CanLaw: About Your Law Society
Where can I file a complaint against a lawyer?
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BEWARE OF THE LAW SOCIETY OF ONTARIO
The LSO is not there for you, it is there for lawyers
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.
The Law Society of Ontario averages about 5,000 complaints a year from consumers about lawyers and paralegals. That is one complaint for every 5 lawyers in Ontario.
What happens? The Law Society dismisses all but about 100 of the complaint claims it gets.
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."
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 Law Society of Ontario averages about 5000 complaints against lawyers each year.
They dismiss about 4900 of these and act only on about 100. What does that tell you?
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.
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.
How do I rate my lawyer?
PLEASE RATE YOUR LAWYER
SO OTHERS CAN BENEFIT
FROM YOUR EXPERIENCE
Good, Bad, Indifferent?
Would you recommend your lawyer or law firm?
Would you retain or hire again?
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Reference check
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Reference Checks
Ask CanLaw for a Reference Check Before You Hire or Retain a Lawyer in Canada. You need to check the reputation of the law office and lawyers before you provide a retainer to hire any lawyer or paralegal.
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.
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