Lawyer Portal Careers Contact Us

Law Society of Alberta

  • Who We Are
    • Indigenous Land Acknowledgements

      Indigenous land acknowledgements to recognize the traditional territories that the Law Society of Alberta serves.
      • About Us
      • Executive Leadership Team
      • Board & Committees
        • Board Directory
        • Board Meetings
        • Committees
        • Other Bodies
      • Key Initiatives
        • Indigenous Initiatives
        • COVID-19 Updates
      • Engagement with Public and Profession
      • Affiliations
      • Annual & Financial Reports
      • Strategic Plan
      • Awards & Scholarships
        • Distinguished Service Awards
        • Recognition of Service
        • Scholarships
      • Frequently Asked Questions
  • For the Public
    • Complaints

      Find out more about the types of complaints the Law Society can or cannot help you with and how to file a complaint.
      • Find a Lawyer
      • Complaints
      • Finding Files & Wills
      • Public Resources
      • Financial Claims
      • Notices
      • Careers
  • Lawyers & Students
    • Become a Lawyer in Alberta

      Find information on how to apply to be a lawyer in Alberta whether you are internationally trained, a law student or a lawyer from another Canadian jurisdiction.
      • Become a Lawyer
      • Membership Services
      • Forms & Certificates
      • Making A Payment
      • Trust Accounting & Safety
        • Responsible Lawyers
        • Filing Requirements
        • Anti-Money Laundering Model Rules
      • Professional Development
      • Fraud & Loss Prevention
      • Practice Advisors
      • Practice Management Consultations
      • Approved Legal Services Providers
      • Complaints
      • Equity Ombudsperson
      • Alberta Lawyers Indemnity Association
        • Report a Claim
        • Group Policy
        • ALIAlerts
        • ALIAdvisories
  • Resource Centre
    • Newest resource:

      Working Remotely — Applying the National Mobility Rules
      • Learning Centre
      • Student Resources
      • Public Resources
      • Disaster Planning and Recovery
      • Upcoming Events
      • Media Room
      • eBulletins
      • Latest News
      • Lawyer Programs
        • Mentor Connect
        • Mentor Express
        • AdvisorLink
        • Locum Connect
        • Practice Management Consultations
        • SoloNet
        • Assist
      • Key Resources
        • Client Relationships
        • Communication & Research
        • Equity & Diversity
        • Ethics & Professionalism
        • Practice Management
        • Substantive Legal Knowledge
        • Trust Accounting & Safety
        • Wellness
        • Webinars
  • Regulation
    • Act, Code & Rules

