Property
Property work is technical and time critical, combined with time and cost pressures and involving a client’s most valuable asset, the stakes are high.
News
What’s changing at the LPLC — and why it matters
The LPLC is changing the way we engage with the profession. We are looking to improve our services and how we provide support. As we mark 40 years of service, our purpose remains unchanged: giving peace of mind to the legal profession and the community.
What is evolving is how we listen, how we use evidence and insights, and how we design services that better reflect the needs of Victorian legal practitioners and national firms.
We are investing in better digital tools, simpler processes and more opportunities for practitioners and firms to contribute ideas, provide feedback and to share their experiences. These changes are intended to make it easier to access practical support, share your perspective and see how your insights help shape future improvements.
I look forward to sharing updates as this work progresses and to working with the profession.
Mary Maini
Chief Executive Officer
Conveyancing
Claims arising from conveyancing are regular and consistent in nature. Time and cost pressures, in what is a very technical area of the law, can result in simple errors.
Tax
Tax issues arise in many files, especially conveyancing and everyone needs to have at least a basic understanding of those tax issues. LPLC have many resources intended to help practitioners understand the tax issues which arise in conveyancing transactions.
GST
GST is not simple but there are some easy steps you can take to help protect you and your clients. Claims usually occur during the sale of commercial or new residential land or the sale of businesses.
Leases
Claims relating to commercial and retail leases account for around 3% of the total claims LPLC sees each year.
Building and Construction
Building and construction claims are seen in commercial, litigation, leasing and conveyancing with litigation and conveyancing having the most claims.
More on property
Windfall gains tax hub
17 November 2022
Information and resources to help lawyers understand the legislation, manage the associated risks and provide guidance about how to act now to avoid surprises later.
Windfall Gains Tax is here — Understand it and act now
17 November 2022
Recorded webinar
This webinar, presented by expert state taxes advisor, Craig Whatman from Pitcher Partners, helps practitioners understand the new tax, how it may impact their clients and helps them identify some key risk management actions to take now to avoid any surprises.
Windfall gains tax — beware the sleeping duties
24 March 2022
Recorded webinar
In this webinar presenter Matthew Cridland, tax specialist and Partner at K&L Gates, discusses the new Windfall Gains Tax provisions that come into operation in July 2023 and what practitioners will need to consider now. Matthew also provides an update on the circumstances where the expanded 'economic entitlement' provisions may apply, potentially triggering a duty liability.
Also related to Property
Verification of Identity
Practitioners must take reasonable steps to verify the identity (VOI) of their clients both to avoid claims and comply with common law obligations and Victoria's electronic conveyancing Participation Rules. To help practitioners understand the importance of VOI and manage their roles and obligations LPLC has developed a range of resources and information.
Cybersecurity
Cyber-crime is a risk to law firms of all sizes as lawyers and the legal profession are increasingly the targets of cyber-criminals. Having strategies, policies and processes to boost a firm’s cyber-security is an essential part of practice management. The LPLC provides a range of information and resources, including our Cybersecurity guide for lawyers, to support practices to do so.
Engagement/retainer management
Engagement management is about choosing the right client and the right matter at the right time, and then properly scoping and documenting the retainer. We see claims where firms fail to do these things or they fail to manage the client’s expectations to the retainer or recognise when the retainer has changed.
Find Resources
Practitioner and client resources to provide information and advice about common issues leading to claims.