Madeleine Betro: SA woman describes unlicensed Family Court barrister’s ‘catastrophic’ effect upon her family

A woman whose custody case was potentially jeopardised by barrister Madeleine Betro says her family is in a dire place – and criticised the Law Society’s ‘negligence’.

A mother fighting a custody battle has detailed unlicensed barrister Madeleine Betro’s “catastrophic” effect upon her family – and accused the state’s peak legal body of negligence.

The woman, known as “Margaret”, says the Law Society of SA’s “failure” to stop Ms Betro practising without a licence has shaken public confidence in the legal profession.

On Tuesday, she said she did not believe there could be a reasonable excuse for the barrister allegedly continuing to conduct trials – including her family’s case, in which Ms Betro acted against Margaret – while not authorised to do so.

“It’s the equivalent of her having driven a car without a licence and, to be honest, we’ve been left in a dire position,” she said.

“The damage she has caused to us is, quite frankly, a nightmare … this has had a catastrophic effect upon my family.”

“Margaret” (not her real name) says her family has been “left in a dire position” as a result of unlicensed barrister Madeleine Betro. Picture: Emma Brasier

On Monday, The Advertiser revealed the Supreme Court had heard Ms Betro had practised without a certificate between July 2024 and February 2025 due to a failure to lodge the appropriate online application and fee payment.

The court also heard the Law Society and Office of the Legal Profession Conduct Commissioner had sent Ms Betro “repeated emails” during that period.

The $745 certificate has to be renewed annually, and takes five days to process.

“Margaret” cannot be identified, and details of her case cannot be published, due to Family Court legislation.

She said that, in February, she attempted to file a Legal Profession Conduct Commission complaint against Ms Betro.

However, she found her name had been removed from both her chambers’ website and the Law Society’s online practitioner database.

“I rang them and explained and, without looking her up or pausing, they responded ‘we know about Madeleine Betro’,” she said.

“That’s when I found out she was unlicensed, and it was just gut-wrenching … I felt so let down by the system.

Family law barrister Madeleine Betro practised without a licence, the Supreme Court has heard. Picture: Supplied.

“The public needs to have confidence that the Law Society is ensuring legal professionals follow the code of required conduct, but it has been negligent.

“The Society is responsible for regulating the certificates and it failed to do that.”

Ms Betro has asked the court to grant her a retrospective practising certificate – Margaret said she was opposed to that resolution.

“I need her to be held accountable … a retrospective practising certificate is not okay,” she said.

Ms Betro’s barrister, Ian Robertson-Clark SC, said his client could not comment on the matter.

A spokesman for the Society said it could not comment “on the individual circumstances of any practitioner”.

“All legal practitioners are aware of their obligation to be licensed to practice,” he said.

He said the Society was “in regular contact with all practitioners in relation to renewing their practising certificates”.

“While (it) always offers to assist those who are experiencing any challenges in meeting their professional obligations, ultimately the responsibility to hold a current practising certificate rests with each practitioner,” he said.