Table 2.1: Chief sources of complaints against legal practitioners, 1999/2000
Sources of complaints:
Current clients: Solicitors 37%; Barristers 23%; Lic. conv. 69%.
Previous clients: Solicitors 20%; Barristers 14%; Lic. conv. 0%.
Opposing clients: Solicitors 12%; Barristers 10%; Lic. conv. 0%.
Table 2.2: Complaints against types of solicitors, 1999/2000
Type of solicitor:
Employed solicitors: Proportion of complaints against 13.7%; Proportion of whole profession 34%.
Partners: Proportion of complaints against 29%; Proportion of whole profession 19%.
Sole practitioners: Proportion of complaints against 38.2%; Proportion of whole profession 17%.
Table 2.3: Complaints against solicitors by location, 1999/2000
Location of practice:
Sydney CBD: Proportion of complaints against 26%; Proportion of whole profession 56.5%.
Sydney suburbs: Proportion of complaints against 36%; Proportion of whole profession 29.0%.
Rural areas: Proportion of complaints against 27%; Proportion of whole profession 14.5%.
Table 2.4: Nature of formal complaints and consumer disputes
Nature of complaint:†
General cost complaint/query: 1999/2000 12.6%; 1998/1999 10.2%.
Negligence: 1999/2000 12.5%; 1998/1999 16.0%.
Communication: 1999/2000 12.4%; 1998/1999 14.5%.
Ethical matters: 1999/2000 9.4%; 1998/1999 6.0%.
Overcharging: 1999/2000 9.3%; 1998/1999 10.5%.
Delay: 1999/2000 8.7%; 1998/1999 7.3%.
Misleading conduct: 1999/2000 6.8%; 1998/1999 6.4%.
Trust fund: 1999/2000 6.1%; 1998/1999 5.6%.
Document transfer, liens: 1999/2000 4.6%; 1998/1999 4.5%.
Cost disclosure: 1999/2000 4.0%; 1998/1999 4.2%.
Instructions not followed: 1999/2000 3.1%; 1998/1999 4.4%.
Conflict of interests: 1999/2000 2.7%; 1998/1999 2.4%.
Failure to honour undertakings: 1999/2000 1.8%; 1998/1999 1.1%.
Quality of service: 1999/2000 1.6%; 1998/1999 2.1%.
Document handling: 1999/2000 1.2%; 1998/1999 1.0%.
Pressure to settle: 1999/2000 1.2%; 1998/1999 1.5%.
Fraud (not trust fraud) : 1999/2000 0.8%; 1998/1999 1.6%.
Compliance matters: 1999/2000 0.8%; 1998/1999 0.6%.
† One complaint may cover more than one complaint type.
Table 2.5: Action taken by LSC at initial stage, 1998/1999
Action taken:
Deal with consumer dispute by “mediation”: Number of total complaints 1,382; Percentage of total complaints 48.0%; Number against solicitors 1,320; Number against barristers 57; Number against lic. conv. 5.
Refer to Council: Number of total complaints 849; Percentage of total complaints 29.6%; Number against solicitors 788; Number against barristers 59; Number against lic. conv. 2.
Dismiss complaint: Number of total complaints 197; Percentage of total complaints 6.9%; Number against solicitors 177; Number against barristers 20; Number against lic. conv. 0.
Investigate complaint: Number of total complaints 62; Percentage of total complaints 2.2%; Number against solicitors 51; Number against barristers 5; Number against lic. conv. 6.
Table 2.6: Results of Tribunal proceedings, 1 July 1999 to 30 June 2000
Results of proceedings:
No jurisdiction/withdrawn:† Number 19.
Dismissed: Number 6.
Removed from roll: Number 5.
Reprimanded and fined: Number 5.
Restricted practising certificate/reprimanded and fined: Number 3.
s 48I and s 48K orders: Number 3.
Suspended from practice: Number 3.
Fined: Number 2.
Reprimanded: Number 2.
Suspended from practice/reprimanded and fined: Number 1.
TOTAL: Number 49.
† Matters affected by the Barwick decision of the High Court.
