In response to the CBC and Radio-Canada stories on the lack of appropriate disciplinary actions against professional misconduct by some lawyers, the Canadian Bar Association (CBA) would like to offer the following written statement.
People seek out lawyers when they have problems that require legal solutions and the overwhelming majority of lawyers act with integrity, dedication and professionalism and deserve the trust of their clients. Unfortunately, a very small number who do not cast undeserved negative aspersions on the vast majority who do.
It is never acceptable for any lawyer to abuse this trust and our members are not insensitive to the plight of those wronged by the very few who do. The CBA believes that legal professionals who breach their ethical and professional responsibilities should be sanctioned and their victims compensated either through Law Societies and/or Canadian courts.
While transgressions are unfortunately unavoidable in any profession, there are over 110,000 Canadian lawyers who play an important and often critical role in helping thousands of Canadians in asserting their rights, each and every day; in upholding the values of our justice system, and promoting the rule of law.
Law Societies have a responsibility to regulate the legal profession and to continuously improve their practices, policies and standards. We have collaborated, and will continue to work with Law Societies across the country, to ensure that professional rules of conduct continue to serve the public interest.