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About Us
The Office of the NSW Legal Services Commissioner (OLSC) is an independent statutory body that supports the NSW Legal Services Commissioner to exercise the functions conferred on him or her by the Legal Profession Uniform Law (NSW) and the Legal Profession Uniform Law Application Act 2014.
OLSC was originally established in 1994 under the Legal Profession Act 1987.
As an independent statutory body, the NSW Legal Services Commissioner receives all complaints about lawyers in New South Wales. In addition to receiving complaints, the NSW Legal Services Commissioner investigates complaints and oversees the investigation of complaints by delegates, plays a role in resolving consumer matters and may take disciplinary action against a lawyer or commence disciplinary proceedings in the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) - Occupational Division.
The OLSC is part of the co-regulatory system for the legal profession in New South Wales alongside the Council of the Law Society of NSW (professional association for solicitors) and the Council of the NSW Bar Association (professional association for barristers).
Legal Profession Uniform Law
On 1 July 2015, the Uniform Law commenced in NSW and Victoria. The Uniform Law scheme has also been introduced in Western Australia on 1 July 2022.
The Uniform Law aims to promote the administration of justice and an efficient and effective Australian legal profession. The objectives of the Uniform Law include:
- Promoting consistency between jurisdictions in the law applying to the Australian legal profession
- Ensuring lawyers are competent and maintain high ethical and professional standards in the provision of legal services
- Enhancing the protection of clients of law practices and the public
- Empowering clients to make informed choices about their legal options
- Promoting efficient, effective, targeted and proportionate regulation of the legal profession
The Legal Services Council, the Law Society of New South Wales and the NSW Bar Association have further information on the Uniform Law scheme.
Last updated:
04 Dec 2023
We acknowledge Aboriginal people as the First Nations Peoples of NSW and pay our respects to Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the ongoing connection Aboriginal people have to this land and recognise Aboriginal people as the original custodians of this land.