(1) A bill may be in the form of a lump sum bill or an itemised bill.
(2) A bill must be signed on behalf of a law practice by an Australian legal practitioner or an employee of the law practice.
(3) It is sufficient compliance with subsection (2) if a letter signed on behalf of a law practice by an Australian legal practitioner or an employee of the law practice is attached to, or enclosed with, the bill.
(4) A bill or letter is taken to have been signed by a law practice that is an incorporated legal practice if it has the practice's seal affixed to it or is signed by a legal practitioner director of the practice or an officer or employee of the practice who is an Australian legal practitioner.
(5) A bill must be given to a person:
(a) by delivering it personally to the person or to an agent of the person; or
(b) by sending it by post to the person or agent at:
(i) the usual or last known business or residential address of the person or agent; or
(ii) an address nominated for the purpose by the person or agent; or
(c) by leaving it for the person or agent at:
(i) the usual or last known business or residential address of the person or agent; or
(ii) an address nominated for the purpose by the person or agent;
with a person on the premises who is apparently at least 16 years old and apparently employed or residing there.
(6) A reference in subsection (5) to any method of giving a bill to a person includes a reference to arranging for the bill to be given to that person by that method (for example, by delivery by courier).
(7) Despite anything in subsections (2) to (6), a bill may be given to a client electronically if the client request it be given electronically.
(8) In this section:
"agent", of a person, means an agent, law practice or Australian legal practitioner who has authority to accept service of legal process for the person.