Fee Disputes, Costly Mistakes and Official Sources
Check a lawyer's licence and complain to a law society in Canada
How to confirm a Canadian lawyer, notary or paralegal is licensed, which law society regulates them, what a complaint can and cannot achieve, and how to file one.
Every lawyer in Canada must be licensed by the law society of the province or territory where they practise, and each law society publishes a searchable directory. Check the person's name, status (practising, suspended, non-practising) and any public discipline history before you pay anything. In Quebec, lawyers are members of the Barreau du Québec and notaries of the Chambre des notaires du Québec. In Ontario, the Law Society of Ontario also licenses paralegals. If something goes wrong with a lawyer's conduct, such as dishonesty, failing to communicate, mishandling trust money or conflicts of interest, you can complain to the law society for free. A complaint can lead to discipline, but it does not usually reduce a bill or award you compensation; those need separate routes.
This guide is part of the costly mistakes guide.
Who regulates whom
| Province or territory | Regulator for lawyers | Others regulated |
|---|---|---|
| Ontario | Law Society of Ontario | Licensed paralegals |
| British Columbia | Law Society of British Columbia | Notaries public are regulated separately by the Society of Notaries Public of BC; BC has legislated a move to a single regulator for legal professions, so check which body is responsible at the time you complain |
| Alberta | Law Society of Alberta | |
| Saskatchewan | Law Society of Saskatchewan | |
| Manitoba | Law Society of Manitoba | |
| Quebec | Barreau du Québec | Notaries: Chambre des notaires du Québec |
| New Brunswick | Law Society of New Brunswick | |
| Nova Scotia | Nova Scotia Barristers' Society | |
| Prince Edward Island | Law Society of Prince Edward Island | |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | Law Society of Newfoundland and Labrador | |
| Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut | Each territory's law society |
The Federation of Law Societies of Canada links to all of them.
How to check a licence
- Go to the law society's website and use its directory (often called "Lawyer Directory", "Find a Lawyer" or "Lawyer and Paralegal Directory").
- Search the full legal name; check spelling variants.
- Confirm the status is practising or equivalent, not suspended, revoked or non-practising.
- Check whether any restrictions or discipline history are shown.
- Confirm the business address matches what you were given.
Red flags: someone who calls themselves a "legal consultant" or "legal agent" but is not in any directory and offers to appear in court; a request to pay fees to a personal account; reluctance to put anything in writing. Outside Ontario's licensed paralegal scope and a few specific exceptions, providing legal services for a fee without a licence is generally prohibited by provincial law.
What a law society complaint can achieve
| Outcome | Possible? |
|---|---|
| Investigation of the lawyer's conduct | Yes |
| Discipline: reprimand, fine, conditions, suspension, licence revoked | Yes, after a hearing in serious cases |
| Order that the lawyer return your file | Law societies can often help with file transfers |
| Reduction of a fee | Generally no; use assessment, review or conciliation |
| Compensation for money lost through negligence | No; that is a claim against the lawyer, usually handled by their professional liability insurer |
| Reimbursement of money stolen by a lawyer | Through the law society's compensation fund, a separate process |
For fees, see how to challenge a lawyer's bill. For stolen trust money, see trust money and compensation funds.
Typical complaint subjects
- Not returning calls or emails over a long period.
- Missing deadlines or failing to tell you about a court date.
- Acting despite a conflict of interest.
- Misleading you about the status of the matter.
- Mishandling money held in trust.
- Withdrawing from your case without reasonable notice.
- Discrimination or harassment.
How to file a complaint
- Go to the law society's complaints page, usually reached from its home page.
- Use the online form or write a letter.
- Give the lawyer's full name, your contact details, and a clear, dated summary of what happened.
- Attach copies, not originals, of key documents: retainer agreement, letters, emails, invoices.
- Say what you want: an explanation, a file transferred, an investigation.
- Keep a copy of everything you send.
The law society usually shares your complaint with the lawyer and asks for a response. You may be asked for more information. Investigations take time, from weeks to many months for complex cases.
Quebec: the syndic
In Quebec, complaints about professionals, including lawyers and notaries, go to the syndic of the professional order. The syndic investigates and can bring a complaint before the order's disciplinary council. Quebec's Professional Code governs this process for all professional orders. For fee disputes, the Barreau's conciliation and arbitration procedure is the route, not the disciplinary process.
Practical example (illustrative)
A client's lawyer stops responding for three months after receiving a $4,000 deposit. A court date approaches.
- The client sends a written request for a status update and a trust statement, with a deadline of seven days.
- With no reply, the client checks the directory: the lawyer is still practising.
- The client files a complaint with the law society, explaining the urgency of the court date.
- The client asks the court registry about the hearing and contacts another lawyer about taking over.
- The new lawyer requests the file. Any unused part of the $4,000 deposit should be accounted for and returned or transferred.
Frequently asked questions
Does it cost anything to complain?
No. Law society complaint processes are free for the public.
Can I complain about the other side's lawyer?
Yes, about misconduct such as dishonesty or abusive behaviour, but not simply because they act firmly for their client.
Will my complaint be public?
The complaint process is generally confidential. If a matter goes to a public discipline hearing, the decision is usually published.
Can I complain about a paralegal?
In Ontario, yes, to the Law Society of Ontario. In other provinces, paralegals usually work under lawyers, so complain about the supervising lawyer.
Sources
- Federation of Law Societies of Canada — links to every provincial and territorial law society
- Law Society of Ontario — Lawyer and Paralegal Directory and complaints
- Law Society of British Columbia — Lawyer Directory and complaints
- Law Society of Alberta — lawyer directory and complaints
- Barreau du Québec — directory of lawyers and the syndic
- Chambre des notaires du Québec — directory of notaries