      The Law Society of Alberta derives its authority from the Legal Profession Act and sets out standards through its Rules and Code of Conduct.
      • Act, Code & Rules
      • Hearings
        • Schedule
        • Decisions & Outcomes
        • Complaint Dismissal Appeals
        • Adjudicator Directory
        • Tribunal Office
      • Notices
        • Custodianship
        • Disbarment
        • Reinstatement
        • Resignation
        • Suspension
      • Unauthorized Practice of Law
  • Find a Lawyer
Lawyers & Students
  • Become a Lawyer
    • Application & Admission
      • Internationally Trained Lawyers
      • Law Students
      • Canadian Lawyers
    • Articling
      • Articling Process
      • Court Clerkships
      • Composite Articles
      • Secondments
    • Bar Admission Program
    • Bar Call & Enrolment
    • Resources
      • Student Recruitment
      • Indigenous Law Student Summer Employment Program
      • Forms & Certificates
  • Visiting Lawyers
    • Mobility Agreements
    • Permits & Conditions
  • Membership Services
    • Billing Cycles, Filing Deadlines and Other Key Dates
    • Status Options & Contact Information Changes
    • Fees & Refunds
    • Membership & Indemnity Program Renewals
      • Indemnity Renewal FAQs
    • Member & Indemnity Certificates
    • Indemnity & Indemnity Exemptions
    • Professional Corporations (PCs)
    • Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs)
  • Complaints
    • Complaints About Discrimination or Harassment in the Profession
    • What Lawyers Can Expect If They Are the Subject of a Complaint
  • Alberta Lawyers Indemnity Association (ALIA)
    • About ALIA
    • Report a Claim
    • ALIAlerts
    • ALIAdvisories
    • Group Policy
      • Policy Changes
    • Indemnity Levy
    • Civil Litigation Filing Levy Pilot
      • Civil Litigation Filing Levy FAQs
    • Enhanced Surcharge Protocol
      • Enhanced Surcharge Protocol: FAQs
    • ALIA Board
    • Financial Reports
    • Indemnity Forms
    • Making A Payment To ALIA
  • Continuing Professional Development
    • Leading a New Era of Lawyer Competency: FAQ
    • Background
      • Competencies
      • Reflective Practice
    • Step-by-Step
    • Activities
    • Accreditation
    • Resource Providers
  • Practice Advisors
  • Trust Accounting & Safety
    • Responsible Lawyers
    • Filing Requirements
      • Law Firm Self-Report
      • Trust Safety Accounting Upload
    • Anti-Money Laundering Model Rules
      • No Cash Model Rule
      • Client Identification and Verification
      • New Trust Accounting Rule
      • Risk Advisories
      • Tools & Templates
      • FAQ: Anti-money laundering and terrorist financing
    • Forms for Financial Records, Accounts & Trusts
    • Trust Safety: FAQ
  • Practice Management Consultations
    • Request a Consultation
  • Equity Ombudsperson
  • Fraud & Loss Prevention
    • Red Flags
    • Loss Prevention
    • Supplemental Resources & Links
  • Approved Legal Services Providers
  • Making A Payment
  • Forms & Certificates
  • Home
  • Lawyers & Students
  • Complaints
  • What Lawyers Can Expect If They Are the Subject of a Complaint
What Lawyers Can Expect If They Are the Subject of a Complaint

All complaints, regardless of how they are addressed, form part of a lawyer’s regulatory history. However, the nature of the complaint will affect the way it is processed.

Complaints are streamed into either the Conduct Process (disciplinary) or the Early Intervention Process (non-disciplinary) per Rule 85 of The Rules of the Law Society of Alberta.


Complaint Outcomes

Summary Dismissal

If the matter is summarily dismissed, you will receive written notice of the decision. You will not be contacted by the Law Society prior to the summary dismissal.

Resolution

If the matter is streamed into the Early Intervention Process and resolution of the concerns is possible, Early Intervention Counsel will be in contact with you and the complainant. If the matter is resolved, you will receive written confirmation that: (i) the matter has been resolved to both your satisfaction and the complainant’s satisfaction; and (ii) no further steps will be taken.

Dismissal

In either the Conduct Process or the Early Intervention Process, if the matter is dismissed, you will receive written notice of the decision. You may or may not be contacted by the Law Society prior to the dismissal.

Early Intervention Process

If the matter is dismissed in the Early Intervention Process but requires your engagement with the Early Intervention Program, you will be contacted by Early Intervention Counsel prior to dismissal and may continue to work within the Early Intervention Program after the dismissal. View the Resolution and Early Intervention Protocol.

Conduct Process

If the matter is streamed into the Conduct Process, it will proceed in accordance with the Conduct Protocol.

.

Lawyer Responsibilities in the Complaint Process

It is the responsibility of the lawyer to:

