Complaints and Investigations
Our Complaints Services department received 6,442 new complaints and re-opened 126, for a total of 6,568 complaints.
Of those, 5,040 complaints were referred to our Professional Regulation Division, including 4,480 complaints about lawyer and paralegal conduct, capacity and competence, and 560 concerning non-licensees and/or licensing applicants.
2,595 cases were closed on the basis of jurisdiction, early resolution or lack of sufficient information to commence an investigation. 2,246 cases were investigated and closed with a staff caution, advice to the licensee on best practices, or the conclusion that the allegation was not established.
104 case closures resulted in appropriate diversion, including a practice or spot audit recommendation, an Invitation to Attend, or a Letter of Advice.
117 matters (involving 248 complaints) were closed after a Law Society Tribunal hearing on conduct or capacity.
For more information on Complaints, read the full report of the Professional Regulation Division.
Breakdown of lawyers in practice with firm size identified who received complaints in Professional Regulation in 2013
View DataBreakdown of lawyers in practice with firm size identified
View DataBreakdown of licensed paralegals in practice by firm size identified who received complaints in Professional Regulation in 2013
View DataBreakdown of paralegals in practice with firm size identified
View DataBreakdown of lawyers in practice who received complaints in Professional Regulation in 2013, by years in practice
View DataBreakdown of lawyers by years in practice
View DataBreakdown of licensed paralegals in practice who received complaints in Professional Regulation in 2013
View DataBreakdown of paralegals in practice by years in practice
View DataIssues Raised in Complaints
*Percentages total more than 100 because some matters raise more than one discipline issue.
View DataTypes of complaints received in Professional Regulation, by firm size — Lawyers
View DataTypes of complaints received in Professional Regulation, by firm size — Paralegals
View DataArea of Law in Which Complaints Occurred
*"Other" may include allegations of conduct unbecoming or misconduct that is not related to a specific area of law. Percentages total more than 100 because some complaints involve more than one area of law.
View Data