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PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY
Quotes...........................................................................................................................................p.1
LEGAL PRACTICE: THE ETHICAL DIMENSION .................................................................p.2
COMPETENCE AND MALPRACTICE ....................................................................................p.2
Standard of Competence ..............................................................................................................p.2
Only take cases where lawyer is competent / transfer case to an expert lawyer .........................p.2
No Referral fees or hidden fees ...................................................................................................p.2
Error/Mistake made by lawyer .................................................................................................p.2-3
UNAUTHORIZED PRACTICE ..................................................................................................p.3
Duty to prevent unauthorized practice of law ..............................................................................p.3
Traffic offences are only instance were a non lawyer is permitted .............................................p.3
R v Lawrie (1987) (Lawrie and Pointts)
Not to employ disbarred or suspended lawyers / too much responsibility to legal assistants .....p.3
LAWYERS AS CITIZENS .........................................................................................................p.4
Conduct in private life ..............................................................................................................p.3-4
Cwinn v Law Society of Upper Canada (1980)
Conduct in non-legal business .....................................................................................................p.4
Media appearances .......................................................................................................................p.4
Involvement in political protest and disobedience .......................................................................p.4
DEALING WITH CLIENTS: FROM START TO FINISH ........................................................p.5
THE CHOICE OF CLIENTS ......................................................................................................p.5
Conversation with client before taking them on ..........................................................................p.5
COMPENSATION ......................................................................................................................p.5
Waive client’s fee if hardship or poverty .....................................................................................p.6
Contingency fee ...........................................................................................................................p.6
WITHDRAWAL ..........................................................................................................................p.6
Effecting the withdrawal ..............................................................................................................p.6
LEGAL AID AND PRO BONO ..............................................................................................p.6-7
SOLICITATION AND ADVERTISING ....................................................................................p.7
THE DUTY TO CLIENTS: CHECKING ZEALOUS PARTISANSHIP ...................................p.7
LAWYERS’ DUTIES ..................................................................................................................p.7
Duty to third parties ..................................................................................................................p.7-8
Nelles v Ontario (1980) 2 S.C.R.
Tracy v Atkins (1977)
Shoppers Trust Co. v Dynamic Homes Ltd (1992)
Negligent misstatements – Duty to third parties ..........................................................................p.8
Hercules Managements Ltd. v Ernst & Young (1997) 2 S.C.R.
Ethical obligations to non-clients – Duty to third parties ............................................................p.8
Unrepresented clients and opposing lawyers – Duty to third parties ...........................................p.8
GENERAL DUTY OF PARTISANSHIP ...................................................................................p.8
Duty (of secrecy) to “might-be client” .........................................................................................p.8
Duty to clients from members of law office ................................................................................p.9
R v Neil (2002) 3 S.C.R.
Remedies for breach of ethical rules ............................................................................................p.9
R v Neil
Zealous partisanship toward clients .............................................................................................p.9
Mentally incapable clients ...........................................................................................................p.9
Acting legally and acting ethically ..............................................................................................p.9
COMPONENT OBLIGATIONS ................................................................................................p.9
1) Loyalty ........................................................................................................................p.9-10
2) Candour ..........................................................................................................................p.10
3) Pro-activity .....................................................................................................................p.10
4) Confidentiality ...............................................................................................................p.11
Representing couples
Representing organizations
DUTY TO COURT AND PROFESSION .................................................................................p.11
Lord Denning describes the lawyers’ duty
What it means to lie ..............................................................................................................p.11-12
Meek v Fleming (England)
DUTIES TO OTHERS ..............................................................................................................p.12
Reporting breaches of the Rules ...........................................................................................p.12-13
Treatment of clients ...................................................................................................................p.13
BEING CONFIDENTIAL: SECRETS AND LIES ..................................................................p.13
THE LAWYER-CLIENT PRIVILEGE ....................................................................................p.13
Anderson v Bank of British Columbia (1876)
Greenhough v Gaskell (1833) (England)
Duty to disclose relevant legal authorities .................................................................................p.13
Lawyer-client privilege used to hide the truth ...........................................................................p.13
Ontario (Ministry of Environment) v McCarthy Tetrault (1992)
Leading authority of lawyer-client privilege .............................................................................p.13
Pritchard v Ontario (Human Rights Commission) (2004) 1 S.C.R.
Controversial strength of the lawyer-client privilege ................................................................p.14
R v Murray (2000) (hidden Paul Bernardo videotapes)
Exceptions to the lawyer-client privilege ..................................................................................p.14
Smith v Jones (1999) 1 S.C.R.
Breach of lawyer-client privilege ..............................................................................................p.14
Non-legal advice is not privileged ............................................................................................p.14
Alfred Crompton Amusement Machines Ltd. v Commissioners of Custom and Excise (No.2) (1972) All E.R. (England)
Non-legal advice will be privileged if confidentiality is expressly claimed ........................p.14-15
Descoteaux v Mierzwinski (1982) 1 S.C.R.
Lawyer-client privilege extends to identity of the client ...........................................................p.15
Lawyer-client privilege extends even after professional relationship ended (or death) ............p.15
THE LITIGATION PRIVILEGE ..............................................................................................p.15
Hickman v Taylor (1947) (American case)
Rationale of litigation privilege .................................................................................................p.16
(Susan Hosiery Ltd. v Minister of National Revenue (1969)
Modern trend in Canada ............................................................................................................p.16
Tully v Kurtz (1992)
Situations where the privilege might be limited ........................................................................p.16
THE GENERAL DUTY OF CONFIDENTIALITY ................................................................p.16
Professional Rules cover all information concerning a client ...................................................p.16
‘Casual’ clients ...........................................................................................................................p.16
What does ‘confidential/privileged information’ include? ........................................................p.16
Duties/behaviour with confidential/privileged information .................................................p.16-17
Lawyers’ as witnesses ................................................................................................................p.17
Refrain from using confidential information .............................................................................p.17
Szarfer v Chodos (1986)
R v S(R.J.) (1985)
SCOPE AND LIMITS ...............................................................................................................p.17
Explain confidentiality to clients ...............................................................................................p.17
Duty to disclose ....................................................................................................................p.17-18
Confidentiality in dangerous situations (death or harm)
Confidentiality in criminal communications
Descoteaux
Confidentiality of past crimes
Law or judge can abridge confidentiality ..................................................................................p.18
Protecting lawyers’ interests ......................................................................................................p.18
Piercy v Piercy (1990)
Collecting fees ...........................................................................................................................p.18
Advancing the public interest (i.e. protecting an innocent accused person) .............................p.18
Multiple clients ..........................................................................................................................p.19
WAIVER AND DISCLOSURE ...............................................................................................p.19
Kulchar v Marsh (1950)
Implied waivers .........................................................................................................................p.19
Consequence of a waiver ...........................................................................................................p.19
(London Trust & Savings Corp. v Corbett (1994))
Cooperation with successor lawyer ...........................................................................................p.19
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST: SCREENS AND SILENCES ..................................................p.19
LAWYERS’ OWN INTERESTS ..............................................................................................p.19
Intimate relations .......................................................................................................................p.20
Conflict of interest situations to avoid .......................................................................................p.20
Debtor-creditor relationship
Business ventures
Business transactions with clients ..............................................................................................p.20
If also a member of another profession ......................................................................................p.20
Public office ...............................................................................................................................p.20
MULTIPLE CLIENTS ..............................................................................................................p.21
Co-accuseds and the Charter ......................................................................................................p.21
R v Silvini (1991)
“Contentious issues” between clients ........................................................................................p.21
Checklist/Questions to ask when determining whether to represent multiple clients ..........p.21-22
Korponey v Canada (A.G.) (1982) 1 S.C.R., and R v Clarkson (1986) 1 S.C.R.
FORMER CLIENT’S INTERESTS ..........................................................................................p.22
Popowich v Saskatchewan (1995)
Lawyer switching firms ........................................................................................................p.22-23
Macdonald Estate v Martin (1990) 3 S.C.R. (The Martin presumption)
Ramsbottom v Morning (1992)
CURRENT CLIENTS ...............................................................................................................p.23
Ford Motor Co. of Canada v Osler, Hoskin, & Harcourt (1996)
R v Neil (2002) 3 S.C.R.
