May 7, 2015
Province Introduces Amendments That Would Provide Greater Transparency, Accountability for Legal Profession
– – –New Rules Would Enable Publicizing Names of Lawyers Charged With Offences, More Public Representation on Governing Body: Minister Mackintosh
The Manitoba government has proposed legislative amendments that would give the Law Society of Manitoba greater regulatory oversight of the legal profession including enabling media to publish the names of lawyers charged with disciplinary offences, Justice Minister Gord Mackintosh announced today.
“These amendments to the Legal Profession Act would give the law society new powers to regulate law firms, not just individual lawyers,” said Minister Mackintosh. “The changes would also result in the publication of the names of all lawyers who are facing charges prior to conviction. These measures would increase transparency and accountability, while also providing greater protection for the public.”
Other provinces, including Nova Scotia, British Columbia and Saskatchewan, have amended their legal profession legislation to permit the regulation of law firms. The proposed amendments would bring Manitoba’s legislation in line with other jurisdictions and would permit the law society to regulate law firms.
Minister Mackintosh noted the proposed amendment allowing media to name lawyers charged with offences would follow approval of a set of standards regarding disciplinary action by the Federation of Law Societies of Canada.
“The law society will disclose the identity of lawyers charged with professional misconduct under the Legal Profession Act and media will now be able to publish those names, which will ensure that the public is better informed and thus better protected,” said Kristin Dangerfield, chief executive officer of the Law Society of Manitoba. “The proposed amendments would ensure that not only individual lawyers but also the law firms in which they practise are subject to regulation and are accountable to the public consumers of legal services.”
This proposed legislation would also increase public oversight of the law society’s governing body by adding two non-lawyers, which would bring the membership to six, Minister Mackintosh said. Practising lawyers could be appointed to the governing body if they possess required skills or meet other criteria.
“Implementing these amendments would ensure Manitoba’s regulation of the legal profession is consistent with other provinces,” said Minister Mackintosh. “It would ensure our legal profession meets national standards related to disciplinary action and permits the law society to provide more effective oversight.”
- 30 -