicants who submitted applications save 1 in which the Board refused to make the declaration. Of the 13 applicants for whom declarations were made, 3 were subsequently required to draw their suitability matters to the attention of the Court at the time of applying for admission. The Board continues to consider on an ongoing basis one application for early consideration in which it has refused to make the requested declaration. In November 2012, this application was appealed to the Court of Appeal; subsequently being referred to the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal. 3.3 Overseas graduates and legal practitioners During the 2012/2013 financial year, the Board received 101 applications for assessment or reassessment of overseas academic qualifications, and 40 applications for assessment or reassessment of practical legal training and experience in practice of overseas legal practitioners.

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A breakdown of the jurisdictions from which academic qualifications, and practical legal training and experience in practice, has been completed is as follows:

Jurisdiction Number of applications England and Wales 37 India 11 Ireland 10 South Africa 9 United States of America 5 Nigeria 4 Scotland 3 Sri Lanka 3 Brazil 2 Fiji 2 Hong Kong 2 Japan 2 Bangladesh 1 China 1 Congo 1 Italy 1 Nepal 1 New Zealand 1 Pakistan 1 Philippines 1 Serbia 1 Venezuela 1 Zimbabwe 1 TOTAL 101

3.3.1 Table 1: Assessment/reassessment of overseas academic qualifications

Jurisdiction Number of applications England 14 Ireland 5 India 4 South Africa 4 Nigeria 3 Scotland 3 United States of America 3 Sri Lanka 2 Canada 1 Hong Kong 1 TOTAL 40

3.3.2 Table 2: Assessment/reassessment of practical legal training and experience in practice During the reporting period, the Board also approved 3 assessments of legal qualifications attained by applicants who had studied in overseas jurisdictions; those assessments previously undertaken by Queensland universities prior to establishment of the Board’s OQAC.

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3.3.3 Skilled migration certificates In conjunction with the Department of Immigration and Citizenship, the Board continues to prepare skills assessment certificates where appropriate for those applying for skilled migration visas. 4.0 Consultations During 2012/2013, the Board continued to be consulted on a number of issues under consideration by LACC. 5.0 Financial performance and statements The Board’s 2012/2013 financial performance is as follows:

ITEM 2012/2013 BUDGET 2012/2013 ACTUAL 2012/2013 VARIANCE

INCOME Admission Revenue $446,420 $480,775 $34,355 Mutual Recognition $21,210 $18,102 ($3,108) Other (Sundry) Income $43,992 $43,430 ($562) TOTAL $511,622 $542,307 $30,685

EXPENDITURE Employee expenses $231,576 $210,035 $21,541 Professional Consulting fees - $16,772 ($16,772) Professional fees $120,000 $59,100 $60,900 QLS – levy $15,774 $18,568 ($2,794) QLS - rent $13,200 $13,200 Nil Insurance $4,000 $4,435 ($435) Audit fees $9,000 $9,000 Nil Other expenses $24,850 $19,090 $5,760 TOTAL $418,400 $350,200 $68,200

OPERATING SURPLUS/(DEFICIT)

$93,222 $192,107 $98,885

Table 3: 2012/2013 Financial Performance The Board’s 2012/2013 financial statements which have been audited by the Auditor-General of Queensland are included at Appendix 1. The Board’s income for admission applications throughout the reporting period was higher than expected; the number of applications anticipated during 2012/2013 being based on average estimates only. During the reporting period, the Board engaged two contractors to form the OQAC which does not appear to have impacted on the Board’s liability in terms of staffing. Other than these additions to the staff providing Secretariat and administrative support to the Board, there have been no major changes staffing levels. The Board incurred expenses for professional fees as a result of engaging Counsel and solicitors to act in relation to contested applications. The expenses incurred were not inappropriate in terms of the amount detailed in the Board’s budget. The Board has returned an operating surplus of $192,107 which will be retained for future projects such as those relating to implementation of a program to review the supervised traineeship scheme, revival of the Supreme Court’s

