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How to file a complaint about your lawyer or paralegal with the Law Society of Ontario
COMPLAINT ABOUT AN ONTARIO LAWYER OR PARALEGAL?
HOW, WHERE, WHEN, WHY TO COMPLAIN.
What steps you need to take and what you need to know to file a formal complaint
against any Ontario lawyer or paralegal.
You also need to know if there are any complaints
against any paralegal or lawyer, any discipline history, reviews and if they are in good standing.
The Ontario Law Society will not pay you money or
make a lawyer or paralegal pay you money because of his or her mistake.
KNOW THE RULES
IT WILL HELP YOUR COMPLAINT!
REVIEW THE LSO (LSUC)RULES of PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT HERE
- Review the Code of Professional Conduct for the Ontario Law Society which can be obtained from the Society's web site. Use and read the Code to help organize your complaint.
- 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 the Law Society of Ontario 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.
THE LAW SOCIETY OF ONTARIO SAYS IT "regulates Ontario's lawyers and paralegals in the public interest and facilitates access to justice for the people of Ontario."
THAT IS SELF SERVING GARBAGE.
TRANSLATION? The Law Society of Ontario exists, not to protect the public from lawyers, but to protect lawyers from the public
LSO (LSUC) HAS CHANGED ITS NAME TO LAW SOCIETY OF ONTARIO.
but they are still the same old union gang protecting lawyers from the public
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CanLaw knows that most lawyers are basically honest, hard working, solid citizens.
It is in their interest to force LSO (LSUC) to reform and treat complaints about lawyers and paralegals seriously
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There is not much point in asking us after you have hired some lawyer, is there?
You also need to know if there are any complaints against any paralegal or lawyer, any discipline history, or suspension or any bad reviews and if they are in good standing.
BEWARE OF THE
LAW SOCIETY OF ONTARIO
The LSO is not there for you, it is there for lawyers.
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Got a Lawyer Complaint?
Good Luck Getting Action.
See why below. . .
The LSO EXPLAINED
The Law Society of Ontario is staffed by people who could not get jobs at McDonald's.
The Law Society of Ontario averages about 5000 complaints against lawyers each year.
They dismiss about 4900 of these and act only on about 100 of the 5000 complaints it gets annually from consumers about lawyers. What does that tell you?
That is one complaint for every 5 lawyers and paralegals in Ontario.
What happens? Usually nothing.
WHAT HAPPENS TO A LAWYER IF YOUR COMPLAINT SUCCEEDS?
- Disciplined lawyers usually receive a modest fine with years to pay.
- Disbarred lawyers are frequently readmitted after the dust has settled.
The Law Society of Ontario
- Reinstates disbarred lawyers.
- Does not report lawyers who steal massive amounts of client money to the police.
- Allows convicted criminals to practice law in Ontario as long as they pay their membership fees.
- Dismisses 99% of the 5,000 complaints against lawyers and paralegals it receives each year.
- In fact, most consumer complaints are frivolous, groundless and do not have any real merit. These are quickly dismissed by any law society.
Dealing With the
Law Society of Ontario
(LSO (LSUC)) (Ontario)
The Law Society of Ontario is, like all law societies, a union for lawyers and paralegals. The Law Society Referral Service (LSRS) is a strange service which works for lawyers and paralegals.
CanLaw Works For You
Law societies are designed, not to protect consumers from lawyers, but to protect lawyers and paralegals from consumers.
Lawyers who have been disbarred for serious offences including criminal, are routinely reinstated. after the dust settles.
The LSO (LSUC) refuses to report lawyers who commit serious criminal offences to the police, claiming privacy. Protecting criminals? Why?
Lawyers and paralegals who are "disciplined" are given years to pay their "fines" after which "interest will accrue."
Law society employees cannot be sued when "acting in good faith."
SO STOP AND THINK. THE LSO (LSUC) WILL PROBABLY NOT BE OF MUCH, IF ANY HELP TO YOU, IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH A LAWYER.
THE LSO SAYS THIS ABOUT THEIR
LAW SOCIETY TRIBUNAL
which is supposed to deal with your complaint.
"The Law Society Tribunal is an independent adjudicative tribunal within the Law Society of Ontario. The Tribunal processes, hears and decides regulatory cases about Ontario lawyers and paralegals in a manner that is fair, just and in the public interest."
That is just not true. They whitewash complaints, reinstate disbarred lawyers, give disciplined lawyers modest fines with years to pay and permit convicted criminals to practice law in Ontario
How do I complain to my law society?
Lawyer Complaints?
What is considered a complaint?
YOU PROBABLY HAVE A
VALID COMPLAINT IF:
- A lawyer fails to tell you what's happening in your case.
- A lawyer does not reply to your phone calls or letters.
- A lawyer is working for opposing sides in the same case.
- A lawyer has told other people about a client's confidential matters without the client's permission.
- A lawyer is working for a client against someone who used to be a client.
- A lawyer's cheque is returned NSF.
- A lawyer acts for a client when the lawyer is in business with the client.
- A lawyer is rude.
- If a lawyer lied to me.
- A lawyer does not appear to be able to handle your case, whether through lack of knowledge or other problems.
- A lawyer fails to account for funds held on the client's behalf.
- A lawyer has stolen your money.
- A lawyer is facing criminal charges.
- TRANSPARENCY REGARDING FEES. A lawyer has a responsibility to disclose to the client at the start of the relationship the basis on which the client is to be billed for both the lawyer’s fees and any other charges in a clear transparent manner that the client can understand.
- Lawyers and Students-at-Law are required to uphold a high standard of conduct in their professional and personal lives.
Contact the LSO (LSUC) Complaints Department although it will probably be just a waste of time.
Complaints Services
Law Society of Ontario
formerly "The LAW SOCIETY OF ONTARIO "
Osgoode Hall, 130 Queen Street West
Toronto Ontario
M5H 2N6
General line: 416-947-3310
Toll-free: 1-800-268-7568
Fax: 416-947-5263
HERE IS A DIRECT QUOTE FROM THE LSO (LSUC) PAGE ON HOW THEY HANDLE COMPLAINTS
Note the "principled and balanced" bit. This does not match our experience with them. They dismiss most complaints out of hand.
"One of the Law Society's most important duties is responding to complaints about lawyers and paralegals. We also respond to information about illegal practitioners who are providing legal services.
Our complaints process is principled and balanced so that we can continue to protect the public interest while treating everyone involved fairly at all times.
We review and consider every complaint we receive, although we may not take action on all of them."
Actually they dismiss and toss out over 99% of the complaints. What does that tell you?
I never guess. It is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit theories, instead of theories to suit facts.
- Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
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