Young legal eagles defend WA consumer rights
Issue Date: - Wednesday, 17 June 2009
Defending consumer rights might not be foremost in the minds of students thinking
of a legal career.
But a band of young lawyers working with Consumer Protection has found their
legal skills can make quite a difference for West Australian consumers.
The young lawyers are part of the Consumer Protection legal team in the Western
Australian Department of Commerce, providing legal advice for the Department.
The Commissioner for Consumer Protection Anne Driscoll said West Australian
consumers were central to the work of the legal unit.
“While the unit doesn’t represent individual consumers, its work does benefit WA
consumers generally,” the Commissioner said.
“Consumer Protection currently has eight lawyers, many of them young men and
women who bring a lot of drive and energy to the legal team,” Ms Driscoll said.
“They are strongly consumer focused, and they tell me working for Consumer
Protection is both rewarding and fulfilling,” the Commissioner said.
“These young lawyers are real champions for the public. They really believe in
what they are doing. I think it makes a difference when you appear in court,
knowing that you are standing up for community rights,” she said
“In the end, calling a trader to account in the courts is the final opportunity we have
to ensure Consumer Protection laws are applied in WA. Legal actions like that
make a difference because they send a message to other businesses, and
because they provide an opportunity for the public to know their rights.”
The Commissioner said Consumer Protection was a very effective learning
environment for young lawyers, with good opportunities to develop skills through
work covering a variety of industries.
“Their work can be as varied as dealing with finance brokers to charitable
collections, and motor vehicle dealers through to Fuelwatch issues.
“They see plenty of courtroom action, undertaking prosecutions in the Magistrates
Court, taking part in disciplinary matters in the State Administrative Tribunal, as
well as injunction and contempt matters in the Supreme Court,” Ms Driscoll said.
The legal team also assists the Commissioner and her Executive in representative
or civil actions, and provides advice on the interpretation of legislation.
END OF RELEASE
Media Contact:
Therese Sayers, Media Liaison
92820961/ Mobile 0423 846 397