CCI Legal, a new incorporated legal practice established by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, will open for business this week.
Under an exemption of the Industrial Relations Act, the CCI has previously employed lawyers to provide advice to members on employment law matters.
The CCI has become the largest provider of services in relation to unfair dismissal cases in Western Australia. However, legislative restrictions prevented the provision of legal advice outside this area.
The new Legal Practices Act has allowed the CCI to extend its legal services beyond employment law into the areas of workers’ compensation, occupational health and safety, and other matters related to employment and the operation of a company.
Whereas previously lawyers could only practise as sole operators or in partnerships, the new act allows for incorporation and multi-disciplinary practices.
CCI Legal managing director Geoff Bull said five lawyers and one consultant would provide the services, and all were currently employees at CCI.
“We wanted to provide our members with a more competitive service, and where something was beyond our scope in the past we had to tell members to go elsewhere,” Mr Bull told WA Business News.
“The service is geared towards the largest part of the CCI’s members, small and medium enterprises.
“CCI Legal will complement the non-legal work that we undertake in occupational health and safety, and workers’ compensation areas.
“Non-members can seek advice, but will be charged a premium rate.”
Mr Bull said CCI Legal would operate from newly established offices on the first floor of CCI’s East Perth headquarters.
“Working to a formal three-year business plan, CCI Legal will look towards growing its client base and its staff numbers in a considered and measured way,” he said.
CCI Legal Services Pty Ltd is wholly owned by CCI, and was launched by the Attorney-General Jim McGinty.