Commissioner Update - August 2020
Commissioner update to the legal profession - August 2020
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During the annual practising certificate renewal process we asked lawyers to tell us about their ancestry, country of birth and the languages they speak. Information was provided on a voluntary basis and 86% of lawyers answered one or more of the diversity or language questions.
We are committed to providing an accessible, responsive service to all Victorians. While the majority of people communicate with us in a courteous manner, a small number of individuals can sometimes be angry, frustrated or distressed or act in other ways that may be challenging.
We recognise that people who demonstrate challenging behaviour often have a legitimate grievance and we will continue to deal with complaints on their merits. Our officers will treat people who contact us with courtesy, and we expect this courtesy to be returned.
The Victorian Legal Services Board + Commissioner (VLSBC) sees the value in innovation. As the regulator, we encourage lawyers to look for new ways to streamline and improve their practice. We also wish to encourage the development of legal services that are more affordable and accessible to a greater range of people in the community.
This section provides information for the community about the VLSB+C's views on current issues.
27 July 2026
We advise that Mr Paul Norris-Ongso is not an Australian legal practitioner and does not currently hold a practising certificate. He cannot engage in legal practice and is prohibited from advertising, representing or implying that he can engage in legal practice.
Kinpath Surrogacy is also not a registered law practice and cannot provide legal services.
In 2017, in response to the rising rates of women’s incarceration, we identified Keeping Women Out of the Justice System (KWOJS) as a priority-funding theme of our grants program.