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proposed online admission project, programs to review and monitor academic and practical legal training courses, and expenses incurred for investigating and litigating opposed applications. During the reporting period, the Board operated within its budget and achieved reasonable value for money. 6.0 Governance - risk management and accountability 6.1 Risk management committee and system In accordance with the discretionary provisions of the FMPS, the Board has previously resolved not to establish a risk management committee. To ensure compliance with the Board’s statutory requirements, the Board has a risk management system including a risk management plan and risk register. 6.2 External scrutiny During the 2012/2013 financial year, aside from having its financial statements audited, the Board has not been the subject of external audit or review. No issues were raised during audit of the Board’s financial statements. 6.3 Audit committee and internal audit function In accordance with the discretionary provisions of the FPMS, the Board has previously resolved that it was not necessary to establish an audit committee or internal audit function due to the size of the Board and because the Board’s operating systems and processes are provided by the QLS in accordance with section 662 of the Act. The Board has not received a directive from the appropriate Minister to establish an internal audit function. 6.4 Information systems and record keeping Retention and Disposal of the Board’s records is currently addressed in the Queensland Law Society’s Retention and Disposal Schedule: QDAN 674 v.1 and General Retention and Disposal Schedule for Administrative Records: QDAN249 v.6. 7.0 Governance – human resources 7.1 Workforce planning, attraction and retention The Board currently has three permanent full-time QLS staff (3.0) providing secretariat and administrative support under section 662 of the Act; those staff being employed in their current roles for between 2½ to 10½ years (reflecting a 100% retention rate, and a 0% separation rate). The Board also contractually retains two casual external legal practitioners performing assessments and reassessments of overseas academic, and practical legal training and experience in practice. Although the Board does not have staff, it takes an active role in supporting the continued training of secretariat staff attendance at internal and external training to develop their capabilities and enhance their skills. The Board supports the QLS allowing flexible work arrangements such as flexible work hours and work from home arrangements, etc. to assist carers to meet commitments.

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7.2 Early retirement, redundancy and retrenchment During the reporting period, the Board has not paid packages to QLS employees in respect of redundancies, early retirement schemes, and retrenchments. 8.0 Disclosure of additional information Information about the Board’s reporting obligations in accordance with the following legislation, schemes, and policies can be found online at www.qls.com.au under the tabs ‘Knowledge centre’ and ‘Admission Board’:

• Carers (Recognition) Act 2008; • initiatives for women; • consultancies; and • Queensland Multicultural Action Plan 2011 - 2014.

Additional information in relation to the Board can be obtained through the Government Open Data website at www.qld.gov.au/data. 9.0 Requirements of annual reporting under the Financial Accountability Act 2009 (Qld) This annual report has been prepared pursuant to section 63(1) of the FAA and other prescribed requirements. The Board has complied with its requirements to provide the annual report in accordance with its statutory requirements. GREG MORONEY Chair 9 September 2013 Encl

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10.0 Glossary 10.1 Organisations AALAA Administrators of Australian Law Admitting Authorities APLEC Australasian Professional Legal Education Council BAQ Bar Association of Queensland Board Legal Practitioners Admissions Board CQU Central Queensland University LACC Law Admissions Consultative Committee OQAC Overseas Qualifications Assessment Committee QLS Queensland Law Society QUT Queensland University of Technology TEQSA Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency USC University of Sunshine Coast USQ University of Southern Queensland 10.2 Statutory instruments Act Legal Profession Act 2007 (Qld) CPA Carers (Recognition) Act 2008 (Qld) FAA Financial Accountability Act 2009 (Qld) FPMS Financial and Performance Management Standard 2009 (Qld) IPA Information Privacy Act 2009 (Qld) MRA Mutual Recognition (Queensland) Act 1992 PIDA Public Interest Disclosure Act 2010 (Qld) PRA Public Records Act 2002 (Qld) PSEA Public Sector Ethics Act 1994 (Qld) RTI Right to Information Act 2009 (Qld) Rules Supreme Court (Admission) Rules 2004 TTMRA Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition (Queensland) Act 2003 IS31 Information Standard 31: Retention and Disposal of Public Records IS40 Information Standard 40: Recordkeeping Uniform Principles Uniform Principles for Assessing Qualifications of Overseas Applicants for Admission to the

Australian Legal Profession 10.3 General PLT practical legal training QDAN Queensland Disposal Authority Number

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11.0 Appendices 11.1 Audited 2012/2013 financial accounts 11.2 Statistical data 2012/2013 11.3 Compliance checklist

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12.0 List of figures and tables Figure 1 Organisational structure 6 Table 1 Applications for assessment of overseas academic qualifications 9 Table 2 Applications for assessment of practical legal training and experience in practice 9 Table 3 2012/2013 financial performance 10