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Attention Lawyers: The End of Dual Regulation is Coming!!
The Migration Alliance has received an enquiry concerning the “Migration Amendment (Regulation of Migration Agents) Bill 2017”asking:
“Can you help understand if the bill is coming into effect and what the implications are? “
So here are the answers!
The Bill was introduced in the House of Representatives on 21 June 2017.
It was referred to Committee in the House on 10 August 2017 and to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs and a Committee Report (not clear f from the House or Senate) was issued on 16 October 2017.
The commencement information that is provided with the Bill indicates that Schedule 1, which relates to the provision of immigration assistance by Australian legal practitioners will come into force (if the Bill is enacted) on 1 July 2018. Also, Schedule 5, which relates to registration application charges, will come into force at the same time as Schedule 1 to the Migration Agents Registration Application Charge Amendment (Rates of Charge) Act 2017 commences. The remainder of the Migration Amendment (Regulation of Migration Agents) Bill 2017 will come into force on a day to be fixed “by proclamation” (in other words, on a date “to be determined”.
For the time being, I will review the provisions of Schedule 1 of the proposed bill relating to Australian legal practitioners; at a later date (likely later this week) I will review the other changes proposed to be introduced by the legislation.
Here are the key provisions relating to the regulation of lawyers:
A new “signpost” definition of the term “Australian legal practitioner” will be added under section 275 of the Migration Act. The term “Australian legal practitioner” will be defined to mean “a lawyer who holds a practising certificate (whether restricted or unrestricted) granted under a law of a State or Territory”.
The legislation will also bring about the repeal of section 277 of the current Migration Act, which defines the term “immigration legal assistance”.
This term was previously included in the Act to define the types of immigration advice that a lawyer could provide without needing to be registered as a migration agent. The Bill will have the effect of excluding Australian legal practitioners from being able to be registered as migration agents, and will allow lawyers to give immigration assistance on the basis of holding a practising certificate. Consequently, the concept of “immigration legal assistance” that was included in the Act under section 277 will become outmoded and will no longer be necessary.
Another change to be introduced by the Bill will amend section 280(3) of the Act.
This section currently provides that the restriction against a person providing “immigration assistance” does not apply to prohibit a lawyer from giving “immigration legal assistance” (which again is currently defined under section 277, which will be removed from the Act).
The amended section 280(3) will provide that the prohibition against a person who is not a registered migration agent from providing immigration assistance will not apply to an Australian legal practitioner who gives such assistance in connection with a “legal practice”.
The Explanatory Memorandum states that the changes to section 280(3) are being introduced to ensure that an Australian legal practitioner can give immigration assistance in connection with legal practice without being required to register as a migration agent.
The Explanatory Memorandum also states that the new section 280(3) should be read alongside the new section 289B (which is being introduced by item 112 of Schedule 1 to the Bill).
Very consequentially, new section 289B provides, in very unequivocal terms, that a person must not be registered as a migration agent if the person is also an Australian legal practitioner. As indicated in the Explanatory Memorandum, the effect of this provision is that any application by an Australian legal practitioner for registration as a migration agent will be refused. A further implication of the change, as also described in the Explanatory Memorandum, is that Australian legal practitioners who give advice on immigration matters will be resulted only by their own legal professional bodies. In other words, OMARA will no longer have any role in governing the conduct of lawyers who provide immigration assistance/give legal advice in relation to migration issues.
It is noted in the Explanatory Memorandum that the amendments will require lawyers who have restricted practising certificates to “adjust” the way that they provide services, namely: that a lawyer who has a restricted practising certificate will have to cease to be registered migration agents if they want to continue to hold their practising certificates, or they will have to cease being RMAs if they wish to continue to hold their practising certificates.
Lastly: the amendments will introduce a new section 302A to the Act. This section will require that the MARA cancel an agent’s registration, by removing her or his name from the register, if the MARA is satisfied that the agent is an Australian legal practitioner. This provision is mandatory: the MARA will have no discretion as to whether to cancel the registration of an Australian legal practitioner.
So, to summarise: the principal effect of these changes will be to allow any Australian lawyer to advise on any immigration issue, including issues relating to visa applications, without the need to become an RMA.
