What the Law Society can and cannot help you with
All information submitted in accordance with the Law Society’s process will be reviewed. The Law Society can address many different kinds of concerns through the Complaint Process. However, some matters may not require discipline of the lawyer involved or early intervention with the lawyer’s practice, while other matters may not fall within the Law Society’s jurisdiction. Here are a few examples:
 Concerns which we may address: |
 Concerns which we will not address: |
 Information includes allegations of physical, sexual or other assault and/or harassment. View our safe reporting process for complaints of discrimination and harassment. |
 Dissatisfaction with the fees a lawyer has charged you and which you may or may not have already paid. If this is your concern, see Financial Issues; |
| Concerns about a lawyer’s misuse of trust funds; |
Dissatisfaction with the decision of a Court; |
| Concerns that the lawyer’s conduct is criminal in nature; |
Dissatisfaction with the process of another organization or body other than the Law Society, eg. Court procedures; and |
| Concerns that your lawyer is not communicating with you in a timely and effective manner; |
You feel your lawyer made a mistake on your file that caused you a financial loss. If this is your concern, see Financial Issues. |
| Concerns that your lawyer is not following your instructions; |
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| Concerns that a lawyer spoke to you in a rude or threatening manner; |
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| Concerns that there has been an unreasonable delay in moving a legal matter forward; |
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| Concerns that your lawyer won’t give you a detailed statement of fees and disbursements charged; |
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| Concerns that a lawyer is in a conflict of interest; |
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| Concerns that your lawyer won’t return your file at the end of the solicitor/client relationship; and |
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| Concerns that a lawyer disclosed confidential information without your consent. |
More information about the Complaint Process, is available here. You may also review the Rules of the Law Society of Alberta which give more detail about our Complaint Process.