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Legal Profession

Practising law in Victoria

The Legal Profession Act 2004 provides that a person must not practise law in Victoria unless they have been admitted to the legal profession and hold a current practising certificate from Victoria or another Australian state or territory.

In Victoria, a person is eligible for admission to the legal profession if they are over 18 years old and have the required academic qualifications and practical legal training.  The person must also be a fit and proper person to be admitted to the profession.

For more information about what is required for admission to the legal profession, please see the Legal Practice (Admission) Rules 1999 which can be found on the Victorian Legislation and Parliamentary Documents website.

You can also obtain further information about admission to the legal profession from the Legal Services Board or from the Board of Examiners, the body responsible for arranging admission in the Supreme Court of Victoria.

Further information about obtaining a practising certificate can be obtained from the Legal Services Board.

Regulation of the legal profession

In Victoria, the legal profession is regulated by the Legal Profession Act 2004.  This Act sets out provisions for the regulation of the profession and establishes the Legal Services Board, the Legal Services Commissioner and the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal as the key bodies responsible for regulating the profession in Victoria.

Legal Services Board

The Legal Services Board is the peak regulating body for the legal profession.  The Board is responsible for the administration of practising certificates and manages the register of legal practitioners who practise in Victoria.  The Board also deals with claims against the Fidelity Fund, which is a fund set up to compensate clients for financial loss through a legal practitioner’s fraud or theft in relation to trust money and property.

Legal Services Commissioner

The Legal Services Commissioner is an independent statutory officer who handles complaints about the legal profession, including disputes about legal costs, claims up to $25,000 for financial loss as a result of the provision of legal services, and disciplinary complaints.

Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal

The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) handles prosecutions of legal practitioners for professional misconduct or unsatisfactory professional conduct, and determines civil disputes.

Professional associations

The Legal Services Board and the Legal Services Commissioner may choose to delegate or refer particular regulatory functions to the Law Institute of Victoria or the Victorian Bar.

The Law Institute of Victoria is the peak professional association for Victorian lawyers and the Victorian Bar is the peak professional association for Victorian barristers. 

Contacts

The Legal Services Board can be contacted as follows:

Street address:
Level 10, 330 Collins St
Melbourne VIC 3000

Postal address:
GPO Box 4937 VV
Melbourne VIC 3001
DX 170 Melbourne

Tel: 03 9679 8000
Fax: 03 9679 8100
Email: admin@lsb.vic.gov.au

The Legal Services Commissioner can be contacted as follows:

Postal address:
Level 9, 330 Collins St
Melbourne VIC 3000
DX 185 Melbourne

Tel: 1300 796 344 (local call within Victoria)
Tel: 03 9679 8001

VCAT can be contacted as follows:

Street address:
55 King St
Melbourne VIC 3000
DX 210160 Melbourne

Tel: 03 9628 9700
Email: vcat@vcat.vic.gov.au

The Law Institute of Victoria can be contacted as follows:

Street address:
470 Bourke St
Melbourne VIC 3000

Postal Address:
GPO Box 263C
Melbourne VIC 3001
DX 350, Melbourne

Tel: 03 9607 9311
Fax: 03 9602 5270
Email: lawinst@liv.asn.au

 

The Victorian Bar can be contacted as follows:

Level 5, Owen Dixon Chambers East
205 William St
Melbourne VIC 3000

Tel: 03 9225 7111
Fax:  03 9225 6068
Email: inbrief@vicbar.com.au

The Board of Examiners can be contacted as follows:

Street address:
1st Floor, 450 Little Bourke St
Melbourne VIC 3000

Postal Address:
Supreme Court of Victoria
210 William St
Melbourne VIC 3000

Tel: 03 9603 4388
Office hours: 9.30am - 4.00pm; Closed between 1.00pm - 2.00pm
Ausdoc: DX210608