Legal Profession Respectful Behaviours Guidelines

23 February 2026

Following the 2024 report of the Equal Opportunity Commissioner (2024 Review of Harassment in the South Australian Legal Profession) the President of SAET, Justice Dolphin, was appointed to the Respectful Behaviour Committee (RBC) convened by Chief Justice Kourakis.  As part of the Committee’s program of work to address inappropriate behaviour in the legal profession, Legal Profession Respectful Behaviours Guidelines have been developed.  The Guidelines address conduct in, or in connection with, the courtroom by practitioners and judicial officers.

In a letter to Justice Dolphin dated 19 February 2026, Chief Justice Laura Stein advised that the Respectful Behaviour Committee and Heads of Jurisdiction of the Supreme Court, District Court, Magistrates Court, South Australian Civil and Administrative Tribunal and the South Australian Employment Tribunal have now endorsed the Legal Profession Respectful Behaviours Guidelines.

The Chief Justice said:

As members of a profession, practitioners should endeavour to be courteous and respectful of one another at all times. As persons in a position of authority and responsibility, judicial officers must also strive to be respectful of, and courteous towards, practitioners appearing before them.

The Guidelines are intended to assist in raising standards in the legal profession without detracting from or qualifying any existing legal standards or obligations.

The Guidelines will be posted on the CAA’s website and are available on the SAET site here – Legal Profession Respectful Behaviours Guidelines (19 February 2026).