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Legal Practice
The Legal Practice List hears and decides disputes between lawyers and clients about legal services and costs, and cases about lawyers’ conduct.
Cases we can hear
Under the Legal Profession Uniform Law (Victoria)
We hear disputes specifically about the legal profession, including:
- costs disputes between lawyers and their clients that have first been to the Victorian Legal Services Commissioner and where the costs in dispute are less than $59,650 (for applications made in the year ending 30 June 2024)
- applications by the Victorian Legal Services Commissioner or the Victorian Legal Services Board for disciplinary orders against lawyers
- applications by the Victorian Legal Services Commissioner or the Victorian Legal Services Board for disqualification orders against individuals who are not current legal practitioners
- applications by lawyers to review certain decisions made by the Victorian Legal Services Commissioner or the Victorian Legal Services Board.
Under the Australian Consumer Law and Fair Trading Act 2012
We hear civil disputes between lawyers and clients about costs and legal services provided. There is no monetary limit.
Cases we can't help with
We can’t accept:
- some cases where one party lives in another state or is a Commonwealth government organisation
- cases heard under federal law instead of Victorian law
- a decision of the Victorian Legal Services Board to disallow a claim (in whole or in part) against the fidelity fund (or reduce the amount of the claim).
Choose the type of application that applies to you
Dispute legal costs or seek compensation
Clients of lawyers may apply to dispute legal costs or for compensation regarding legal services. Lawyers may also apply to recover legal costs.
Review a decision of the Victorian Legal Services Commissioner
Lawyers may apply to VCAT to review compensation and disciplinary orders issued by the Victorian Legal Services Commissioner under the Legal Profession Uniform Law (Victoria).
Review a decision of the Victorian Legal Services Board
If the Victorian Legal Services Board makes a decision about you, you can apply to VCAT for a review of their decision.
Disciplinary charges against a legal practitioner
The Victorian Legal Services Commissioner can apply to VCAT to bring disciplinary charges against a legal practitioner.
Disqualify someone who is not a lawyer
The Victorian Legal Services Board can apply to VCAT to disqualify someone who has been convicted of a serious offence, is not a fit and proper person or is otherwise unsuitable to work in a legal office.
Revoke a disqualification order
Someone who has been disqualified indefinitely to work in a legal office has the right to apply to VCAT to have the order revoked.
Useful resources
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Organisations that may be able to help you
VCAT can't offer you legal advice. Below are organisations that may be able to help with your case.