Board members
The current members of the Legal Profession Board are:
Chairperson of the Board:
Mr William Bale QC
Mr Bale was the inaugural Chairperson of the Board since July 2009. Mr Bale previously held the position of Solicitor General of Tasmania from 1986 until his retirement in September 2007 and has been a Tasmanian legal practitioner since 1964.
Lay Members:
Ms Judith Paxton JP
Ms Paxton was the Tasmanian Legal Ombudsman from 1994 until 2008, the State Director of the Commonwealth Merit Protection and Review Agency and the Chairperson of a number of tribunals responsible for determining disputes and grievances.
Mr Peter Dane
Mr Dane is currently the State Manager Pricing and Regulation for Aurora Energy and has held senior management positions in the telecom and electricity industries since 1983. Mr Dane has a Master of Business Administration from the University of Tasmania.
Legal Members:
Mr David Bessell
Mr Bessell is a senior legal practitioner who retired in 2007 from his position as a senior partner in a prominent Hobart law practice. Mr Bessell was elected as Chairperson by the members of the Board on 8 March 2011, following the resignation of Mr William Bale QC as Chairperson. He held that office until he stood down on 9 August 2011 and was succeeded by Mr Bale QC following the latter's recent return from leave.
Mr John Upcher
Mr Upcher is a senior legal practitioner who is currently practising as a consultant in a prominent Hobart law practice.
Mr Duncan Fairley
Mr Fairley is a partner in a prominent North West Coast legal practice and has been President of the Tasmanian Bar Association since 2008. Mr Fairley is also a member of the Mental Health Tribunal. Mr Fairley was appointed to the Board on 18 May 2010 following the retirement of Mr Michael Brett.
BOARD MEMBER CONTACT POLICY
All persons wishing to contact the Board, whether in relation to a complaint, enquiry or another issue, are to do so through the Office of the Legal Profession Board of Tasmania (see contact us for address and telephone details on this website). Personal correspondence directed to the Chairperson of the Board may be deposited at the Board's offices and marked “Private & Confidential”.