Change to bylaws will require disclosure of misconduct in public registry
Looking to provide greater transparency, the Law Society of Ontario will soon require its registry to disclose any misconduct by lawyers.
The LSO approved a recommendation, in principle, from the Professional Regulation Committee regarding information about licensees in its public register, made available on the Lawyer and Paralegal Directory.
As a result, the bylaws have changed and will require the Law Society’s register to include an indication that a licensee has been found guilty of any offence that the licensee is required to report to the Law Society.
In addition, the register will include an indication if a licensee is authorized to practise any other regulated profession in Canada and a link to that profession’s public register.
“Ultimately, the proposed changes seek to ensure that members of the public have enhanced access to information that is relevant to their choice of legal representative, including their personal consideration of the licensee’s integrity, competence, and suitability,” according to the LSO Report to Convocation released in May.
Increased transparency for Ontario lawyers
Specifically, the additional information that licensees are required to report to the Law Society includes:
- all business names under which the licensee practises law or provides legal services
- having a licence to practise law in other Canadian jurisdictions and related disciplinary information
- having a licence in other regulated professions in Canada (such as a medical licence) and related disciplinary information
- more comprehensive information regarding criminal and other charges and findings of guilt.
The additional information about licensees that will be made available to the public through the online lawyer and paralegal directory includes:
- all business names under which a licensee practises law or provides legal services
- having a licence to practise law in other Canadian jurisdictions and related disciplinary information
- enhanced information about surrendered or revoked licences
- notices of disciplinary proceedings
- Law Society Tribunal outcomes and outcomes of Regulatory Meetings.
Previously, a high-profile Canadian lawyer faced disciplinary action for his actions against dissatisfied clients of his law firm.
‘Serious ramifications’ of withholding information
The changes are much needed, according to an article from the Investigative Journalism Bureau (IJB) and the University of Toronto’s Dalla Lana School of Public Health, warning that organisations hiring the services of lawyers from the LSO may be doing so without full knowledge of the legal professional’s background.
For example, the public profile of one Toronto criminal defence lawyer lists no regulatory issues or restrictions. However, since September 2022, he has faced criminal charges for alleged assault, forcible confinement, and possession of a weapon, as well as a 12-month peace bond, an 11-month suspension from practice, and two confidential undertakings with the LSO, according to the article.
The LSO reinstated the lawyer’s licence in January 2025, one day after his former partner—who was the complainant in the criminal case—warned the LSO that she did not believe it was safe for him to practise law, according to the report.
The article warns that “withholding details about a lawyer’s conduct can have serious ramifications on the safety of clients and undermine public confidence in the professions.”
Other cases detailed in the report include two lawyers whose public profiles omit information about criminal convictions, civil judgments, and regulatory findings.
In contrast, the article notes, “The province’s 26 health profession colleges… make public any criminal charges, findings of guilt and conditions,” and all professional disciplinary information must appear on the public registry.