  • Cooperate with the Law Society;
  • Respond fully and substantively to any requests of the Law Society;
  • Respond within any timelines or in accordance with any deadlines of the Law Society. While Rule 85 requires that you respond fully within timelines, reasonable requests for an extension submitted before deadlines will ordinarily be accommodated;
  • Be candid and courteous in your responses to the Law Society;
  • Meet your ethical duty to notify the Alberta Lawyers Indemnity Association about a potential claim, where appropriate and within required time frames; and
  • Maintain the confidentiality of the complaint process in accordance with s.78(3) of the Legal Profession Act.
Printed from https://www.lawsociety.ab.ca on April 18, 2021 at 2:40:14 AM
Law Society of Alberta ©2021 Law Society of Alberta.
  • Latest
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy
  • Sitemap
  • Careers
©2021 Law Society of Alberta.
  • Who We Are
    • Back
    • About Us
    • Executive Leadership Team
    • Board & Committees
      • Back
      • Board Directory
      • Board Meetings
      • Committees
      • Other Bodies
    • Key Initiatives
      • Back
      • Indigenous Initiatives
      • COVID-19 Updates
    • Engagement with Public and Profession
    • Affiliations
    • Annual & Financial Reports
    • Strategic Plan
    • Awards & Scholarships
      • Back
      • Distinguished Service Awards
      • Recognition of Service
      • Scholarships
    • Frequently Asked Questions
  • For the Public
    • Back
    • Find a Lawyer
    • Complaints
    • Finding Files & Wills
    • Public Resources
    • Financial Claims
    • Notices
    • Careers
  • Lawyers & Students
    • Back
    • Become a Lawyer
    • Membership Services
    • Forms & Certificates
    • Making A Payment
    • Trust Accounting & Safety
      • Back
      • Responsible Lawyers
      • Filing Requirements
      • Anti-Money Laundering Model Rules
    • Professional Development
    • Fraud & Loss Prevention
    • Practice Advisors
    • Practice Management Consultations
    • Approved Legal Services Providers
    • Complaints
    • Equity Ombudsperson
    • Alberta Lawyers Indemnity Association
      • Back
      • Report a Claim
      • Group Policy
      • ALIAlerts
      • ALIAdvisories
  • Resource Centre
    • Back
    • Learning Centre
    • Student Resources
    • Public Resources
    • Disaster Planning and Recovery
    • Upcoming Events
    • Media Room
    • eBulletins
    • Latest News
    • Lawyer Programs
      • Back
      • Mentor Connect
      • Mentor Express
      • AdvisorLink
      • Locum Connect
      • Practice Management Consultations
      • SoloNet
      • Assist
    • Key Resources
      • Back
      • Client Relationships
      • Communication & Research
      • Equity & Diversity
      • Ethics & Professionalism
      • Practice Management
      • Substantive Legal Knowledge
      • Trust Accounting & Safety
      • Wellness
      • Webinars
  • Regulation
    • Back
    • Act, Code & Rules
    • Hearings
      • Back
      • Schedule
      • Decisions & Outcomes
      • Complaint Dismissal Appeals
      • Adjudicator Directory
      • Tribunal Office
    • Notices
      • Back
      • Custodianship
      • Disbarment
      • Reinstatement
      • Resignation
      • Suspension
    • Unauthorized Practice of Law
  • Find a Lawyer
  • Lawyer Portal
  • Contact

Email: Education

Fill in the form below to get in touch with the Education department.
  • Drop files here or
      Text, PDF, MSOffice, and Images only. Max size 20 MB.

    Email: AdvisorLink

    Fill in the form below to get in touch with AdvisorLink
    • 1. AdvisorLink (operated by the Office of the Practice Advisors) and the Advisors accept no liability whatsoever arising from assistance given to lawyers or to any persons claiming through or under them.
      2. Lawyers are obligated to independently verify statements of law, procedure or fact made to them by the Advisor, before relying on them.
      3. AdvisorLink must not be used as a substitute for the lawyers’ own thorough research and analysis or for the lawyers’ own professional judgment.

    Email: Accounting

    Fill in the form below to get in touch with Accounting
    • Drop files here or
        Text, PDF, MSOffice, and Images only. Max size 20 MB.

      Email: Customer Service

      Fill in the form below to get in touch.
      • Drop files here or
          Text, PDF, MSOffice, and Images only. Max size 20 MB.

        Email: General Feedback

        Fill in the form below to get in touch with General Feedback
        • Drop files here or
            Text, PDF, MSOffice, and Images only. Max size 20 MB.

          Email: Communications and Media Relations

          Fill in the form below to get in touch with Communications and Media Relations.
          • Drop files here or
              Text, PDF, MSOffice, and Images only. Max size 20 MB.

            Email: Indigenous Initiatives Liaison

            Fill in the form below to get in touch with Andrea Menard
            • Drop files here or
                Text, PDF, MSOffice, and Images only. Max size 20 MB.

              Email: Membership Services

              Fill in the form below to get in touch with Membership Services
              • Drop files here or
                  Text, PDF, MSOffice, and Images only. Max size 20 MB.

                Email: Manager, Membership Services

                Fill in the form below to get in touch with Tina McKay
                • Drop files here or
                    Text, PDF, MSOffice, and Images only. Max size 20 MB.

                  Email: Elizabeth Aspinall

                  Fill in the form below to get in touch with Elizabeth Aspinall
                  • Drop files here or
                      Text, PDF, MSOffice, and Images only. Max size 20 MB.

                    Email: Jesse Mackenzie

                    Fill in the form below to get in touch with Jesse Mackenzie
                    • Drop files here or
                        Text, PDF, MSOffice, and Images only. Max size 20 MB.

                      Email: Allan Guty

                      Fill in the form below to get in touch with Allan Guty
                      • Drop files here or
                          Text, PDF, MSOffice, and Images only. Max size 20 MB.

                        Email: SoloNet

                        Fill in the form below to get in touch with SoloNet
                        • Drop files here or
                            Text, PDF, MSOffice, and Images only. Max size 20 MB.

                          Email: Practice Management

                          • Drop files here or
                              Text, PDF, MSOffice, and Images only. Max size 20 MB.

                            Email: Nancy Bains

                            Fill in the form below to get in touch with Nancy Bains
                            • Drop files here or
                                Text, PDF, MSOffice, and Images only. Max size 20 MB.

                              Email: Inform Trust Safety

                              Fill in the form below to get in touch with Inform Trust Safety
                              • Drop files here or
                                  Text, PDF, MSOffice, and Images only. Max size 20 MB.

                                Email: Trust Safety

                                Fill in the form below to get in touch with Trust Safety
                                • Drop files here or
                                    Text, PDF, MSOffice, and Images only. Max size 20 MB.

                                  Email: Information Management

                                  Fill in the form below to get in touch with Information Management
                                  • Drop files here or
                                      Text, PDF, MSOffice, and Images only. Max size 20 MB.

                                    Email: Election

                                    Fill in the form below to get in touch with Election
                                    • Drop files here or
                                        Text, PDF, MSOffice, and Images only. Max size 20 MB.

                                      Email: Justicia Project

                                      Fill in the form below to get in touch with Justicia Project
                                      • Drop files here or
                                          Text, PDF, MSOffice, and Images only. Max size 20 MB.

                                        Email: Locum Connect

                                        Fill in the form below to get in touch with Locum Connect
                                        • Drop files here or
                                            Text, PDF, MSOffice, and Images only. Max size 20 MB.

                                          Email: Mentor Connect

                                          Fill in the form below to get in touch with Mentor Connect
                                          • Drop files here or
                                              Text, PDF, MSOffice, and Images only. Max size 20 MB.

                                            Email: Mentor Express

                                            Fill in the form below to get in touch with Mentor Express
                                            • Drop files here or
                                                Text, PDF, MSOffice, and Images only. Max size 20 MB.

                                              Email: Indigenous Law Student Summer Employment Program

                                              Fill in the form below to get in touch with Indigenous Law Student Summer Employment Program
                                              • Drop files here or
                                                  Text, PDF, MSOffice, and Images only. Max size 20 MB.

                                                Email: ALIA

                                                Fill in the form below to get in touch with ALIA
                                                • Drop files here or
                                                    Text, PDF, MSOffice, and Images only. Max size 20 MB.

                                                  Email: ALIAlert fraud alerts

                                                  Fill in the form below to get in touch with ALIAlert fraud alerts
                                                  • Drop files here or
                                                      Text, PDF, MSOffice, and Images only. Max size 20 MB.

                                                    Email: Equity Ombudsperson

                                                    Fill in the form below to get in touch with Elizabeth Aspinall
                                                    • Drop files here or
                                                        Text, PDF, MSOffice, and Images only. Max size 20 MB.

                                                      Email: Tribunal Office

                                                      Fill in the form below to get in touch with Tribunal Office
                                                      • Drop files here or
                                                          Text, PDF, MSOffice, and Images only. Max size 20 MB.

                                                        Email: Custodianship

                                                        Fill in the form below to get in touch with Custodianship
                                                        • Drop files here or
                                                            Text, PDF, MSOffice, and Images only. Max size 20 MB.