Attorney-General Martin Pakula today announced the reappointment of Dale Boucher as the Commissioner for Uniform Legal Services Regulation.
Mr Boucher was appointed as the inaugural Commissioner on 29 September 2014, for an initial term of 12 months. He has been reappointed for a further two years.
As Commissioner, Mr Boucher is responsible for overseeing the handling of complaints under the Legal Profession Uniform Law scheme, including the power to issue guidelines to local regulatory authorities on complaint-handling functions.
The scheme, which came into effect on 1 July this year, regulates the legal profession, while improving consumer protections by creating new remedies and standardised complaints processes.
Mr Boucher will also be Chief Executive of the Legal Services Council, responsible for drafting the uniform standards to apply to all lawyers in Victoria and New South Wales.
Mr Boucher has more than 43 years of legal experience and has served in a variety of senior leadership roles, including as the Australian Government Solicitor.
Prior to his appointment as the Commissioner, Mr Boucher worked as a consultant and legal adviser to both private sector clients and government agencies and served as the inaugural Chair of the Tax Practitioners Board from 2009 to 2013.
Quotes attributable to Attorney-General, Martin Pakula
“The Commissioner plays an important role in harmonising the legal services across NSW and Victoria and ensuring consumer complaints are thoroughly investigated.”
“With his strong leadership roles in regulation, I am confident that Mr Boucher will continue to be an excellent asset to the Legal Profession Uniform Law scheme.”
“I thank Mr Boucher for his dedication and excellent work as the inaugural Commissioner for Uniform Legal Services Regulation, including protecting consumers’ rights, and congratulate him on his reappointment.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020