Victorian Legal Services Board and Commissioner - Melbourne, Victoria

j S.

I filed a complaint with Victorian Legal Services Board and was advised to raise concerns in the Cost Court in Supreme Court of Victoria.

I spent additional $58,921.02 in Cost Court and had the following finding:
1) KHQ has not complied with sections 174 and 175 of the LPUL.
2) KHQ has charged $501,965.09 incl of GST.
3) Costs Court of the Supreme Court of Victoria has assessed at $430,000 incl of GST.
4) KHQ has overcharged $71,976.09
5) KHQ has been ordered to pay costs $27,255.40 of Applicant to have the matter dealt with Costs Court of the Supreme Court of Victoria

I went back to Victoria Legal Services Board again and requested investigation.

After 4 months and few calls I finally got a response that they will consider investigating.

I felt like VLSB was annoyed I went back to them.

Sheng Z.

The Victorian Legal Services Board claims to protect consumers.
It giving you the last shred of hope, it makes you think you are living in a democratic society but really it is a FIG leaf for the legal system, it just protects the solicitors that pay them.
They evaluated case for several years. During this period, they changed two investigators without informing me at all, all work has been completely paused, I kept sending emails every few months to ask about the progress. I can guarantee that they will never reply if I don’t ask. Eventually, they told me that the solicitor and the barrister had made no major mistakes and would not launch any further investigation.
It is a complete waste of time. They just want to make everyone give up through a long wait.

Millie M. M.

Have you experienced a lawyer that has shown not only shocking professional misconduct but has also blatantly broken the law, which you have proof of? Well, don't bother reporting your issues here, you may think this is the place to go, but they couldn't care less. Yet another government agency set up to take paychecks and do absolutely nothing. As everyone else has stated here, they won't take any case on, no matter how small or severe, they simply don't care. Don't waste your time, they won't even read your emails properly, will respond asking you questions you've just provided the information for in a previous email, and then provide you with the wrong information, hoping that will be useful to you. Pathetic excuse for an organisation. If you get a lady by the name of Anna Detsik, you can assure your issues won't be addressed properly, or even listened to in the first place.

Maureen B.

The Victorian Legal Services Board claims to protect consumers.
It very obviously protects the solicitors that pay them.
I paid my 18k account in advance then was encouraged to take a partial 55k settlement from proceeds of sale of my home.
Soon after I realised solicitor was not acting in my best interests and fired them and asked for 55k to be transferred into my account.
They refused saying I had spent the money, I am not sure how I never saw it.
Somehow, I am not sure how but an agreement was came to after the solicitor sending fake accounts that I could have 23k, I was then told yesterday that I might receive a further 17k if lucky and would have to accept that the solicitor involved is allowed to steal the remaining 15k.
To me 15k is a lot of money as I am a domestic violence survivor trying to start again at the age of 54.
I will be going to the media regarding this theft as the legal services supervisors informed me yesterday there was nothing more they could do.
They also told me not to approach the media.
Not sure that they shouldn't be shut down all they do is endorse that solicitors are allowed to steal from their trust accounts.

Michelle G.

Allogations of fraudulent misrepresentation of a settlement offer should be handled as a formal investigation to get the truth and protect the innocent. It is not logical for two Managers to allow this handling in a cost department as it's a serious conduct issue. Potentially deliberate to protect the lawyer which exacerbates harm on the innocent.
Supplied irrefutable evidence my settlement offer terms were misrepresented. Defendant offer had been kept hidden from me. Once I found the defendant true copy of offer it was irrefutable the lawyer misrepresented the offer to me before signing. The fact the defendant copy was not supplied to me in the first place is a significant red flag the law firm was deliberately concealing the truth. Clear colluding at VLSBC with lawyer because they sided with him, closing the case in my face with no resolution. Diabolical!
VLSBC refused to do a formal investigation. They kept it within the costing department for ten drawn out months going in circles causing terrible stress. Management's first mistake was giving a new staff member a highly complex and serious allogation to handle. She didn't have any understanding of basic legal terms or lawyers ethical obligations. Yet it was left in her hands to make decision to close the case! No resolution. No justification on their decisions! No mediation/arbitration offered. Simply Unbelievable and harmful to innocent victims.
It made it obvious to me they were protecting the lawyer as professional relationships/friendships/colluding obviously goes on. Victoria's regulating standard is absolutely bias/appalling and harmful. For me it felt they played bluff which was playing with my life/wasting my time! It sends a message that lawyers can do whatever they like. My trust is gone forever!

Jinglei L.

I contacted the Legal Services Board and Commissioner regarding repeated letters sent to my elderly father, pressuring him to sign an undertaking over an allegation that never led to court action. It has been over a year, and no legal proceedings were filed. The staff was dismissive and stated that they do not investigate matters like this, adding that they are at full capacity asking me to seek legal advice. In my opinion, this felt like a pressure tactic rather than a genuine legal process, raising ethical concerns. If the regulator cannot address such situations, it makes me question what their role is.

Pam M.

100% agreed with all the low ratings here. I caught a lawyer red handed lying, apparently, unless I am the lawyer’s client or if the matter went to court and the judge made a negative comment. This means I have to go spend money in the legal system, suffer big financial burdens, before they will look into it. Meaning lawyers can just keep lying without any consequences. Well done legal board!!!
Their Early Resolution Officer Shane Meekcoms was rude, overly matter of fact and basically trying to correct me that their lawyer are not “members”, they are “registered practitioners” arguing semantics with a layman. Congrats on doing a great job fobbing off another annoying person who pay taxes which means funding your job! This is why your “registered practitioners” keep lying to the general public because your organisation let them get away with it!

Amad

A spanner is useless when you need scissors, but at least a spanner has a function. The LSBC? None. It’s not just the wrong tool. It’s not a tool at all.