New database to look up people unauthorized to practice law
Posted April 9, 2013 2:15 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) How do you know the person you hired to represent you is a qualified, regulated, insured lawyer? The Law Society of BC has come up with a way to avoid receiving poor legal advice.
News1130 asked Michael Kleisinger with the law society how many people out there are unauthorized and taking clients?
“There are quite a few,” he tells us. “There are more than you think there are. We receive a bunch of complaints, about 150 per year and we investigate each complaint.”
He says many are repeat offenders, and they can all be found on a newly-created online database.
Kleisinger explains it’s important to know who you are asking to represent you. “There is no recourse for their clients to complain if they make an error.”
He says the major goal is to help educate the public about the risks of unauthorized practice and make it easier for the public to get information.
The Law Society of British Columbia regulates the more than 10,000 lawyers in BC.
