Barwick v Law Society of New South Wales

[2000] HCA 2
Judgment date
Case number
S25/1999
Before
Gleeson CJ, Gaudron, McHugh, Kirby, Callinan JJ
Catchwords

Legal practitioners – Disciplinary proceedings - Requirement for investigation of complaints - Institution of proceedings by filing of informations - Jurisdiction and powers of Legal Services Tribunal - Complaints initiated outside statutory period - Power of Legal Services Tribunal to vary informations to include conduct occurring outside statutory period.

Statutes – Construction - Mandatory versus directory - Legislative purpose - Course of enactment of legislation - Successive drafts of Bill - Whether permissible to consider.

Words and phrases – "complaints" - "made" - "initiated".

Legal Profession Act 1987 (NSW) – ss 134-138, 148-150, 152, 154-156, 167, 167A.

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