Complaint Against a Lawyer or Barrister — Legal Services Commissioner

Issuing authority

Office of the NSW Legal Services Commissioner (NSW); Victorian Legal Services Board + Commissioner (VIC); Legal Services Commission QLD (QLD); Legal Profession Conduct Commissioner SA (SA); Legal Services and Complaints Committee WA (WA); Legal Profession Board TAS (TAS); ACT Law Society / ACT Bar Association (ACT); Law Society NT (NT)

Official source

How to apply

1. Identify the correct body for your state: OLSC NSW (1800 242 958), VLSB+C VIC (lsbc.vic.gov.au), LSC QLD (lsc.qld.gov.au), LPCC SA (lpcc.sa.gov.au), LSCC WA, Legal Profession Board TAS, or the relevant Law Society for ACT/NT
2. Check time limits before lodging: conduct complaints must generally be lodged within 3 years of the conduct (NSW); costs complaints within 60 days of the bill becoming payable (NSW — 30 days if an itemised bill was received); limits vary by state
3. Gather your evidence: engagement letter, correspondence, invoices, and a clear written account of what happened
4. Complete the complaint form — available online via the relevant body's portal, or as a downloadable PDF (e.g. OLSC NSW Complaint Form July 2025)
5. Submit the complaint online, by email, or by post with supporting documents (PDFs under 10 MB each, organised chronologically for NSW OLSC)
6. Receive written acknowledgement with a reference number (typically within 2–3 business days for NSW OLSC)
7. Cooperate with the assessment process — the Commissioner may seek to resolve the matter by conciliation, refer it for investigation, or refer serious matters to the relevant tribunal; assessment typically takes 6–8 weeks

Related topics

Related forms

• Commonwealth Ombudsman Complaint
• Anti-Discrimination Complaint (Federal — AHRC)
• Privacy Complaint (OAIC)
• Police Misconduct Complaint (VIC — IBAC)
• Police Misconduct Complaint (NSW — LECC)