Waiver ........................................................................................................................................p.23
Moffat v Wetsein (1996)
CONCLUSION ..........................................................................................................................p.23
CRIMIANAL LAWYERS: PUTTING UP A DEFENCE ........................................................p.24
THE CRIMINAL LAWYER .....................................................................................................p.24
Are criminal lawyers more devoted to criminals than to the law? ............................................p.24
Declining a client .......................................................................................................................p.24
DUTIES AND LIMITS .............................................................................................................p.24
Rondel v Worsley (1969) (HL England)
Guidelines for the criminal lawyer .......................................................................................p.24-25
Balancing duty of confidentiality to client against treating court with candour ........................p.25
Articles of evidence (to be turned in) ........................................................................................p.25
MAKDING A DEFENCE .........................................................................................................p.26
False evidence or suppressing what ought to be disclosed / Defences ......................................p.26
Knowing the client is guilty .......................................................................................................p.26
THE PERJURY PROBLEM (swearing a false oath) ................................................................p.26
Steps to approaching perjury .....................................................................................................p.26
Knowing clients are making false statements / Withdrawal .................................................p.26-27
Re Ontario (Crime Commission) 1963)
THE CASE FOR THE PROSECUTION ..................................................................................p.27
Guidelines particularly relevant for prosecuting counsel ..........................................................p.27
Disclosure ..................................................................................................................................p.27
Stinchcombe (1991) 3 S.C.R.
PLEA BARGAINING ..........................................................................................................p.27-28
R v Naraindeen (1990)
Considerations to be followed in making a plea bargain ...........................................................p.28
BEYOND THE GENERAL PRINCIPLES: SPECIAL SITUATIONS ....................................p.28
CORPORATE LAWYERS .......................................................................................................p.28
Representing constituents of the corporation .............................................................................p.28
Privileged communication ....................................................................................................p.28-29
Upjohn Co. v United States (1981) (American Supreme Court)
Mutual Life Assurance Co. of Canada v Canada (Deputy Attorney General) (1998)
In-house counsel ........................................................................................................................p.29
Whistleblowing ..........................................................................................................................p.29
Steps to take before whistleblowing .....................................................................................p.29-30
ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION ............................................................................p.30
Lawyers’ duties as mediator ......................................................................................................p.30
Lying ..........................................................................................................................................p.30
Scenario/Response/Suggestion
False demands in negotiating .....................................................................................................p.30
POVERTY LAWYERS .............................................................................................................p.31
GOVERNMENT LAWYERS ...................................................................................................p.31
Everingham v Ontario (1992)
Restrictions ................................................................................................................................p.31
Conflict of interests ....................................................................................................................p.31
Discreditable conduct .................................................................................................................p.31
Leaving public office .................................................................................................................p.31
CLASS ACTION LAWYERS ...................................................................................................p.31
Quotes...........................................................................................................................................p.1
LEGAL PRACTICE: THE ETHICAL DIMENSION .................................................................p.2
COMPETENCE AND MALPRACTICE ....................................................................................p.2
Standard of Competence ..............................................................................................................p.2
Only take cases where lawyer is competent / transfer case to an expert lawyer .........................p.2
No Referral fees or hidden fees ...................................................................................................p.2
Error/Mistake made by lawyer .................................................................................................p.2-3
UNAUTHORIZED PRACTICE ..................................................................................................p.3
Duty to prevent unauthorized practice of law ..............................................................................p.3
Traffic offences are only instance were a non lawyer is permitted .............................................p.3
R v Lawrie (1987) (Lawrie and Pointts)
Not to employ disbarred or suspended lawyers / too much responsibility to legal assistants .....p.3
LAWYERS AS CITIZENS .........................................................................................................p.4
Conduct in private life ..............................................................................................................p.3-4
Cwinn v Law Society of Upper Canada (1980)
Conduct in non-legal business .....................................................................................................p.4
Media appearances .......................................................................................................................p.4
Involvement in political protest and disobedience .......................................................................p.4
DEALING WITH CLIENTS: FROM START TO FINISH ........................................................p.5
THE CHOICE OF CLIENTS ......................................................................................................p.5
Conversation with client before taking them on ..........................................................................p.5
COMPENSATION ......................................................................................................................p.5
Waive client’s fee if hardship or poverty .....................................................................................p.6
Contingency fee ...........................................................................................................................p.6
WITHDRAWAL ..........................................................................................................................p.6
Effecting the withdrawal ..............................................................................................................p.6
LEGAL AID AND PRO BONO ..............................................................................................p.6-7
SOLICITATION AND ADVERTISING ....................................................................................p.7
THE DUTY TO CLIENTS: CHECKING ZEALOUS PARTISANSHIP ...................................p.7
LAWYERS’ DUTIES ..................................................................................................................p.7
Duty to third parties ..................................................................................................................p.7-8
Nelles v Ontario (1980) 2 S.C.R.
Tracy v Atkins (1977)
Shoppers Trust Co. v Dynamic Homes Ltd (1992)
Negligent misstatements – Duty to third parties ..........................................................................p.8
Hercules Managements Ltd. v Ernst & Young (1997) 2 S.C.R.
Ethical obligations to non-clients – Duty to third parties ............................................................p.8
Unrepresented clients and opposing lawyers – Duty to third parties ...........................................p.8
GENERAL DUTY OF PARTISANSHIP ...................................................................................p.8
Duty (of secrecy) to “might-be client” .........................................................................................p.8
Duty to clients from members of law office ................................................................................p.9
R v Neil (2002) 3 S.C.R.
Remedies for breach of ethical rules ............................................................................................p.9
R v Neil
Zealous partisanship toward clients .............................................................................................p.9
Mentally incapable clients ...........................................................................................................p.9
Acting legally and acting ethically ..............................................................................................p.9
COMPONENT OBLIGATIONS ................................................................................................p.9
1) Loyalty ........................................................................................................................p.9-10
2) Candour ..........................................................................................................................p.10
3) Pro-activity .....................................................................................................................p.10
4) Confidentiality ...............................................................................................................p.11
Representing couples
Representing organizations
DUTY TO COURT AND PROFESSION .................................................................................p.11
Lord Denning describes the lawyers’ duty
What it means to lie ..............................................................................................................p.11-12
Meek v Fleming (England)
DUTIES TO OTHERS ..............................................................................................................p.12
Reporting breaches of the Rules ...........................................................................................p.12-13
Treatment of clients ...................................................................................................................p.13
BEING CONFIDENTIAL: SECRETS AND LIES ..................................................................p.13
THE LAWYER-CLIENT PRIVILEGE ....................................................................................p.13
Anderson v Bank of British Columbia (1876)
Greenhough v Gaskell (1833) (England)
Duty to disclose relevant legal authorities .................................................................................p.13
Lawyer-client privilege used to hide the truth ...........................................................................p.13
Ontario (Ministry of Environment) v McCarthy Tetrault (1992)
Leading authority of lawyer-client privilege .............................................................................p.13
Pritchard v Ontario (Human Rights Commission) (2004) 1 S.C.R.
Controversial strength of the lawyer-client privilege ................................................................p.14
R v Murray (2000) (hidden Paul Bernardo videotapes)
Exceptions to the lawyer-client privilege ..................................................................................p.14
Smith v Jones (1999) 1 S.C.R.
Breach of lawyer-client privilege ..............................................................................................p.14
Non-legal advice is not privileged ............................................................................................p.14
Alfred Crompton Amusement Machines Ltd. v Commissioners of Custom and Excise (No.2) (1972) All E.R. (England)
Non-legal advice will be privileged if confidentiality is expressly claimed ........................p.14-15
Descoteaux v Mierzwinski (1982) 1 S.C.R.
Lawyer-client privilege extends to identity of the client ...........................................................p.15
Lawyer-client privilege extends even after professional relationship ended (or death) ............p.15
THE LITIGATION PRIVILEGE ..............................................................................................p.15
Hickman v Taylor (1947) (American case)
Rationale of litigation privilege .................................................................................................p.16
(Susan Hosiery Ltd. v Minister of National Revenue (1969)
Modern trend in Canada ............................................................................................................p.16
Tully v Kurtz (1992)
Situations where the privilege might be limited ........................................................................p.16
THE GENERAL DUTY OF CONFIDENTIALITY ................................................................p.16
Professional Rules cover all information concerning a client ...................................................p.16
‘Casual’ clients ...........................................................................................................................p.16
What does ‘confidential/privileged information’ include? ........................................................p.16
Duties/behaviour with confidential/privileged information .................................................p.16-17
Lawyers’ as witnesses ................................................................................................................p.17
Refrain from using confidential information .............................................................................p.17
Szarfer v Chodos (1986)
R v S(R.J.) (1985)
SCOPE AND LIMITS ...............................................................................................................p.17
Explain confidentiality to clients ...............................................................................................p.17
Duty to disclose ....................................................................................................................p.17-18
Confidentiality in dangerous situations (death or harm)
Confidentiality in criminal communications
Descoteaux
Confidentiality of past crimes
Law or judge can abridge confidentiality ..................................................................................p.18
Protecting lawyers’ interests ......................................................................................................p.18
Piercy v Piercy (1990)
Collecting fees ...........................................................................................................................p.18
Advancing the public interest (i.e. protecting an innocent accused person) .............................p.18
Multiple clients ..........................................................................................................................p.19
WAIVER AND DISCLOSURE ...............................................................................................p.19
Kulchar v Marsh (1950)
Implied waivers .........................................................................................................................p.19
Consequence of a waiver ...........................................................................................................p.19
(London Trust & Savings Corp. v Corbett (1994))
Cooperation with successor lawyer ...........................................................................................p.19
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST: SCREENS AND SILENCES ..................................................p.19
LAWYERS’ OWN INTERESTS ..............................................................................................p.19
Intimate relations .......................................................................................................................p.20
Conflict of interest situations to avoid .......................................................................................p.20
Debtor-creditor relationship
Business ventures
Business transactions with clients ..............................................................................................p.20
If also a member of another profession ......................................................................................p.20
Public office ...............................................................................................................................p.20
MULTIPLE CLIENTS ..............................................................................................................p.21
Co-accuseds and the Charter ......................................................................................................p.21
R v Silvini (1991)
“Contentious issues” between clients ........................................................................................p.21
Checklist/Questions to ask when determining whether to represent multiple clients ..........p.21-22
Korponey v Canada (A.G.) (1982) 1 S.C.R., and R v Clarkson (1986) 1 S.C.R.
