Page 4267 - Week 13 - Thursday, 25 November 1993

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .

---

-14-

NEED TO BE INCORPORATED INTO EACH JURISDICTIONS DISCIPLINARY ARRANGEMENTS TO RESTORE OR MAINTAIN PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN THE COMPETENCE AND INTEGRITY OF THE PROFESSION AND TO PROVIDE AVENUES FOR SATISFACTORY REDRESS FOR COMPLAINANTS".

THE KEY FEATURES WHICH THE COMMISSION SAYS SHOULD CHARACTERISE A COMPLAINTS AND DISCIPLINE SYSTEM FOR THE LEGAL PROFESSION INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING.

FIRSTLY, LAY PERSONS SHOULD HAVE AT LEAST EQUAL REPRESENTATION WITH LEGAL PRACTITIONERS IN EVERY LEVEL OF THE COMPLAINTS HANDLING AND DISCIPLINE ARRANGEMENTS, AND LAY REPRESENTATIVES SHOULD PREDOMINATE AT THE COMPLAINTS HANDLING LEVEL.

SECONDLY, THERE SHOULD BE A RIGHT OF INDEPENDENT REVIEW AVAILABLE TO CONSUMERS AT EVERY LEVEL OF THE PROCESS.

THIRDLY, AND SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATE PRIVACY SAFEGUARDS, THE PUBLIC SHOULD HAVE ACCESS TO THE COMPLAINTS HANDLING AND DISCIPLINARY PROCESS, AND THERE SHOULD BE PUBLIC REPORTING OF OUTCOMES AND THE REGULAR PUBLICATION OF COMPLAINTS INVESTIGATED, REMEDIAL ACTION AND DISCIPLINE IMPOSED.

AND FOURTHLY, LEGAL PROFESSIONAL BODIES SHOULD

HAVE A STATUTORY DUTY TO PROMOTE CONSUMER

4267

---

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .