The complaints laid to the New Zealand Law Society against former Dunedin lawyer John Milne may be dealt with within two months.
It will be up to the standards committee of the Otago branch of the New Zealand Law Society whether a publication order of its findings will be made.
Mr Milne, who until recently worked in the Christchurch office of Dunedin-based Craig Paddon Law, faces an unknown number of complaints about borrowing money from clients.
He has since ceased employment with the law firm.
Mr Paddon said in a statement this week the borrowing of "significant sums of money" by Mr Milne was without the knowledge or consent of the firm or himself.
Because complaints have been laid, Mr Milne, his legal counsel, Mr Paddon and the society would not provide further details, so as not to prejudice the forthcoming hearing, which comes under the Lawyers and Conveyancers Act 2006.
Wellington-based Law Society general manager (regulatory) Mary Ollivier said that, in general, such "serious matters" were dealt with "quite quickly" and she would expect an outcome within about two months.
Included in the standards committee's final deliberations would be whether the matter had "public implications" that would prompt release of the findings through a publication order, Ms Ollivier said.
She confirmed Mr Milne did not have a current practising certificate.
Company Office records show Mr Milne is sole director of Oncidium Developments Ltd, whose incorporation goes back to 1968. He owns all but one of its 5000 shares.
