ERIN C. COWLING
  • Home
  • BOOK (COMING SOON)
  • CPD Courses
  • Blog
  • Speaking
  • Publications

Proposed Amendments to Rules of Professional Conduct: Input due by October 16, 2015

9/15/2015

0 Comments

 
The Law Society of Upper Canada is proposing certain amendments to the Rules of Professional Conduct and is seeking input from the profession by October 16, 2015. The amendments cover a variety of topics, including conflicts of interest, doing business with a client, incriminating physical evidence, advertising, and short term legal services (pro bono context mainly). 

I found the most interesting proposed changes were to the rules on advertising. The Call for Input Document states that since the last amendments to these advertising rules "there appears to have been a significant increase in the incidence and scope of lawyer advertising and regulatory concerns have prompted a review of these Rules." Have we gone too far with our tv commercials and bus ads? 

The new Rules would set out certain marketing practices that would contravene the Rules (which in the current Rules are only in the Commentary as practices that may contravene), including: advertising that suggests or implies that the lawyer is aggressive; referring to awards or endorsements without providing relevant information (including the source of the award, the nomination process and if any fees were paid by the lawyer (directly or indirectly)); as well as using testimonials which contain emotional appeals (how would you define emotional appeal?).

The new Commentary to the Rule would provide examples of marketing practices that may contravene the Rules including: failing to disclose that the legal work is routinely referred to other lawyers for a fee rather than being performed by the lawyer; advertising awards and endorsements from third parties without disclaimers or qualifications; and misleading the public on the size of the lawyer's practice (so, no more saying "our lawyers" or "we" when you are a sole practitioner?)

The full Call for Input Document can be found here. 
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Picture

      Sign-up to receive my posts directly to your inbox:

    SUBSCRIBE
    2019 Canadian Law Blog Awards Winner
    2018 Canadian Law Blog Finalist
    2017 Canadian Law Blog Awards Winner
    2016 Canadian Law Blog Awards Winner
    Erin C. Cowling is a former freelance lawyer, entrepreneur, business and career consultant, speaker, writer and CEO and Founder of Flex Legal Network Inc., a network of freelance lawyers.
    Picture

    Categories

    All
    Book Reviews
    Career Advice
    Case Comments
    EDI Series
    Legal Events
    Legal Ghostwriting
    Legal Profession
    LSUC
    Rules Of Professional Conduct
    Series: Women Leading In Law
    Top 10 Posts
    Women And The Law

    Archives

    October 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    June 2023
    April 2022
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014

    RSS Feed

CONTACT ERIN
(C) 2014-2025 Erin C. Cowling. All rights reserved.
About 
Publications
Blog 
Terms of Use/Privacy Policy

Please note I am not currently practicing law. 
​

​Information on this website does not constitute legal advice and is for informational purposes only.
Accessing or using this website does not create a solicitor-client relationship.
 See website Terms of Use/Privacy Policy.
3080 Yonge Street, Suite 6060
Toronto,ON
M4N 3N1 (appointment only)
  • Home
  • BOOK (COMING SOON)
  • CPD Courses
  • Blog
  • Speaking
  • Publications