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 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 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 appealed, then the fact of the 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. They can only do so 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 the Act, Section 89C. 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Donald McRae Bentley | Professional Misconduct | Multiple Disciplinary Action | |
|
Full name
Donald McRae Bentley
Business address *
507 Brighton Road, BRIGHTON SA 5048
Date(s) of admission
30 September 1991
Jurisdiction(s) of admission
Home jurisdiction *
South Australia
Substance of Conduct Matter
Practising in breach of a condition on practising certificate regarding the completion of an accredited Law Practice Management Course.
Decision
Professional Misconduct
Date of decision
09 August 2024
Disciplinary action taken
Notes
Fine amount $4,000.00.
Regulatory authority
Legal Profression Conduct Commissioner
Appeal
Decision or order
Decision not published
|
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| 2024 | Mark William Henderson | Professional Misconduct | Multiple Disciplinary Action | |
|
Full name
Mark William Henderson
Business address *
278 Flinders Street, Adelaide SA 5000
Date(s) of admission
13 February 2004
Jurisdiction(s) of admission
Home jurisdiction *
South Australia
Substance of Conduct Matter
Practising in breach of a condition on Practising Certificate regarding the completion of an accredited Law Practice Management Course.
Decision
Professional Misconduct
Date of decision
01 August 2024
Disciplinary action taken
Notes
Fine amount $4,000.00.
Regulatory authority
Legal Profession Conduct Commissioner
Appeal
Decision or order
Decision not published
|
||||
| 2024 | Michelle Louise Petty-Sampson | Professional Misconduct | Multiple Disciplinary Action | |
|
Full name
Michelle Louise Petty-Sampson
Business address *
Level 1, 179 King William Road, Hyde Park SA 5044
Date(s) of admission
27 September 2016
Jurisdiction(s) of admission
Home jurisdiction *
South Australia
Substance of Conduct Matter
Trust Account breaches and regulatory non-compliance
Decision
Professional Misconduct
Date of decision
29 July 2024
Disciplinary action taken
Notes
Fine of $3,000.00
Practitioner to undertake and pass Rule 15 Trust Account refresher course
Regulatory authority
Legal Profession Conduct Commissioner
Appeal
Decision or order
Decision not published
|
||||
| 2024 | Robert Bruce Harrap | Practitioner’s name struck off the Roll | Struck off | |
|
Full name
Robert Bruce Harrap
Business address *
C/- Ethics and Practice, Law Society SA, 178 North Terrace Adelaide SA 5000
Date(s) of admission
31 May 1982
Jurisdiction(s) of admission
Home jurisdiction *
South Australia
Substance of Conduct Matter
Convictions of one count of conspiracy to improperly exercise power held in public office and two counts of deception.
Decision
Practitioner’s name struck off the Roll
Date of decision
26 July 2024
Disciplinary action taken
Notes
Regulatory authority
Supreme Court
Appeal
Decision or order
Link to published decision
|
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| 2024 | John Mark Fitzpatrick | Professional Misconduct & Unsatisfactory Professional Conduct | Recommend that proceedings be commenced in the Supreme Court | |
|
Full name
John Mark Fitzpatrick
Business address *
U1, 121 Walkerville Terrace, Walkerville SA 5081
Date(s) of admission
15 December 1986
Jurisdiction(s) of admission
Home jurisdiction *
South Australia
Substance of Conduct Matter
Failure to respond to requests for information from the Commissioner, failure to respond to Notices issued by the Commissioner, failure to lodge low fee earner declaration in breach of undertaking, failure to respond to requests from Law Society for documentation relating to MCPD requirements, delay without reasonable excuse, failure to respond to solicitors acting for former client, breach of Supreme Court order, breach of condition on practising certificate, multiple breaches of Australian Solicitors Conduct Rules and duties owed to client, dishonesty, failing to complete MCPD requirements and making a false and misleading statement.
Decision
Professional Misconduct & Unsatisfactory Professional Conduct
Date of decision
20 June 2024
Disciplinary action taken
Notes
Regulatory authority
Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal
Appeal
Decision or order
Link to published decision , Link to published decision , Link to published decision , Link to published decision
|
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