Finding
Unsatisfactory professional conduct under the Legal Profession Uniform Law (Vic)
Penalty
Pursuant to section 299(1) of the Uniform Law the Victorian Legal Services Commissioner finds that the Respondent Lawyer has engaged in unsatisfactory professional conduct and makes the following order 1. Pursuant to section 299(1)(b) of the Uniform Law the Respondent Lawyer is reprimanded. 2. Pursuant to section 299(1)(e) of the Uniform Law the Respondent Lawyer is required to undertake training being two additional units of CPD in the area of costs disclosure in the CPD cycle commencing 1 April 2026 to 30 March 2027 in addition to the mandatory CPD requirements otherwise applicable for the 2026/27 CPD cycle. 3. Pursuant to section 292 of the Uniform Law I determine that the fair and reasonable amount payable as legal costs to the Respondent Lawyer for work completed on the Complainants legal matter is $9715.00 (GST and disbursements Incl.) 4. Pursuant to section 290(2)(c) of the Uniform Law I determine that it is fair and reasonable in all the circumstances to make an order requiring the Respondent Lawyer to reduce the fees for the work done on the Complainants legal matter to $9715.00 (GST and disbursements Incl.). Taking into consideration the sum of $400.00 already paid by the Complainant to the Respondent Law Practice the balance owing in legal fees is $9315.00 (GST and disbursements Incl.)