Legal Services Commissioner

Office of the Legal Services Commissioner

 Exciting opportunity to lead the legal profession regulation sector within NSW as an independent statutory officer which sits within the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ)

•  Senior Executive Band 1–Total Remuneration payable starting from $256, 323 to $287,200
• Based in Sydney CBD
• Fixed Term Opportunity

 Your role:

The Legal Services Commissioner is an independent statutory appointment that under the Legal Profession Uniform Law Application Act 2014.  

The Office of the Legal Services Commissioner deals with complaints about lawyers under the Legal Profession Uniform Law (NSW) and Legal Profession Uniform Law Application Act 2014.  We’re committed to providing a flexible and inclusive working environment for our diverse workforce and supporting our people to deliver value for the community.

At DCJ, we are committed to improving employment outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and to building a workforce that better reflects the perspectives of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities we serve.

What you’ll do

As the Legal Services Commissioner you will operate with considerable statutory autonomy, you are accountable for the delivery of services provided by the Office of the Legal Services Commissioner.

The primary functions of the Commissioner’s Office are to manage and investigate complaints about the conduct of lawyers (including making summary disciplinary orders against lawyers); monitor the professional associations’ handling of complaints; reviewing decisions of the professional associations upon application; and prosecuting serious cases of misconduct in the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal and/or the Court of Appeal. 

The Commissioner is also required to contribute to the development of professional conduct rules (and Uniform Rules under the Uniform Law), propose regulatory reform to the Attorney General and provide advice as requested.

You will exercise a high degree of independent decision-making authority in making orders to summarily dismiss complaints or to caution or reprimand legal practitioners. In more serious cases, the Commissioner is responsible for prosecuting a practitioner in the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

The Commissioner is also empowered to review individual complaints that have been dealt with by the professional associations and may substitute his or her own decision for the decision of the first-instance decision maker. As such, the Commissioner acts as an independent merits review body.

What we are looking for

• A thought leader who has broad influence within the Legal community, and who will lead the legal profession regulation sector within NSW.
• A driver of high levels of customer service in the provision of timely, fair, transparent, efficient and cost-effective, resolution of complaints about lawyers.
• A collaborator who can work with community and professional stakeholders to maintain and enhance the highest levels of S professional ethics and standards in the legal profession.
• A proven leader of people who will guide and develop an existing team to promote collaboration and a culture based on the values of the department

The successful applicant:

Must meet the criteria for appointment under s 22 of the Legal Profession Uniform Law Application Act as a person who:

• is familiar with the nature of the legal system and legal practice (but need not be an Australian legal practitioner), and
• Possesses sufficient qualities of independence, fairness and integrity.
• Will have Tertiary qualifications and/or demonstrated equivalent industry/professional experience in the relevant area.

Please note appointments are subject to reference checks. You may also require the following checks/ clearances:

•  National Criminal History Record Check in accordance with the Disability Inclusion Act 2014

For more details regarding this role, please click here to view the role description

We do work that really matters

Working for the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) provides lots of opportunities to make a real difference. We collaborate with other agencies and community partners, to improve lives and realise the potential of children, adults, families and communities. We’re focused on breaking, rather than managing, disadvantage. It’s work that really matters.