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Disciplinary Action Register & Public Reprimands

 

In a Register of Disciplinary Action, the Society is required to publish disciplinary action taken against a practitioner (s541 Legal Profession Act). That Register is provided below. The Society has determined not to publish disciplinary proceedings where no findings of professional misconduct are made against a practitioner. This is due to the restrictive definition of disciplinary action in s540 of the Act.

 

Decision date Practitioner name Business address & home jurisdiction (if known) Admission date & jurisdiction Nature of conduct Penalty imposed
12/09/2008 Mr Ian ROWBOTTOM

Level 5, Old Admiralty Towers, 68 Esplanade, Darwin City NT 0800

NT Jurisdiction

06/02/1996 (NT)

Findings of professional misconduct

Reasons for decision

Consequential orders on penalty for professional misconduct

Practising Certificate cancelled and practitioner not to be granted a Practising Certificate for 6 months

Practitioner to complete and pass ethics course

27/04/2009 Ms Asha MCLAREN GPO Box 4157, Darwin NT 0801

NT Jurisdiction

09/03/1983 (NT)

Findings of professional misconduct

Reasons for decision

Reasons for penalty

Appeal decision

Practitioner to complete courses

Fine of 150 penalty units

Practitioner to apologise

07/05/2011 Mr Thong Sum LEE 25 Lindsay St, Darwin NT 0800 (former)

Original admission:
28/05/1976 (NSW)

Also admitted NT

Findings of professional misconduct

Public reprimand

Fine of $10,000.00

24/12/2014 Mr Michael FREELAND Level 1, 20 Knuckey St, Darwin NT 0800 (former)

Original admission:
02/08/2002 (Tas)

Also admitted 29/10/2002 (NT)

Findings of professional misconduct and unsatisfactory professional conduct

Reasons for decision

Reasons for penalty

Practising Certificate not to be granted for 12 months

Practitioner not to be issued with an unrestricted PC until 2 years supervised practice completed

30/08/2019 Ms Vanessa Marie FARMER

22 Harry Chan Ave, Darwin NT 0800

NT Jurisdiction

02/02/1999 (NT)

Findings of professional misconduct

Reasons for decision

Reasons for penalty

Public reprimand in respect of each charge

Fine of $15,000

Complete further legal education in the areas of Ethics and Professional Responsibility and Practice Management, course not exceeding one day or equivalent online program

Transfer trust money to the complainant within 7 days

18/06/2020 Mr Geoffrey Robert CLIFT

26 Harry Chan Ave, Darwin NT 0800 (former)

NT jurisdiction

Original admission: 21/02/1983 (Tas)

Also admitted 09/07/1984 (NT) and 06/05/1991 (SA)

Findings of professional misconduct and unsatisfactory professional conduct

Reasons for decision

Public reprimand

PC not to be granted for 8 months

 

PUBLIC REPRIMANDS

Pursuant to s499 of the Legal Profession Act 2006, where the Society after completion of the investigation of a complaint determines that there is a reasonable likelihood that a practitioner will be found guilty by the Disciplinary Tribunal of either unsatisfactory professional conduct or professional misconduct, the Society may issue the practitioner with a public reprimand.

A public reprimand is not 'disciplinary action' within the meaning of s540 of the Legal Profession Act but the Council of the Society has resolved that details relating to the reprimand will be made public by being published on the Society's website, and that details will remain available for 12 months from the date on which the reprimand was imposed by the Society. Details can be found by clicking on the link below.

View Register of Public Reprimands 

 

 

Last modified: 06/02/2024 3:49 PM

Office details

Office: 3/6 Lindsay St. Darwin NT 0800
Post: GPO Box 2388 Darwin NT 0801
ABN: 62 208 314 893

Contact

Please note that the Society does not offer legal advice.

A list of lawyers can be found here.

Telephone: (08) 8981 5104
Email: lawsoc@lawsocietynt.asn.au

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