How and why personal information is collected 

We collect personal information directly from you: 

• when you contact us via our online forms, on the phone or by email 
• when you lodge a formal complaint with us.

If we investigate the matter, we may request additional information and evidence from you. This can include sensitive information or health information.

We may collect personal information indirectly when we manage or investigate your complaint, for example by collecting from:

• publicly available sources such as media reports, court filings, or on social media platforms 
• regulators and courts when receiving referrals or intelligence.

We use this information to help resolve your issue, to support you when you lodge a formal complaint and to investigate the matter when necessary. 

What personal information is collected 

The personal information we collect is required to conduct enquiries or handle or investigate complaints about lawyers. This includes:

• name and contact details
• details related to the complaint, which can include sensitive and health information
• financial information and records
• court dates, proceedings and outcomes
• legal documents
• screenshots of social media platforms (which may include other people’s information and views)
• criminal convictions. 

Whether the collection is required or authorised by law 

Providing your personal information is voluntary and not required by law. However, if you don’t provide your personal information, our ability to assist you may be limited.

Usual disclosures of this kind of personal information 

The information held by the Victorian Legal Services Board and Commissioner may be disclosed to various organisations, including the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, the Law Institute of Victoria Ltd, Victorian Bar Inc., Victoria Police and corresponding interstate authorities in order to carry out our duties under the Legal Profession Uniform Law Application Act 2014.

How and why personal information is collected 

We may collect personal information directly from you when we reach out to you to complete a survey about your experience with us. 

We use this feedback to make improvements to how we work. You can opt-out of receiving these surveys at any time.

What personal information is collected 

The surveys are confidential and we don’t link the survey responses back to any information about a person. However, we do ask standard demographic questions at the end of the survey that are completely voluntary and de-identified from the survey responses. 

The personal information we collect can change from survey to survey but generally includes:

• name (only if you would like to be contacted to complete further surveys)
• demographic information about you such as age, post code, working status, etc
• sensitive information, such as if you have a long-term health condition.

Whether the collection is required or authorised by law 

Providing personal information in surveys or feedback is voluntary and not required by law.

Usual disclosures of this kind of personal information 

These surveys are sent via our independent research centre. Your feedback and responses will be kept confidential and will be treated in line with our Privacy Policy. We use this feedback to make improvements to how we work.    

How and why personal information is collected 

As a registered lawyer in Victoria, we collect personal information directly from you when you apply for a practising certificate or when you request changes to your practising certificate.

We primarily use this information to manage your practising certificate and to provide you with assistance when required. 

What personal information is collected 

The personal information collected includes:

• name, address, contact information, date of birth, role position
• sensitive information such as country of origin, languages spoken and health information that may be provided voluntarily
• information relevant to a lawyer’s fitness to hold a local practising certificate such as any suitability disclosures provided.

Whether the collection is required or authorised by law 

The collection of personal information for this purpose is required by the Legal Profession Uniform Law Application Act 2014. 

Usual disclosures of this kind of personal information 

Information held the Victorian Legal Services Board and Commissioner may be disclosed to various organisations, including the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, the Law Institute of Victoria Ltd, Victorian Bar Inc., Victoria Police and corresponding interstate authorities in order to carry out our duties under the Legal Profession Uniform Law Application Act 2014.

How and why personal information is collected 

We collect personal information directly from you for the purpose of assisting with your enquiry and providing appropriate support and assistance. 

What personal information is collected 

The personal information we collect includes:

• practitioner number, if provided
• name, contact details, contact information
• details related to your enquiry, which can include sensitive information such as health information when you submit an enquiry about your suitability to practice or a reasonable adjustment.

Whether the collection is required or authorised by law 

Providing your personal information for an enquiry is voluntary. However, if the requested information is not provided, we may be unable to process the enquiry.

Depending on the nature of your enquiry, we may request further personal information in order to carry out our regulatory functions under the Legal Profession Uniform Law.

Usual disclosures of this kind of personal information 

Information held the Victorian Legal Services Board and Commissioner may be disclosed to various organisations, including the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, the Law Institute of Victoria Ltd, Victorian Bar Inc., Victoria Police and corresponding interstate authorities in order to carry out our duties under the Legal Profession Uniform Law Application Act 2014.

How and why personal information is collected 

We collect personal information directly from you when you seek registration as an external examiner. We also collect information from you when you make an enquiry online, and when you submit external examination reports. 

We use your personal information to assist you with your query, and in the case of applying for registration as an external examiner, to ensure that we have sufficient information to properly register you. 

We use your personal information to determine whether you are suitable to be registered as an external examiner, including whether you should be disqualified from conducting external examinations. 

If you are already registered with us, we will also send you our external examiner enewsletter.

