Legal Profession Complaints Committee v Chang

The Legal Profession Complaints Committee applied for an order that the respondent's name be removed from the roll of legal practitioners. The application followed a report made by the State Administrative Tribunal, which had recommended the respondent's removal from the roll. The Tribunal's report was conclusive as to the facts and findings mentioned in the report. The Tribunal made three findings that the respondent engaged in professional misconduct. The first two findings were that the respondent knowingly misled her former client and the Magistrates Court in correspondence and statements made during pre-trial conferences. The third finding was that the respondent failed to respond to correspondence from the Committee and to two summonses to produce documents. The Full Bench was satisfied that the appropriate order was that the respondent's name should be removed from the roll of legal practitioners. The Court found that the respondent's conduct, which occurred over a relatively short period of time, involved repeated and deliberate dishonesty. The Court found that there was no excuse for that conduct whatsoever and that it could not be explained by the respondent's mental health condition. The Court found that the respondent's conduct demonstrated that she was not a fit and proper person to remain a member of the legal profession. The Court found that the respondent's character and conduct were inconsistent with the privileges of further practice.