CanLaw: About Your Law Society
Where can I file a complaint
against a lawyer?
COMPLAINTS?
Page Current as of
COMPLAINT ABOUT A BRITISH COLUMBIA 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 British Columbia 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 British Columbia Law Society will not pay you money or make a lawyer or paralegal pay you money because of his or her mistake.
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.
MENU
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT
THE LAW SOCIETY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA
Please Click Here to
Review the BC Lawyer Complaint Process
It is essentially a white wash designed to reject complaints against lawyers or paralegals.
Law Society of British Columbia
845 Cambie Street
Vancouver, BC V6B 4Z9
Tel: (604) 669-2533,
Fax: (604) 669-5232.
Toll-free in B.C. 1-800-903-5300.
CLICK TO Review the LSBC list of Discipline Reports See if a lawyer has been disciplined before you hire.
The Society's Annual Reports are available on-line They can provide a great deal of useful information and leads to assist you.
An Annual Report of the BC Law Society stated:
"Over half of the complaint files were closed because lawyer misconduct or incompetence was not established after investigation. While these complaints may not establish lawyer misconduct, many do reflect poor service.
EXCUSES,
not results
The Law Society's current regulatory model does not adequately address service quality complaints, and the Society is reflecting on possible new approaches.
Law firms could prevent clients from ever turning to the Law Society with these types of complaints by adopting practices that emphasize good client service and providing remedies to clients who are dissatisfied."
Law Society of British Columbia
845 Cambie Street
Vancouver, BC V6B 4Z9
Tel: (604) 669-2533,
Fax: (604) 669-5232.
Toll-free in B.C. 1-800-903-5300.
KNOW THE RULES
IT WILL HELP YOUR COMPLAINT!
The Code of Professional Conduct
for BC Lawyers can be obtained here.
It is on the Society's web site.
- 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.
DOES YOUR LAWYER HAVE A COMPLAINT OR DISCIPLINE HISTORY?
Click here to review complaints histories against BC lawyers and paralegals
HISTORY OF COMPLAINTS AGAINST BC LAWYERS
There are about 8330 practicing lawyer/members of the British Columbia Law Society
Complaints against BC lawyers run about 1500 a year.
This is indicative of a general dissatisfaction with the service being provided. In private industry, complaint levels this high would cause heads to roll.
However, of all the complaints received only about ten percent will ever get as far as a discipline hearing in British Columbia.
The rest will be dismissed or closed at the preliminary stages
Browse the Free
CanLaw
National Directory
lists lawyers and paralegals licensed by their Law Society.
Search our directory by name, city, postal code, area of law, CanLaw Lawyer Directory
IS YOUR LAWYER'S BILL TOO HIGH?
Do you have a complaint about your lawyer's bill? Consult the CanLaw page on getting a lawyer's bill reduced.
Bill problems, known as an assessment, is not done by the Law Society.
Assessment of your lawyer's bills is done through the Court. You must act within 30 days of getting a bill to file a complaint.
About the Law Society of Alberta
About the Law Society of Saskatchewan
About the Law Society of Manitoba
About the Law Society of Ontario
About the Law Society of Upper Canada
About the Law Society of Quebec
About the Law Society of New Brunswick
About the Law Society of Newfoundland and Labrador
About the Law Society of Nova Scotia
About the Law Society of Prince Edward Island
About the Law Society of Yukon
