ACTIn ForceAct
Legal Profession Act 2006
442Compensation orders
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442 Compensation orders
(1) A compensation order is an order, made in relation to a complaint, for
an Australian legal practitioner to compensate the complainant for
loss suffered because of conduct that is the subject of the complaint.
Note An order may be made by the ACAT in relation to a solicitor arising from
a complaint about unsatisfactory employment conduct of an employee of
the solicitor (see s 429).
(2) A compensation order against an Australian legal practitioner
consists of 1 or more of the following:
(a) an order that the practitioner cannot recover or must repay all or
a stated part of the amount charged to the complainant by the
practitioner in relation to stated legal services;
(b) an order discharging a lien of the practitioner in relation to a
stated document;
(c) an order that the practitioner pay a stated amount to the
complainant by way of financial compensation for the loss.
(3) A compensation order under subsection (2) (a) preventing recovery
of an amount is effective even if a proceeding to recover the amount
(or any part of it) has been started by or on behalf of the Australian
legal practitioner.
(4) A compensation order under subsection (2) (a) requiring repayment
of an amount is effective even if a court has ordered payment of the
amount (or an amount of which it is part) in a proceeding brought by
or on behalf of the Australian legal practitioner.
(5) A compensation order under subsection (2) (c) requiring payment of
more than $10 000 by way of financial compensation must not be
made unless the complainant and the practitioner both consent to the
order.