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PEI Lawyer Referrals

WARNING: PEI LAW SOCIETY REFERRALS ARE NOT WHAT YOU EXPECT:

Prince Edward Island Law Society referrals only give you one lawyer who is the next one on the list whose turn has come up.

There is no checking of skills, suitability or experience. Lawyers using law societies referrals pay a fee and when it is their turn they get the referral. The system stinks

Choose CanLaw Find a Lawyer Referral Services over the Prince Edward Island Law Society

QUESTIONS TO ASK BEFORE RETAINING ANY LAWYER

Questions you should ask of both the Law Society and the lawyer before you 'retain any PEI lawyer

Check with CanLaw to see if we have any complaints on file

• Ask when s/he was admitted to the Bar. (This will tell you how long they have been in practice.)
• Ask if s/he specializes in the area of law you in which you require assistance.
• What specialist training or  certification does s/he have?
•  Ask how many similar cases s/he has handled? How many were won.
• Ask if s/he has ever been disbarred, suspended, or disciplined by any Law Society anywhere.
• Ask if she has been the subject of fee reviews.
• Ask if any complaints have been made against her (regardless of the outcome) to the Law Society. Check that s/he is in good standing with the Law Society of Prince Edward Island

COMPLAINT ABOUT YOUR PEI LAWYER, PARALEGAL?

How, Where, Why To Complain.

What  steps you need to take and what you need to know

to file a formal complaint against any Prince Edward Island lawyer or paralegal

You also need to know if there are any complaints against any paralegal or lawyer, any discipline history, any bad reviews and if they are in good standing with a good reputation.

HOW TO DEAL WITH THE LAW SOCIETY OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

The Law Society cannot pay you money or make a lawyer or paralegal pay you money because of his or her mistake.

HISTORY OF COMPLAINTS IN PEI

What happens when you report a lawyer or paralegal to the law society?

Their are about 300 practicing full and part time lawyer/members of the PEI Law Society.

Complaints run about 20 a year.

Most Law Societies will not tell you if they have complaints against a lawyer unless s/he has been "convicted" in an internal discipline hearing.

However, of all the complaints received only about ten percent will ever get as far as a discipline hearing in Prince Edward Island. The rest will be dismissed or closed at the preliminary stages

Most complaints to any Law Society are dismissed. Most complaints are simply frivolous and few have any real merit.

Your complaint should be filed on the slight chance that they will have an impact.