A new system for investigating and dealing with complaints against lawyers will come into force early next year.
Attorney General Joe Berinson said legislation to restructure the present system totally had now been passed by Parliament and would be implemented as soon as possible.
The investigation of complaints and the administration of discipline are presently conducted by a single body, the Barristers' Board.
However, the new system would separate those two parts of the process, and also introduce non-lawyer community participation.
Mr Berinson said the Barristers' Board - to be renamed the Legal Practice Board - would continue its role in the guidance and control of the profession, but would no longer be involved in disciplinary functions.
A special complaints officer, supported by a complaints committee, would investigate complaints for the Legal Practice Board, with the added power of being able to examine practices at any time, whether or not complaints had been received.
Where it appeared a practitioner may have been guilty of illegal or unprofessional conduct, neglect or undue delay, the matter would be referred to a new and separate Disciplinary Tribunal.
Chaired by a judge or similarly qualified legal practitioner, the tribunal would have a much wider range of disciplinary options than presently exist, including powers related to making good the harm or inconvenience to the client.
The more serious disciplinary penalties, such as suspension for more than two years, or being struck off the practitioners' roll altogether, would remain matters for the Supreme Court.
Mr Berinson said community representatives who were not legal practitioners would be members of the complaints committee and the disciplinary tribunal, although no person could be a member of both bodies.
He expected the move to open up the system by allowing non-lawyer community participation to help ensure full public confidence.
