CanLaw Lawyer Referral Service  CanLaw Expert Legal Help
Law Society
of the
Northwest Territories
Home    Lawyers only  Legal Experts Only   Advertise on CanLaw
Find Me A Lawyer Free Service | Find Legal Experts & Services | MP Directory | Search | Contents | Legal Will Kit | Lawyer Directories | Law Reform | Rights | Downloads | Contact |
lawyers directory, law directory
Dealing With the Law Society of the Northwest Territories

QUESTIONS YOU SHOULD ASK FIRST

BEFORE YOU RETAIN ANY NWT LAWYER:


Ask these questions of both the Law Society and the lawyer.
  • CHECK THAT S/HE IS IN GOOD STANDING WITH THE NWT LAW SOCIETY. A quick check with the NWT Law Society is all it takes.
    Tel: (403) 873-3828     EMAIL    Fax: (403) 873-6344
  • Ask when s/he was admitted to the Bar. (This will tell you how long they have been in practice.)
  • Ask if s/he specializes in the area of law you in which you require assistance. What specialist training or certification does s/he have?
  • Ask how many similar cases s/he has handled? How many were won.
  • Ask if s/he has ever been disbarred, suspended, or disciplined by any Law Society anywhere.
  • Ask if she has been the subject of fee reviews.
  • Ask if any complaints have been made against her (regardless of the outcome) to the Law Society.

  • Check with CanLaw TO SEE IF WE HAVE ANY COMPLAINTS ON FILE.

Here is our list of Lawyers in the NWT

HISTORY OF COMPLAINTS IN Northwest Territories
Most Law Societies will NOT tell you if they have complaints against a lawyer unless s/he has been "convicted" in an internal discipline hearing. However of all the complaints received only about ten percent will ever get as far as a discipline hearing in NWT. The rest will be dismissed or closed at the preliminary stages.
Their are about 300 practicing full and part time lawyer/members of the NWT Law Society. Complaints run about 20 a year.
Source: Law Society of NWT
1992 1993 1994 1995 1996
Complaints received 23 18 17 24 24
Cases sanctioned 1 6 1 1 2
Complaints disgarded 22 12 16 23 22
Note: Complaints are not necessarily dealt with in the year received so the above numbers are indicative and represent the trends, but may not be exact on a case per case basis.

Rate Your Lawyer
FILING COMPLAINTS AGAINST A LAWYER IN NWT.

Generally, complaints to any Law Society are futile. Your complaint will be treated with a lack of respect and your word will not be accepted over that of any lawyer. Nevertheless, complaints should be filed on the slight chance that they will have an impact.

KNOW THE RULES. IT WILL HELP YOUR COMPLAINT!

The Code of Professional Conduct for the NWT can be obtained from


Russell W. Lusk, President
The Canadian Bar Association
Suite 902, 50 O'Connor Street
Ottawa, On K1P 6L2
Tel: (604) 640-4190 Email Fax: (604) 687-1415

Use and read the Code to help organize your complaint. It is better if you can say that the lawyer violated rule # xxx by doing what she did or did not do. This organizes your material and shows you have done your homework. HINT: Keep your complaint calm and rational. Avoid name calling, abuse and threats. Try to stick to the facts and avoid all emotion. It isn't easy, but it is smart.

To file complaints with CanLaw click here:

To file complaints with the NWT. Law Society write, fax or email them at:

Becky McCaffrey, Executive Director
Law Society of Northwest Territories
Lower Level, Laurentian Building 4918 50th Street
PO Box 1298, Yellowknife, NT X1A 2N9
Tel: (403) 873-3828   EMAIL  Fax: (403) 873-6344

LAW SOCIETY OF THE NORTHWEST TERRITORIES
(December 1997 - December 1998)

Web site of the Law Society of the Northwest Territories

President
Karan M. Shaner
c/o Legal Division, 4th Floor
GNWT Department of Justice
PO Box 1320
Yellowknife, NT
X1A 2L9
Tel: (867) 920-6144
Fax: (867) 873-0234
SHANER_KARAN/JUSTIC_00@minus40.gov.nt.ca
Vice-President
Gregory C. Nearing
C/o Legal Services Board
4916 - 47th Street
PO Box 1320
Yellowknife, NT
X1A 2L9
Tel: (867) 920-8008
Fax: (867) 873-5320
gnearing@internorth.com
Secretary
Adrian C. Wright
C/o Phillips & Wright
#1800, Precambrian Bldg
4920 - 52nd Street
Yellowknife, NT
X1A 3T1
Tel: (867) 873-3335
Fax: (867) 873-2772
awright@internorth.com
Executive Director
Becky McCaffrey
Law Society of the Northwest Territories
4918 - 50th Street
Lower Level Laurentian Building
P.O. Box 1298
Yellowknife, NT
X1A 2N9
Tel: (867) 873-3828
Fax: (867) 873-6344
lawsocnt@ssimicro.com

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION CONTACT:

Requests for information under the Freedom of Information Statutes must be answered within 30 days. Although the law societies are not bound by these statutes, most will comply and fill your requests.
Becky McCaffrey, Executive Director
Law Society of Northwest Territories
Lower Level, Laurentian Building 4918 50th Street
PO Box 1298, Yellowknife, NT X1A 2N9
Tel: (403) 873-3828     EMAIL    Fax: (403) 873-6344

HOW TO DEAL WITH YOUR LAW SOCIETY
Contacts, Tips, Effective Complaining

Web and E-mail Links to Law Societies
LEGAL QUESTIONS? Please ask our lawyers.

scales1
Do you have a complaint about your lawyer's bill?
Please consult our page on dealing with lawyer's bills.
There is a separate court procedure, known as an assessment, to deal with these complaints. It is not done by the Law Society. Assessment of lawyer's bills is done through the Court, not your local Law Society. Please look in the government section of the telephone book under Courts for the telephone number of the office near you.

Last Updated:
Website created by Kirwood Inc. Copy writing, Advertising, Web promotion