Legal Insights & Defence Guidance from Our Blog

24 August

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New Zealand Citizens and Australian Permanent Visa Applications

Lodging an Australian Permanent Visa Application as an New Zealand Citizen If you are a New Zealand citizen and have been living in Australia from 19 February 2016 or before, and you haven’t already lodged an Australian Permanent Visa application, maybe now is the time for you to get that ball rolling… This post will explain reasons why you might choose to do that – and some reasons why you might not! We will then explain a bit about the eligibility criteria for a special permanent visa pathway that is only available to New Zealand citizens. You might spend time and money...

04 August

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The Legal Services Commission (LSC) Investigation & Disciplinary Process

Posted by Craig DoRozario

in Uncategorised

The Legal Services Commission (LSC) When a lawyer receives a letter from the Legal Services Commissioner about a complaint, it can raise all sorts of fears and anxiety about the process and how the complaint might be resolved. Practitioners should know that not every complaint received by the LSC is notified to the relevant practitioner. A large proportion of complaints are determined to be not to be proper complaints for the Commission to investigate, for various reasons. For example, a client complaint about costs which does not raise conduct issues might not be notified. Although a practitioner might not appreciate it at the...

03 August

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AHPRA Disciplinary Matters for Health Practitioners

Posted by Potts Lawyers

in Disciplinary Law, Litigation

Why choose Potts Lawyers for AHPRA Matters? Potts team of experienced Civil Litigation Lawyers are highly experienced at assisting health practitioners across Australia who face allegations of impairments or conduct which may amount to unsatisfactory professional performance, unprofessional conduct, and professional misconduct. Get your free 20 minute consultation today. AHPRA Disciplinary Matters for Health Practitioners Health practitioners being investigated for these matters can face immediate action which prevents them from practising, and at the conclusion of those investigations, health practitioners can be subjected to conditions, suspensions, or even have their registration cancelled altogether. Obviously, this type of action taken against a health practitioner can...

03 August

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Preliminary Steps when Responding to an Queensland LSC Investigation Letter

Posted by Craig DoRozario

in Litigation

Our Disciplinary law experts have acted for many Queensland solicitors and barristers who have received a letter from the Legal Services Commissioner notifying of an investigation of a complaint made about them and seeking a response. Do you need an extension to obtain advice and respond? Generally, the initial letter from the LSC advising of the investigation will set out allegations and will seek a response and explanation within a certain timeframe. It is important for practitioner not to feel rushed when responding, which may result in a substandard response. If the lawyer requires more time to obtain advice and consider their position, they...

03 August

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Disciplinary Matters for Queensland Teachers

Posted by Potts Lawyers

in Litigation

Teachers who are subject to investigations by the QCT should urgently seek legal advice from civil ligitation lawyers experienced in this area of law so that appropriate steps can be taken to protect their registration throughout the course of the investigation. Potts Lawyers is experienced at assisting teachers in Queensland with a wide variety of disciplinary matters and have assisted teachers in avoiding serious findings and sanctions which could lead to onerous conditions on their registration or even completely prevent them from teaching. Disciplinary Matters for Queensland Teachers Teachers in Queensland are mainly regulated by the Education (Queensland College of Teachers) Act 2005...

03 August

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Real Estate Agent Licences in Queensland

Posted by Potts Lawyers

in Litigation

Everything you need to know: QLD Real Estate Agent Licences Real estate agents who are facing criminal allegations or allegations of breaching the real estate legislation in the course of their practice of property agent work, should seek legal advice immediately from lawyers experienced in criminal law and in disciplinary law matters. Why use Potts Lawyers? Our Civil Litigation Lawyers are experienced at assisting real estate agents in Queensland who face having their licences suspended or cancelled, and also applicants whose licences have not been granted due to suitability matters. Existing licensees can have their licences cancelled due as a result of breaches of...

21 July

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NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission – Banning Orders

Posted by Genevieve Bowen

in Litigation

This article explains the mechanisms by which NDIS service providers and their employees might be prohibited from providing NDIS supports and services, or their provision of NDIS supports or services might be restricted. For example, a banning order may be made against an individual on the ground that he or she is believed not to be suitable to provide supports or services to people with disability because of a criminal conviction or misconduct. The banning might apply to specified activities and for specified time periods. The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) Quality and Safeguards Commission (‘the Commissioner’) was founded on the 13th...

19 July

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New Offences related to the Reporting of and Protection from Child Sexual Offences

Posted by Lachlan O'Neill

in Criminal Law & Offences, Uncategorised

The Criminal Code (Child Sexual Offences Reform) and other Legislation Amendment Bill (2019) has sought to improve the responsiveness of the criminal justice system to Child Sexual Offending and victims of Child Sexual Offences by amending a range of legislation. Of particular note are two new offences introduced to the QLD Criminal Code, which have come into effect on the 5 July 2021. As a result of these offences: all adults, who gain information causing them to reasonably believe that a Child Sexual Offence is being or has been committed against a child, must report that sexual offending to the police...

13 July

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Ashleigh DoRozario to discuss the need for an accessibility liaison in Queensland Courts with the Attorney-General

Posted by Ashleigh DoRozario

in Firm news, Uncategorised

Potts Lawyers is pleased to announce that Ashleigh DoRozario, a fierce advocate in the disability awareness space, recently met with the Attorney-General, the Honourable Shannon Fentiman MP to discuss the need for an accessibility liaison in Queensland Courts. Ashleigh became aware that there was a gap in the Queensland Courts where solicitors, witnesses, jurors, clients and the like who have a disability felt they couldn’t properly engage with our court systems or judges to allow a ‘fair go’. There were challenges for those with disabilities to get in contact with the Judge or Magistrate to explain that their disability may require the...

01 June

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Trial scheme to enable youth offenders to have GPS trackers placed upon their ankles

Posted by Michael Warren

in Criminal Law & Offences

Bill Potts comments on new government package deal which allows youth offenders to have GPS trackers placed upon their ankles. The government recently announced as part of its package to deal with youth justice issues a range of responses broadly issues related to bail, and to allow a trial scheme to enable youth offenders to have GPS trackers placed upon their ankles. This we were told would have the effect of preventing crime. It also was said that the public could be satisfied that the government was doing practical steps to protect the public from youth crime. The statistics can be...

New Zealand Citizens and Australian Permanent Visa Applications

The Legal Services Commission (LSC) Investigation & Disciplinary Process

AHPRA Disciplinary Matters for Health Practitioners

Preliminary Steps when Responding to an Queensland LSC Investigation Letter

Disciplinary Matters for Queensland Teachers

Real Estate Agent Licences in Queensland

NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission – Banning Orders

New Offences related to the Reporting of and Protection from Child Sexual Offences

Ashleigh DoRozario to discuss the need for an accessibility liaison in Queensland Courts with the Attorney-General

Trial scheme to enable youth offenders to have GPS trackers placed upon their ankles

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