Disciplinary Register
The Register of Disciplinary Action contains information about lawyers who have been disciplined
Disciplinary action may be taken by the Legal Profession Conduct Commissioner, the Tribunal (previously the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal), the Supreme Court or in some cases, by their interstate equivalents.
Below you can search the Register by lawyer’s name and/or the disciplinary action taken, or view the entire Register.
A finding of Professional Misconduct, whether made by the Commissioner, the Tribunal (previously the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal) or the Supreme Court, must be published on the Register.
A less serious finding of Unsatisfactory Professional Conduct may be included on the Register, at the discretion of the Commissioner.
Not all lawyers subject to disciplinary action prior to 1 July 2014 are listed on the Register. Only lawyers who have been struck-off (ie removed from practice), suspended from practice or placed under supervision for a period of time (and which was in effect as at 1 July 2014) are on the Register. Some information is not on the Register for older disciplinary actions.
Lawyers found guilty of misconduct in other jurisdictions may have their details published on an interstate disciplinary action register.
If a finding that is entered on the Register is reviewed or appealed, then the fact of the review or appeal will also be noted on the Register. If the appeal, or indeed any review:
- results in the finding being quashed, then any reference to that disciplinary action must be removed from the Register;
- results in the finding being otherwise varied, then the Register will be amended appropriately.
The Commissioner has a discretion to remove information that was previously included on the Register. That can only occur where the information relates to relatively minor misconduct, and only if it has been at least 2 years since the later of:
- the inclusion of the information on the Register; and
- the fulfilment of the order or requirement to which the information relates.
Disclaimer: The Commissioner is required to maintain the Register of Disciplinary Action in accordance with section 89C of the Act. While all reasonable care is taken to make sure the information on the Register is correct and up-to-date, the Commissioner is not liable for any loss or damage that may result from reliance on the Register or from any error or deficiency in the Register. The Commissioner also has certain specific protections from liability under section 89F of the Act.
| Date of decision | Full name | Decision | Disciplinary action taken | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Claire Amy James (previously Morel) | Practitioner admitted | Struck off and Re-admitted | |
|
Full name
Claire Amy James (previously Morel)
Business address *
Not known
Date(s) of admission
27 February 2015, 19 December 1988
Jurisdiction(s) of admission
Home jurisdiction *
South Australia
Substance of Conduct Matter
-
Decision
Practitioner admitted
Date of decision
27 February 2015
Disciplinary action taken
Notes
Practitioner admitted on her own application
Regulatory authority
Supreme Court
Appeal
-
Decision or order
Link to published decision , Link to published decision
|
||||
| 2015 | Patric Graham Alderman | Unprofessional Conduct | Struck off | |
|
Full name
Patric Graham Alderman
Business address *
29 Regent Street, Parkside SA 5063
Date(s) of admission
05 June 1962
Jurisdiction(s) of admission
Home jurisdiction *
South Australia
Substance of Conduct Matter
Acting as Solicitor when no entitled. Misleading the Court, clients and the profession. Misleading the LPCB
Decision
Unprofessional Conduct
Date of decision
03 February 2015
Disciplinary action taken
Notes
Regulatory authority
Supreme Court
Appeal
Decision or order
Link to published decision
|
||||
| 2015 | Stephen Patrick McNamara | Interim Suspension Order | Suspension of Practising Certificate | |
|
Full name
Stephen Patrick McNamara
Business address *
Formerly of Commercial & General Law (SA), now in liquidiation
Date(s) of admission
07 February 1978
Jurisdiction(s) of admission
Home jurisdiction *
South Australia
Substance of Conduct Matter
Prima Facie case that the Practitioner misused trust monies.
Decision
Interim Suspension Order
Date of decision
03 February 2015
Disciplinary action taken
Notes
The Interim Suspension Order is until further Order.
Regulatory authority
Supreme Court of South Australia
Appeal
Decision or order
Link to published decision
|
||||
| 2015 | Gregory James Finlayson | Unsatisfactory conduct | Multiple Disciplinary Action | |
|
Full name
Gregory James Finlayson
Business address *
175C King William Road, Hyde Park SA 5061
Date(s) of admission
23 July 2010, 09 July 2010
Jurisdiction(s) of admission
Home jurisdiction *
South Australia
Substance of Conduct Matter
Failing to comply with duty to Court, misleading the Court
Decision
Unsatisfactory conduct
Date of decision
08 January 2015
Disciplinary action taken
Notes
Conditions and supervision end 12 January 2017
Regulatory authority
Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal
Appeal
Decision or order
Link to published decision
|
||||
| 2014 | Jeffrey David Vigar | Unprofessional Conduct | Multiple Disciplinary Action | |
|
Full name
Jeffrey David Vigar
Business address *
Date(s) of admission
06 February 1979
Jurisdiction(s) of admission
Home jurisdiction *
South Australia
Substance of Conduct Matter
Practitioner was intoxicated in Court in January 2011.
Decision
Unprofessional Conduct
Date of decision
10 December 2014
Disciplinary action taken
Notes
Fine in the amount of $3000 - Must file written undertaking not to practise again
Regulatory authority
Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal
Appeal
Decision or order
Link to published decision
|
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