Other regulatory and complaint-handling organisations
This page contains links to regulatory and complaint-handling organisations in jurisdictions outside New South Wales, and overseas.
Select a link below for a list of organisations in that jurisdiction or category.
Australian regulatory jurisdictions
Australian Capital Territory
ACT Bar Association represents and provides professional services and support to its members and to independent barristers at the bar in the ACT.
ACT Law Society represents and defends the interests of the independent legal profession in the ACT and aims to protect the public interest by regulating the legal profession through the enforcement of the Legal Profession Act and the Society' s Solicitors Rules.
Victoria
Legal Services Commissioner is an independent body that handles the complaints made against Victorian lawyers.
Legal Services Board is an independent regulator that protects consumers and enhances the integrity of legal services in Victoria by regulating the legal profession, enforcing professional standards and protecting the interests of the general public.
Victorian Bar is an association of lawyers working as independent barristers that represents their members.
Law Institute of Victoria is a professional organisation of Victorian solicitors.
Queensland
The
Legal Services Commission Queensland is an independent statutory body that receives and addresses complaints made against legal practitioners in Queensland. Their central role is to protect the rights of legal consumers and encourage the highest standards of professionalism in the Queensland legal service.
The
Bar Association of Queensland represents the interests of practising barristers in Queensland.
The
Queensland Law Society is the representative body for Queensland solicitors. They, together with the Legal Services Commissioner, regulate the conduct of and provide professional support to Queensland solicitors.
Western Australia
The
Legal Practice Board of Western Australia is responsible for the admission, supervision and discipline of all legal practitioners in Western Australia.
The
Law Society of Western Australia is the representative body for solicitors and barristers in Western Australia.
Northern Territory
The
Northern Territory Bar Association represents those lawyers who practice solely as barristers.
The
Law Society of the Northern Territory is a statutory body, that oversees the legal profession in the Northern Territory. They represent both the interests of solicitors and the general public in the Northern Territory.
South Australia
Legal Profession Conduct Commissioner is responsible for handling complaints made against lawyers in South Australia.
South Australian Bar Association is an organisation for independent barristers based in South Australia.
Law Society of South Australia is an organisation that provides professional services, resources and support to its members and the South Australian legal profession in general.
Tasmania
Legal Profession Board of Tasmania is an independent statutory body that is responsible for receiving and investigating complaints about the conduct of lawyers in Tasmania.
Law Society of Tasmania represents solicitors and legal professionals in Tasmania and provides legal education, support and aims to regulate and encourage a high level of professional conduct by its members.
Tasmanian Bar is an association of independent Barristers from Tasmania
Other complaint-handling organisations
Ombudsman NSW handles complaints about NSW public authorities and officials including government departments, statutory authorities, public servants, police, corrective services and local councils. The Ombudsman also oversees and monitors the investigation of child abuse allegations against employees of certain government and non-government agencies.
Health Care Complaints Commission (HCCC) deals with complaints about health care providers and services. The HCCC is a complaint handling body independent from the Department of Health that investigates and prosecutes complaints against health care providers in NSW.
WorkCover Independent Review Office helps injured workers deal with complaints about a decision or action taken by an insurer under NSW workers compensation legislation, including denial of liability by an insurer.
Private Health Insurance Ombudsman is an independent body established to deal with enquiries and complaints relating to private health insurance arrangements.
Energy & Water Ombudsman NSW provides an independent means of resolving complaints for customers if you are dissatisfied with an action or decision of electricity providers, AGL in NSW and Sydney Water.
The Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA) provides free, fair and independent dispute resolution for financial complaints about credit, finance and loans, insurance, banking deposits and payments, investments and financial advice and superannuation.
Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman (TIO) handles complaints about telephone and internet service providers. If a customer is dissatisfied with the outcome of a complaint made to their telecommunications provider, they may lodge a complaint with the TIO.
Anti Discrimination Board investigates and conciliates complaints of discrimination, harassment and vilification.
The
Independent Commissioner Against Corruption (ICAC) aims to protect the public interest, prevent breaches of public trust and guide the conduct of public officials. The ICAC has the authority to investigate any matter involving public sector corruption in NSW.
NSW Fair Trading receives complaints about licensed conveyancers in New South Wales. OFT also provides information and assistance for consumers, particularly in relation to motor vehicles, home building and renovation, credit, property and tenancy issues, plus cooperative and business name registration.
International regulatory organisations
National Organisation of Bar Counsel is a not for profit organisation of legal profession bodies whose members enforce ethical rules and handle complaints regarding the professional conduct of lawyers who practise in the United States.
Association of Professional Responsibility Lawyers is an independent national organisation of lawyers in the United States concentrating in the fields of professional responsibility and legal ethics.
American Bar Association - Centre for Professional Responsibility provides national leadership and vision in developing and interpreting standards and scholarly resources in legal and judicial ethics, professional regulation, professionalism and client protection.
Federation of Law Societies of Canada is the national coordinating body of Canada's 14 provincial and territorial law societies.
The
Canadian Bar Association is a representative body for lawyers, judges, notaries, law teaches and law students from across Canada.
The
Law Society of England and Wales is the peak representative body for solicitors across the United Kingdom.
International Bar Association is the world's leading organisation of international legal practitioners, bar associations and law societies.
New Zealand Law Society regulates and supports all lawyers in New Zealand.