Disciplinary Action for Professionals:

The conduct of professionals such as lawyers, doctors, veterinarians, architects and real estate agents are regulated by legislation and/or Codes of Conduct, which provide guidelines for standards of care, skill and knowledge and expectations of the profession’s members. If a professional is in breach of these guidelines, an investigation may be undertaken by the professional organisation which oversees the profession, or a judicial body such as the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (“NCAT”). If an adverse finding is made against the professional, disciplinary action may be imposed on the professional.

Whilst the disciplinary action available differs from profession to profession, some of the sanctions usually available include:

• Warning;
• Reprimand;
• Fine;
• Restrictions on practice;
• Monitoring;
• Suspension of licence;
• Cancellation of licence (deregistration).

Some of the factors that may be considered when determining the appropriate disciplinary action includes the severity of the misconduct, the professional’s history, the likelihood of future breaches, the risk to the professional’s clients and/or the public, the sanction that would serve as the best preventative measure for future misconduct and any remedial steps taken by the professional.

If you are a professional who is under investigation and at risk of disciplinary action, or if you are a member of the community who has a complaint about the conduct of a professional, we recommend that you seek legal advice on the disciplinary process relevant to that profession. Our team of Solicitors at Navado can advise you of what stages are involved and can assist in preparing any submissions to be lodged with the professional organisation or judicial body. We can also advise of any additional recourse or appeals available if an unsatisfactory outcome is obtained. 

If you wish to speak with one of our Disciplinary & Professional Conduct Lawyers, please contact our firm by telephone on (02) 9233 4048 or send an email to info@navado.com.au.

This webpage (and any material or wording appearing on this webpage) is provided for general information purposes only and does not constitute any Legal Advice. It does not take into account your objectives, your instructions or all of the relevant facts and/or circumstances. Navado accepts no responsibility to any person who relies on the information provided on this website. We further refer you to our Disclaimer.