Legal Services Board
Who we are
The Board comprises a Chairperson, three elected practitioner members and three lay members.
The Chairperson and lay members of the Board are nominated by the Attorney-General and appointed by the Governor in Council. Practitioner members are elected by legal practitioners who are registered on the Board’s electoral roll. One is a barrister (advocate member) and two are legal practitioners who are not barristers (non-advocate members).
The day-to-day activities of the Board are headed by the Chief Executive Officer.
Mr Colin Neave, AM – Chairperson
Colin has been the Chairperson of the Legal Services Board since December 2005.
He has been the Banking and Financial Services Ombudsman since 1996 and is also Chairman of the Commonwealth Consumer Affairs Advisory Council (and its predecessors) since 1997.
Colin practised as a solicitor in Melbourne for 20 years until 1987 and then held the position of Company Secretary of AMI Toyota Ltd, then a listed company.He has also held senior positions with various Governments, including Secretary of the Attorney General’s Department in Victoria, and Commissioner for Consumer Affairs in South Australia.
Ms Fiona Bennett – Non-practitioner member
Fiona was appointed to the Board in January 2008 by the Governor in Council on the recommendation of the Attorney General.
Ms Bennett was appointed in view of her experience in financial or prudential management.
Ms Carolyn Bond – Non-practitioner member
Carolyn is the Co-CEO of the Consumer Action Law Centre, a campaign-focussed consumer advocacy, litigation and policy organisation.
She is a recent Chair of the Consumers Federation of Australia, and has represented consumers on a number of bodies, including the Australian Securities and Investment Commission’s Consumer Advisory Panel.
Mr John Corcoran – Practitioner (non-advocate) member
John joined the Legal Services Board as an Attorney-General appointee in December 2005, and was re-elected as a practitioner member in May 2006.
As a partner of Melbourne law firm Russell Kennedy he practises in commercial property, with particular emphasis on the health and aged care sectors.
John is currently the President of the Law Council of Australia, and a councillor of the International Bar Association.
Mr Hugh Fraser – Practitioner (advocate) member
Hugh was elected as a practitioner member of the Legal Services Board in February 2007.
Hugh is a member of the Victorian Bar and was Chairman of Howell’s List. He graduated with an LLB from the University of Melbourne and later a Master of Laws from Monash University, with distinction and high distinction in International Political Organizations and Japanese Law.
Ms Gail Owen, OAM – Practitioner (non-advocate) member
Gail has practised as a legal practitioner for 29 years. She is currently a partner at Home Wilkinson Lowry Lawyers, practising in corporate and commercial law, with an emphasis on the energy and resources sector.
Gail is a member of the Council of Legal Education, and the Board of Examiners.
Ms Melissa Horne - Non-practitioner member
Melissa joined the Legal Services Board as an Attorney-General's appointee in August 2008. She has a background in media relations and communications management. Melissa is currently a member of the VicRoads Advisory Board.
She has worked at both a State and Federal level of government.
Chief Executive Officer
Ms Victoria Marles
Victoria has been CEO of the Legal Services Board since December 2005. She is also the Legal Services Commissioner.
She was previously the Deputy Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman.
She has worked as a lawyer in private practice, and managed the Melbourne Office of the Communications Law Centre for nine years.
She was also a founding legal member of the Guardianship List of VCAT.