New Legal Services Commissioner
Deputy Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman, Victoria Marles, has been appointed the state’s first Legal Services Commissioner, with Victoria’s long-awaited new regulatory system for lawyers set to begin on 12 December 2005.
Ms Marles has extensive experience in complaints handling and conciliation and was a “standout choice” for the new role, Victorian Attorney-General Rob Hulls said on announcing the appointment on 14 September.
Ms Marles has been the Deputy Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman since 2002 and has more than 10 years experience as a member of VCAT and the Guardianship and Administration List.
She will have a dual role, also becoming the chief executive officer of the Legal Services Board – the new regulatory body for Victoria’s legal profession.
Under the reforms introduced by the Legal Profession Act 2004 (the Act), the Legal Services Board and Commissioner will replace the Legal Practice Board and the Legal Ombudsman.
The office of the Commissioner will create a single, initial “front door” for all complaints about the legal profession, creating a more efficient system to resolve complaints about lawyers - cheaper, faster and more easily.
Victoria was initially due to implement the Act on 1 July this year, but this was delayed until October to await the appointment of the Commissioner and finalisation of the model regulations. Mr Hulls said the changes would now come into effect on 12 December to enable the new Legal Services Board, along with Ms Marles, adequate time to establish “its organisational structure and properly undertake its obligations”.
Ms Marles will independently assess complaints about members of the legal profession, exercise powers to investigate and prosecute members of the legal profession for misconduct, and mediate disputes about legal costs.
Disclaimer:The information in this article is not intended to be a complete statement of the law relating to the issues raised. Accordingly, no person should rely on this information without first obtaining specific advice from Brendan Kelly of our office.
More information
LIV Bookshop: Legal Profession Act 2004
Useful web links: www.liv.asn.au
www.lsb.vic.gov.au | 
