The Honourable John Hogan, QC, Minister of Justice and Public Safety and Attorney General, has introduced proposed amendments to the Law Society Act, 1999, that would establish a fitness to practice committee which will modernize the disciplinary process for lawyers. The proposed amendments come at the request and recommendation of the Law Society of Newfoundland and Labrador and the Law Foundation.
The Act authorizes the Law Society to regulate the practice of law and the legal profession in Newfoundland and Labrador. The Act also governs the Law Foundation, which is mandated to advance matters related to legal education, legal research, law reform, legal aid, legal referral service, law libraries, and law scholarships.
Other proposed changes to the Act with respect to the Law Society include:
- Mandatory reporting to law enforcement of suspected criminal activity;
- Amendments pertaining to voting at convocations for honorary benchers, fees recovery;
- Allowing the Vice President and Complaints Authorization Committee to delegate certain investigations to Law Society staff; and,
- The publication of decisions.
Proposed amendments to the Act with respect to the Law Foundation include:
- Clarifying board governance; and,
- Clarifying that a member of a professional law corporation cannot deduct bank charges or administrative fees from trust account interest forwarded to the Law Foundation fund.
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“The Law Society serves the public interest by supporting a high standard of professional conduct for its members. If passed, these changes will improve the Law Society’s ability to fulfil its mandate as the body governing the practice of law in this province. As a Government, we remain committed to ensuring that residents continue to have fair access to court and legal services in the province.”
Honourable John Hogan, QC
Minister of Justice and Public Safety and Attorney General
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Learn more
An Act to Amend the Law Society Act, 1999
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Emily-Jane Gillingham
Justice and Public Safety
709-729-5524, 730-4607
emilyjanegillingham@gov.nl.ca