1 review about Legal Services Commissioner

verified email - 02 Feb 2013

Indirectly we citizens pay for such services although they are "free" to use.
According to the site "The LSC has power to handle complaints about Victorian lawyers, including disputes between clients and their lawyer or a law practice. The LSC aims to handle complaints fairly, impartially and in a timely manner. All complaints must be made in writing. "

It is recommended that you read the information supplied before you make a complaint.
LSC says, "You can complain about:

Legal costs charged by your lawyer
Unreasonable delays caused by your lawyer
Communication issues
Incompetence
Inadequate service
Ethical issues (for example conflict of interest)
Financial loss
The Legal Services Commissioner cannot deal with complaints where:

The matter is before the courts, including where your lawyer has sued you
The complaint is about the courts, court staff or anyone else who is not a lawyer
The legal costs in your matter are more than $25,000
Any person may make a complaint about the behaviour of a lawyer. However, generally only a client may complain about costs charged by a lawyer."

This agency is for complaints against members of the legal profession in Victoria, however, when is a solicitor not a solicitor and therefore not subject to the scrutiny of the Legal Commission? When he is acting as an executor I was informed - after I complained about a solicitor who was appointed executor.
Does this mean that no matter how many complaints are made against a solicitor acting as an “executor” he will never be investigated for wrong doing? Apparently so.
Even a solicitor who may have influenced unduly the deceased and who was the very one to draw up the documents which benefit himself as having enduring power of attorney and sole executor. What protection is there then for the feeble or easily influenced client (and his beneficiaries)? If a solicitor abuses his position of trust as an executor or attorney, whether dipping into the trust funds to pay himself whatever he wants, or in any other way failing to carry out duties rightly expected of him, the Legal Commission is not the authority with power to intervene it seems. One wonders how glaring the inappropriate behaviour must be before someone can? I feel mislead by the Legal Commission's blurb which appeared to offer a service that in fact proved not to be so for me.
I can't help but be in sympathy with people who aver that the Law is not about justice.

Approximate cost: $none

Hi Eugeniaz1, We empathize with you completely. It is often a huge shock when individuals first realize that the legal system is a complete farce. Unfortunately, there are many so-called ‘professionals’ (in various industries) who remain in positions of power/trust over the ill, disabled and elderly. After all, it is the perfect manner in which to make ‘bus loads’ of money, with minimal or no accountability. The legal field, like many others, is rife with solicitors acting in this capacity and while many are trustworthy and decent, there are many more that are greedy, opportunistic pond scum. After all, there has to be a reason for the many ‘lawyer’ jokes out there!

glynb 04 Jul 2013

I have had exactly the same experience!Evidence to prove the claims, nothing was addressed. So much for an independant fair body they claim to be! Solicitors who are in a privillaged position, expected to uphold the law can abuse it however they want and not held accountable.

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