Lawyers are expected to use their best endeavours to complete legal work as soon as reasonably possible. While delays of a few weeks may be unavoidable in every day practise, delays extending into months without any work being completed to progress files can constitute a breach of professional standards.

Although some matters may not seem urgent or are not the subject of formal deadlines, they should not be overlooked or postponed indefinitely in favour of other files. Where delays begin to extend beyond a reasonable timeframe lawyers should re-prioritise their work so as not to neglect otherwise less urgent files. As explained in the decision of LSC v Galatas [20130 VCAT 214 at a certain point nonurgent matters must be accorded a more urgent status simply because of the passage of time.

Upon the completion or termination of the law practice’s engagement, the ownership of the client’s file rests with the client themselves. Lawyers are reminded that in the absence of a valid lien over the file, all documents (including those maintained electronically) to which the client is entitled must be given to the client as soon as possible after a request for them is made.

Similarly, where the client has transferred their matter to the care of a new lawyer, client documents should be forwarded to the new lawyer promptly. Serious delays in providing the file to the client such as those seen in Legal Services Commissioner v Horsley (Legal Practice) [2008] VCAT 686 can result in serious disciplinary action.

Trust monies owed to a client must be forwarded on to the client promptly when they become payable. Lawyers who fail to deliver trust monies without a reasonable excuse may be guilty of an offence.

There are several cases where lawyers have held on to their clients’ trust monies for an extended period with no reasonable explanation for the delay. For example, in the matter of Legal Services Commissioner v Mingos (Legal Practice) [2013] VCAT 173 the lawyer was found guilty of professional misconduct and reprimanded for this type of conduct.

The Commissioner regularly receives complaints about lawyers who fail to respond to phone calls and emails, or who cancel meetings with little or no notice. Often such situations are unavoidable, especially for lawyers in a busy practice; however the impact on clients of communication delays and abrupt changes of plans should be acknowledged by the lawyer. Even if the lawyer is not at fault, delays and cancellations can cause clients significant distress.

It is incumbent on lawyers to manage their clients’ expectations. Clear communication at the outset is essential to helping the client to understand a lawyer’s capacity to respond to client demands. With some clients this information may need to be reiterated throughout the duration of the matter.

All due care should be taken to ensure clients remain well informed as to the progress of their matters. Regular updates by email or telephone can offer the client reassurance without consuming too much of the lawyer’s time. This in turn can ameliorate the risk of complaints.

Lawyers have an obligation to provide clear and timely advice to their clients. Repeated and extended communication delays my Such conduct can bring the profession into disrepute. Disciplinary sanctions may apply in cases of significantly delayed communication.

The Commissioner has the power under the Uniform Law to require lawyers to provide a full written explanation of their conduct or any other information or documents that may be required to assist in the investigation of a complaint. A failure to comply within a reasonable timeframe is a serious breach of a lawyer’s professional obligations and disciplinary action can result, as was the case in Legal Services Commissioner v McAuley (Legal Practice) [2012] VCAT 159.

Reasonable opportunities will be given to provide the information required before the Commissioner will consider initiating disciplinary action. If the lawyer continues to fail to meet requests (see Legal Services Commissioner v Shaba [2014] VCAT 256), or provides only part of the information or material requested, disciplinary action will usually be taken.

The Legal Profession Uniform Law also allows the Commissioner to recommend to the Victorian Legal Services Board that a practitioner’s practising certificate be suspended while a failure to comply with a request continues.

Lawyers are encouraged to seek immediate assistance if there are factors either personally or professionally which affect their ability to comply with their professional obligations.