FORMER CLIENT’S INTERESTS ..........................................................................................p.22
Popowich v Saskatchewan (1995)
Lawyer switching firms ........................................................................................................p.22-23
Macdonald Estate v Martin (1990) 3 S.C.R. (The Martin presumption)
Ramsbottom v Morning (1992)
CURRENT CLIENTS ...............................................................................................................p.23
Ford Motor Co. of Canada v Osler, Hoskin, & Harcourt (1996)
R v Neil (2002) 3 S.C.R.
Waiver ........................................................................................................................................p.23
Moffat v Wetsein (1996)
CONCLUSION ..........................................................................................................................p.23
CRIMIANAL LAWYERS: PUTTING UP A DEFENCE ........................................................p.24
THE CRIMINAL LAWYER .....................................................................................................p.24
Are criminal lawyers more devoted to criminals than to the law? ............................................p.24
Declining a client .......................................................................................................................p.24
DUTIES AND LIMITS .............................................................................................................p.24
Rondel v Worsley (1969) (HL England)
Guidelines for the criminal lawyer .......................................................................................p.24-25
Balancing duty of confidentiality to client against treating court with candour ........................p.25
Articles of evidence (to be turned in) ........................................................................................p.25
MAKDING A DEFENCE .........................................................................................................p.26
False evidence or suppressing what ought to be disclosed / Defences ......................................p.26
Knowing the client is guilty .......................................................................................................p.26
THE PERJURY PROBLEM (swearing a false oath) ................................................................p.26
Steps to approaching perjury .....................................................................................................p.26
Knowing clients are making false statements / Withdrawal .................................................p.26-27
Re Ontario (Crime Commission) 1963)
THE CASE FOR THE PROSECUTION ..................................................................................p.27
Guidelines particularly relevant for prosecuting counsel ..........................................................p.27
Disclosure ..................................................................................................................................p.27
Stinchcombe (1991) 3 S.C.R.
PLEA BARGAINING ..........................................................................................................p.27-28
R v Naraindeen (1990)
Considerations to be followed in making a plea bargain ...........................................................p.28
BEYOND THE GENERAL PRINCIPLES: SPECIAL SITUATIONS ....................................p.28
CORPORATE LAWYERS .......................................................................................................p.28
Representing constituents of the corporation .............................................................................p.28
Privileged communication ....................................................................................................p.28-29
Upjohn Co. v United States (1981) (American Supreme Court)
Mutual Life Assurance Co. of Canada v Canada (Deputy Attorney General) (1998)
In-house counsel ........................................................................................................................p.29
Whistleblowing ..........................................................................................................................p.29
Steps to take before whistleblowing .....................................................................................p.29-30
ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION ............................................................................p.30
Lawyers’ duties as mediator ......................................................................................................p.30
Lying ..........................................................................................................................................p.30
Scenario/Response/Suggestion
False demands in negotiating .....................................................................................................p.30
POVERTY LAWYERS .............................................................................................................p.31
GOVERNMENT LAWYERS ...................................................................................................p.31
Everingham v Ontario (1992)
Restrictions ................................................................................................................................p.31
Conflict of interests ....................................................................................................................p.31
Discreditable conduct .................................................................................................................p.31
Leaving public office .................................................................................................................p.31
CLASS ACTION LAWYERS ...................................................................................................p.31