CanLaw: About Your Law Society
Where can I file a complaint against a lawyer?
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Listed by Province
About Your Law Society
About Lawyers Fees
Lawyer Referrals
How to Complain
Contact
HOW YOUR LAW SOCIETY
BURIES YOUR COMPLAINT AGAINST A LAWYER
It appears that the complaint investigation is nothing more than going through the motions to make you think you complaint is taken seriously. The process is a whitewash, dishonest, a sham and a fraud.
Lawyer penalties are often paltry fines with years to pay
DISBARRED LAWYERS ARE OFTEN REINSTATED
AFTER THE DUST SETTLES.
SCREENING -ASSESSMENT STAGE
KNOW THIS
Once Your Complaint Is Received by the Law Society Complaints Department it is assessed and most are rejected at this stage
The Law Society in house "intake officer" goes through some sort of process on her own and decides to do one of three things.
90%+ of all complaints are dismissed at this stage by an assessment officer who is probably a lawyer
This process may be delayed for years, since the law society usually will not act on a complaint until any law suit or litigation between the parties is concluded. This can take years during which the lawyer gets away with the offence.
A LAW SOCIETY WILL NOT INTERVENE TO
- regulate the amount of a lawyer's bill
- give legal advice
- pay compensation
- intervene in a court proceeding
- change the decision of a court
- insist that a lawyer take a case, remain on or withdraw from a case or do something specific in a case
- make a finding that a lawyer was negligent
- review a judge's conduct
INVESTIGATION
Less than 10% of all complaints are investigated
COMPLAINT MIGHT BE SENT TO
PRACTICE STANDARDS
If lawyer's conduct not a discipline matter, but needs help with professional advice and direction. No punishment. Just "education." so s/he won't get caught so easily next time s/he cheats.
COMPLAINT MAY BE SENT TO
DISCIPLINE COMMITTEE
Committee decides if lawyer's conduct may deserver discipline. If so, complaint goes to inquiry.
May result in discipline which lawyer can appeal.
A Law Society Is A Lawyers' Union
Protecting Lawyers from Consumer Complaints
It appears that the complaint investigation is nothing more than going through the motions to make you think you complaint is taken seriously. The process is a whitewash, dishonest, a sham and a fraud.
FILE CLOSED
Investigator takes lawyer's word over yours and decides the lawyer did nothing wrong.
KNOW THE RULES
IT WILL HELP YOUR COMPLAINT!
- Review the Code of Professional Conduct for the Law Society which can be obtained from the Society's web site. Use and read the Code to help organize your complaint.
- You can find links to each of the law society rules by using the MENU ABOUT YOUR LAW SOCIETY button above to go to the law society page for your province.
- It is better if you can say that the lawyer violated rule # xxx by doing what she did or did not do.
- This organizes your material and shows you have done your homework.
- HINT: Keep your complaint calm and rational. Avoid name calling, abuse and threats.
- Try to stick to the facts and avoid all emotion. It isn't easy, but it is smart.
Most complaints to any Law Society are dismissed. Most complaints are simply frivolous and few have any real merit. Complaints should be filed on the slight chance that they will have an impact.
BET YOU DIDN'T KNOW THIS
Law Societies offer various distress line phone in and other help for lawyers, judges and paralegals with drug, alcohol and mental problems.