And: lawyers will no longer be subject to dual registration they will be regulated only by their own professional bodies, and will no longer be subject to oversight by the OMARA.
All of this is happening a little more than 6 months from now.
Comments
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Tuesday, 05 December 2017I cannot wait. Thank goodness.
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Thursday, 07 December 2017
Hi everybody
It is my understanding that legal practitioners can only be registered as migration agents if they want to be on MARA list. And there will no longer be an option in MARA to remain migration agent as well as legal practitioner. Currently there is an option in MARA search showing migration agents who are also an Australian legal practitioner. This will no longer be the case? Am I right in saying the above? Does it make any difference if the practicing certificate is unrestricted?
I really appreciate your answer. -
Tuesday, 12 December 2017
Thank goodness the legal profession will not have to deal with the seriously incompetent staff in Professional Standards. A LAWYER within the relevant State body will examine complaints when OMARA looses its jurisdiction . This can only be good
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Thursday, 14 December 2017
It looks like they did not really consider people in my situation.
Currently I have been a MARA agent for 6 years and have just been admitted as a Lawyer and I work at a Firm who does both Migration Law matters and Civil/Family Law.
With the amendments I would face the Hobson's choice.
If I decide to further my career I wouldn't be able to issue written advice without my principle signing off or give up my PC and continue to be registered as an RMA which, of course effects my earning capacity. -
Thursday, 14 December 2017
There are many in your situation John. Some who are finishing their law studies and many who always had a plan to progress to law studies.
There is hope yet - due to the efforts of Sergio, the Assistant Minister is now aware of the unintended consequences of the legislation (which is your situation).
The Assistant Minister has advised of his intention to move that there should be a transition period of two years for all current RMA's from when BOTH:
T-
he legislation is in effect AND
The RMA has been
He will also move that persons who cannot obtain an unrestricted certificate during that time - for substantial reasons - OMARA will have the discretion to keep that person's registered (to be decided on a case by case basis).
So basically, any current RMA who makes the move to law will not have to lose his/her business in order to practice law.
Let's hope that he follows through. -
Thursday, 04 January 2018
This is problematic.
I was recently admitted as a lawyer, however, I do not have a practicing certificate.
I was looking at getting my practicing certificate in order for me to work as a migration agent. My day job does not require me to have a practicing certificate - so what would I do in this circumstance?
I was planning to open up my own migration business - and I have a restricted practicing certificate. -
Thursday, 15 February 2018
I am in the same boat. Currently undertaking GDLP with the goal to register with MARA and work overseas as RMA. Currently up the creek because I can't work OS as lawyer due to civil law jurisdiction.
baffling state of affairs. Truly can't see the point -
Tuesday, 10 July 2018
Any updates on Migration amendment bill 2017
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Tuesday, 10 July 2018
there is no doubt Professional Standards at OMARA are the most incompetent professional regulatory body in the country . Any possible client complaint against me in the future will be investigated by a competent lawyer/s in Victoria and not unaccountable and unqualified public servants with NO legal background .
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Wednesday, 22 August 2018
great ! great ! I cant wait anymore ! MARA's excessive charges should be ended !
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Thursday, 23 August 2018
OMARA staff are some of the most incompetent Commonwealth Public Servants employed . Professional Standards have been involved in withholding evidence , intentionally misleading the AAT and witness interference . Still waiting on a reply from Professional Standards to my emails sent in September 2013 as to why the most senior investigator provided me with intentionally false information!!
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Tuesday, 13 November 2018
I was registered as a migration agent with MARA for about 10 years but I let it lapse some 3-4 years ago. I have a current unrestricted legal practising certificate and have been considering once again practising as a migration agent if this legislation goes through. What is the current position?
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Tuesday, 13 November 2018
The legislation has not yet been enacted.
Dual regulation remains in place. -
Monday, 16 September 2019
Was the Bill passed and if so,when did it come into force?
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Monday, 16 September 2019
According to my research the Bill lapsed on 1 July 2019. Does anyone have anything to add to this?
Immigration blog
has there been discussion regarding MARA refunding registration fees for 'unused' period ?