Bowers v NSW Legal Services Commissioner [2022] NSWCA 34

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Bowers v NSW Legal Services Commissioner [2022] NSWCA 34 Hearing dates: 9 March 2022 Date of orders: 11 March 2022 Decision date: 11 March 2022 Before: Basten JA; Brereton JA Decision: (1) Dismiss the application for leave to appeal. (2) Order that the applicant pay the Commissioner's costs in this Court. Catchwords: ADMINISTRATIVE LAW – decisions of Legal Services Commissioner – judicial review – whether decisions reviewable – whether decisions perverse or legally unreasonable APPEALS – judicial review – proceeding summarily dismissed – order interlocutory – leave to appeal –grant of leave where judgment effectively a final determination of proceeding – whether reasonable cause of action disclosed LEGAL PRACTITIONERS – complaints to Legal Services Commissioner about conduct of own lawyers – complaints dismissed – application to review decisions not entertained – scope of Commissioner's discretion Legislation Cited: Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth), s 31A Legal Profession Uniform Law (NSW), ss 269, 270, 277, 290, 299, 300, 312, 313, 314, 315, 316, 317, 318; Ch 5 Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW), s 101 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), r 13.4 Cases Cited: Be Financial Pty Ltd v Das [2012] NSWCA 164 Ex parte Bucknell (1936) 56 CLR 221; [1936] HCA 67 General Steel Industries Inc v Commissioner for Railways (NSW) (1964) 112 CLR 125; [1964] HCA 69 Hastwell v Legal Services Commissioner [2020] NSWSC 1008 Minister for Immigration and Citizenship v Li (2013) 249 CLR 332; [2013] HCA 18 The Queen v The Australian Broadcasting Tribunal; Ex parte Hardiman (1980) 144 CLR 13; [1980] HCA 13 Spencer v The Commonwealth (2010) 241 CLR 118; [2010] HCA 28 Category: Principal judgment Parties: James Richard Bowers (Applicant) NSW Legal Services Commissioner (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: Applicant unrepresented Ms R Withana (Respondent)