What personal information is collected 

The personal information collected includes:

• external examiner number
• name, contact information
• name of accounting firm
• details about your enquiry
• information about professional association memberships.

Whether the collection is required or authorised by law 

The collection of personal information for this purpose is authorised by the Legal Profession Uniform Law Application Act 2014. 

Usual disclosures of this kind of personal information 

Information held by the Victorian Legal Services Board and Commissioner may be disclosed to various organisations, including the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, the Law Institute of Victoria Ltd, Victorian Bar Inc., Victoria Police and corresponding interstate authorities in order to carry out our duties under the Legal Profession Uniform Law Application Act 2014. Some information will also be disclosed via the register of external examiners available on our website with your agreement.

How and why personal information is collected 

We collect personal information directly from you when you register a law practice or open or manage a trust account on behalf of a law practice.

We may use this information to:

• ensure your law practice can be properly registered
• oversee and audit trust accounts, and
• conduct other regulatory activities, such as investigations relating to compliance with law practice obligations. 

What personal information is collected 

The personal information we collect includes:

• bank account details for the trust account of a law practice and related statutory deposit account including bank statements
• practising certificate details 
• name, contact and address details including for signatories to trust accounts.

Whether the collection is required or authorised by law 

The collection of personal information for this purpose is authorised and required by the Legal Profession Uniform Law Application Act 2014.

Usual disclosures of this kind of personal information 

Information held by the Victorian Legal Services Board and Commissioner may be disclosed to various organisations, including, but not limited to, an authorised deposit-taking institution, the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, the Law Institute of Victoria Ltd, Victorian Bar Inc., Victoria Police and corresponding interstate authorities in order to carry out our duties under the Legal Profession Uniform Law Application Act 2014.

How and why personal information is collected 

We collect personal information directly from you when you contact us about a loss of trust money/property due to dishonesty or fraud by a lawyer and to claim back that money from our Fidelity Fund. 

We use this information to assess, investigate and determine claims made for compensation.  

What personal information is collected 

For those enquiring with, or making a claim on, the Fidelity Fund, the personal information we collect includes:

• financial records
• records of dealings with the relevant law practice/its staff; and/or 
• other relevant information/material as is required to resolve a claim 

Whether the collection is required or authorised by law 

If you choose to make a claim, the Board is required to collect the personal information to process your claim, in accordance with the Legal Profession Uniform Law.

Usual disclosures of this kind of personal information 

In order to carry out our duties under the Legal Profession Uniform Law Application Act 2014, information held by the Board may be disclosed internally, to the Commissioner, and/or to various external entities or organisations, including an external intervener appointed by the Board to a law practice, the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, the Law Institute of Victoria Ltd, Victorian Bar Inc., Victoria Police and corresponding interstate authorities.

How and why personal information is collected 

We collect personal information directly from you when you apply for a job position with us. We also collect personal information indirectly when undertaking reference checks. 

We use this information to process your application, interview with you and make you a job offer where relevant. 

What personal information is collected 

The personal information we collect may include:

• name and contact details
• resume, cover letter and qualifications
• sensitive information such as intersectionality data, health information, legal work status, whether you have received a separation package or criminal information where provided by you
• the outcome of a criminal background check
• the outcome of psychometric testing.

Whether the collection is required or authorised by law 

Providing your personal information for recruitment purposes is voluntary. However, if you choose not to provide certain details, we may be unable to consider your application or may not be able to consider it properly.

Usual disclosures of this kind of personal information 

Your personal information may be disclosed to third parties involved in the recruitment process, such as your referees, recruitment agencies or background check providers, with your consent. 

Your personal information may also be stored and processed through our recruitment platform service provider. We currently use careers.vic.gov.au and Springboard to process applications.

We will not disclose your personal information outside VLSB+C for any unrelated purpose, unless required or authorised by law.

How and why personal information is collected 

We collect personal information directly from you when you participate in research projects for us through the Legal Services Research Centre.   

We use this information in empirical research that informs justice policy and practice within Victoria, and beyond.

What personal information is collected 

The personal information we collect varies project to project but will usually include:

• demographic information about you such as age, gender, relationship status, languages spoken at home, country of birth
• sensitive information such as disability status, racial/ethnic origin, sexuality.

Whether the collection is required or authorised by law 

Providing your personal information as part of our research work is voluntary.

Usual disclosures of this kind of personal information 

Your personal information may be disclosed to third parties involved in our research with your consent. 

Your personal information may be stored and processed through third-party software such as Qualtrics.

Your personal information may be collected by third parties (eg fieldwork companies). 

We will not disclose your personal information outside VLSB+C for any unrelated purpose, unless required or authorised by law.

Our research is publicly reported as deidentified and aggregate data.