PLEA gratefully acknowledges our primary core funder the Law Foundation of Saskatchewan for their continuing and generous support of our organization.
The Law Society of Saskatchewan regulates the legal profession in Saskatchewan. It sets professional standards that lawyers are required to meet. When a complaint about a lawyer is received, the Law Society can review the matter and determine how the matter will be dealt with.
Lawyers must act with integrity. In fact, integrity is at the core of the rules set out in the Code of Professional Conduct. For example, information about a client must be held in strict confidence. Lawyers must be competent to deal with cases they take on and keep their clients well informed. They should ensure that matters are dealt with in a timely fashion. Conflict of interests must be avoided. Fees and disbursements must be fair and reasonable, and they must be disclosed in a timely fashion.
Common complaints to the Law Society include complaints about:
The Law Society does not deal with disputes over legal fees. These are dealt with by way of assessment.
Complaints should be in writing and can be completed using the online complaints form. The complaints form includes general contact information about you and the lawyer in question. You will be asked for information about your relationship with the lawyer and the nature of your complaint. You will need to provide details about your complaint and include copies of any related documents. You will also be asked about the type of resolution you are looking for.
It is important to note that the discipline process is not confidential. Hearings are open to the public and material provided will be forwarded to the lawyer. If you have concerns about confidentiality, you should contact the Law Society for more information.
Your complaint will be reviewed and forwarded to a Professional Responsibility Counsel. They will determine whether the matter should be investigated. If your complaint is going to be investigated, the lawyer will receive a copy of the complaint. The lawyer must then respond to the complaint. If a lawyer refuses to respond appropriately to the Law Society, they may face disciplinary action. You will usually be provided a copy of the lawyer’s response and again have an opportunity to comment.
If the matter is not resolved at this point, or in some cases, through subsequent mediation, the complaint may either be:
If your complaint is dismissed, you can ask for the matter to be reviewed by the Complaints Review Committee. This request must be in writing and made within 30 days of the date of the decision.
If, after investigation, a complaint is determined to be well founded, the lawyer may be disciplined. Discipline may include a reprimand, fine or penalty, or being suspended from practicing for a period of time. If a lawyer misappropriates funds, they can be ordered to pay restitution to the aggrieved party. In very serious cases, the lawyer may be disbarred. This means they can no longer practice law. The lawyer can also be required to comply with certain practice conditions, such as:
The Law Society cannot provide you with compensation for losses you may have suffered due to the negligence of your lawyer. They also cannot provide legal advice. You may wish to get the opinion of another lawyer regarding other options that may be available.
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