For Immediate Release 21 October 2025
Despite warning clients that he was not a lawyer, a Gladstone man has been sentenced for engaging in legal practice when not an Australian legal practitioner.
Mr Surendra Raghoobar—who holds legal qualifications from the UK but was not admitted in Australia and did not hold a licence to practise—was found guilty of engaging in legal practice. Sentence was passed by the Gladstone Magistrates Court on Thursday, 25 September 2025.
The defendant engaged in a range of legal work for his clients through his business SR Dep Services in central Queensland, including drafting wills, preparing affidavits, drafting documents for use in court and providing legal advice on a broad range of matters.
Magistrate Rees described the defendant’s business as “protracted” and “sophisticated,” adding that it “involved significant profit, over $100,000” for the 19-month period in which the charged offences occurred.
The conviction was recorded, and Mr Raghoobar was ordered to pay a fine of $20,000 and the Commission’s costs of $3,750.
In sentencing, Magistrate Rees said such conduct “strikes at the heart of the legal system” and that practising law without the necessary entitlements carries “real risk of harm”.
“Being a legal practitioner holds trust between the profession and the community,” Magistrate Rees said in acknowledging the damaging actions of Mr Raghoobar.
The Legal Services Commissioner previously obtained a Supreme Court injunction, on 28 March 2023, to restrain Mr Raghoobar from engaging in legal practice when not an Australian legal practitioner.
Commissioner Megan Mahon has urged members of the community to protect themselves from unmitigated risks by only engaging qualified legal practitioners for any legal work they require.
“By engaging an unqualified person to undertake legal work, you are exposing yourself to the risk of real harm. The significant safeguards that protect consumers of legal services in Queensland are only in place if you engage a qualified legal practitioner,” said Commissioner Mahon.
“I encourage everyone seeking legal assistance to ensure it is lawfully provided by qualified, licensed and insured practitioners”.
“Anyone with concerns about the conduct or qualifications of a legal practitioner should contact the Commission. We rely on your reports to investigate and prosecute unlawful operators in our community. If we don’t know about it—we can’t do anything about it.”
For any suspected offences under the Legal Profession Act 2007, contact the Legal Services Commission. Further information can be found at lsc.qld.gov.au.
Media contact: Legal Services Commission, 07 3564 7726
