Victorian Legal Services Board + Commissioner

Legal practitioners 📣 Have you submitted Part A: Law Practice Confirmation and Part B: Statement of Trust Money? Both forms are due by WEDNESDAY 30 APRIL 2025. Make sure you submit while there's still time: lnkd.in/gUFD522c

Victorian Law Week Events 📢 💻DIY Wills: The Common Risks & Hidden Costs Thinking of writing your own will? Before you do, join this informative session to learn about the common pitfalls of DIY wills. Register today: viclawweek.org.au/program/diy-wi… #LawWeek #LIVposts

Independent community legal services can help you consider your legal options with advice and resources. Find out more: fclc.org.au/about_communit…

#Lawyers, our December Commissioner Update is out now! Key highlights? Our expectations of lawyers who choose to use AI, protecting your clients’ trust money from scams, and ensuring the proper use of client legal privilege. Dive into the full update: go.vic.gov.au/4gEF64h

Our office will be closed from 3pm on Tuesday 24 December 2024 and will reopen at 9am on Monday 6 January 2025. Phone services will be back online from Thursday 2 January. We wish you all a safe and restful break and look forward to seeing you in the new year!

Lawyers – have you changed employers? Do you have a new phone number or email address? Let us know by updating your details in LSB Online: lsbc.vic.gov.au/lsb-online

Impersonation scams targeting law practices are on the rise. Be on the lookout for a suspicious message or call from someone claiming to be from your bank wanting information to investigate a problem with your trust account. Learn more: lnkd.in/gbpD9QD7

Artificial intelligence is changing work as we know it – including for lawyers. We’ve collaborated with partners in the other Uniform Law jurisdictions to issue a statement to the profession that clarifies our expectations when they use AI. Learn more: lnkd.in/g3-ycXgR

There are a lot of questions to ask your #lawyer when it comes to costs. We’ve narrowed it down the top six. Access our handy, no-fuss guide to help you avoid billing surprises and make important decisions with confidence: go.vic.gov.au/47P011r

This year, 23 community organisations will share in $11,875,997 of Change Grant funding from VLSB's Grants Program, supporting #accesstojustice throughout Victoria. Read more about the grantees: go.vic.gov.au/4htpl15 #legalprofession #viclaw #communitylawyers

We help Victorians deal with issues rising from legal costs, poor service and bad lawyer behaviour – but what about judicial complaints, or legal representation? Learn more about other options for support and action here: bit.ly/4dXfXQl

Congratulations to Strong Foundations grant recipients Northern Community Legal Centre, on their new Wallan office. We’re proud to support NCLC in their work to meet the significant legal need in the Lower Mitchell region. go.vic.gov.au/3NY0Cok

Everyone deserves access to justice. Read more about the VLSB+C’s work in supporting Victoria’s legal system in our Annual Report 2024: go.vic.gov.au/3YkMJFi

Our new research program and in-depth consumer survey will help us better understand how consumers understand the law and engage with lawyers. Learn more: go.vic.gov.au/3YkMJFi

By helping lawyer achieve and maintain the highest ethical and professional standards, we’re helping to safeguard consumers. Learn more about how we’re improving legal practice and ethics: go.vic.gov.au/3YkMJFi

You spoke, we listened. To deliver better outcomes for more of our customers, we rolled out a range of new projects over 2023-24. Read more: go.vic.gov.au/3YkMJFi

Our Annual Report 2024 is now available! This year, we connected with the lawyers and consumers at the heart of our work to understand what they need from us, where we can improve, and how to make our services more accessible for everyone. Learn more: go.vic.gov.au/3YkMJFi

Initial findings are now available from a new study into lawyer wellbeing, workplace culture and ethics by researchers from @ANU_Research and @UniMelb. Thanks to the lawyers who participated, and to our partners in NSW and WA. go.vic.gov.au/4hpIVLU

So you’ve read our Minimum Cybersecurity Expectations for lawyers – now what? Visit @LPLC for handy training resources to help keep your practice and clients safe from cyber risks: shorturl.at/nvXTJ

This week we were delighted to host Lucinda Soon, @homesva, Matt Healey, @CarlySchrever and Emily Knowles for #Lawyer Wellbeing: Research into Practice, compered by our Lawyer Wellbeing Manager, Lucy Fraser. Find out more on our website: go.vic.gov.au/3NBMd0T #viclaw #auslaw