6.01(1) In this Rule,
“Act” means the Law Society Act, 1999, SNL 1999, c. L-9.1, as amended from time to time.
“Approved Program” means a degree program at a law school in Canada that has been approved by Benchers.
“Articles of Clerkship” means a written contract between a Student and a principal, who shall be a Member.
“Articling Term” has the meaning provided in Rule 6.08(1).
“Bar Admission Course” means a course for the instruction of matters relating to the practice of law in Newfoundland and Labrador, which shall be offered at least once every calendar year.
“Bar Admission Examinations” means those examinations prepared and administered by the Law Society as a pre-condition to being admitted to the bar.
“Director” means the Law Society’s Director of Admissions and Education.
“Member” means a person enrolled as a member of the Law Society who has not been struck off the roll of the Law Society.
“Required Form” means the form required by the Law Society and includes any documents, forms and information that the Law Society may request.
“Rules” means the Law Society Rules, as amended from time to time.
“Student” means a student-at-law who is entered on the register of students of the Law Society.
6.02(1) The Education Committee is hereby established and continued.
(2) The Education Committee shall be comprised of:
(a) the vice president;
(b) the chair of the Bar Admission Committee; and
(c) 5 persons who must be Members or lay Benchers, appointed by Benchers, at least one of whom shall be a Bencher.
(3) The chair of the Education Committee shall be appointed by Benchers and shall be a Bencher who is appointed to the Education Committee pursuant to Rule 6.02(2)(c).
(4) A quorum for meetings of the Education Committee shall be 3.
6.03(1) In addition to those duties set forth in the Act, the duties and responsibilities of the Education Committee shall include the following:
(a) to regulate, develop, and set standards for admission to the Law Society of persons as Students and Members;
(b) to regulate, develop, and set standards for non-practising Members, suspended Members, or former members making an application for the commencement or resumption of practice;
(c) to regulate, develop, and conduct a Bar Admission Course, with the assistance of the Bar Admission Committee;
(d) to develop, set, and administer Bar Admission Examinations, with the assistance of the Bar Admission Committee;
(e) to advise Benchers regarding matters related to the educational, academic, moral, and other qualifications required of Students and Members;
(f) to set standards for, and to implement programs relating to, Members’ continuing professional development; and
(g) such other duties and responsibilities as may be delegated to it by Benchers.
(2) The Education Committee may vary or waive the requirements of Rule 6 in special circumstances, except where prohibited by the Act.
6.04(1) There is hereby established and constituted, as a sub-committee of the Education Committee, a committee known as the Bar Admission Committee.
(2) The chair of the Bar Admission Committee shall be appointed by the Education Committee following the completion of the Bar Admission Examinations and supplementary examinations (if required) each year.
(3) The size and composition of the Bar Admission Committee shall be determined by its chair, in consultation with the Education Committee.
(4) A quorum for meetings of the Bar Admission Committee shall be 4.
6.05 Subject to these Rules and the direction of the Education Committee, the Bar Admission Committee shall facilitate the development, revision, and delivery of the Bar Admission Course, Bar Admission Examinations, and supplementary Bar Admission Examinations.
6.06(1) An applicant seeking admission to the Law Society as a student shall:
(a) be of good character and reputation;
(b) have either graduated from an Approved Program or received a Certificate of Qualification from the National Committee on Accreditation, not more than 3 years prior to the date the applicant proposes to commence their Articling Term;
(c) submit an application to the Law Society in Required Form, which shall include Articles of Clerkship executed by the applicant and the proposed principal;
(d) pay such admission fee(s) as may be fixed from time-to-time by Benchers; and
(e) satisfy any other requirement(s) that may be set by the Education Committee.
(2) The Director may approve applications for admission to the Law Society as a student.
(3) An application that is not approved by the Director under Rule 6.06(2) shall be referred to the Education Committee for a decision.
(4) The Education Committee may impose such conditions, restrictions, or requirements on the admission of a Student as it considers necessary to protect the public interest.
(5) A complete application for admission to the Law Society as a student shall be submitted to the Law Society no later than:
(a) the second Monday in May, for admission to the Articling Term commencing on June 1st; or
(b) the second Monday in December, for admission to the Articling Term commencing on January 30th.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, an applicant seeking to commence their Articling Term on June 1st may provide their transcript no later than June 30th of that same year.
6.07(1) A Member may act as principal to no more than 3 Students at one time, provided that:
(a) the Member is a resident of Newfoundland and Labrador;
(b) the Member has been continuously engaged in the full-time practice of law within Newfoundland and Labrador for the previous 5 years;
(c) the Member is not, nor has been, subject to any restrictions or proceedings, including, but not limited to practice conditions and disciplinary actions, that may, in the opinion of the Education Committee, impair their ability or fitness to act as a principal; and
(d) there is no other reason that, in the opinion of the Education Committee, may impair or bring into question the Member’s ability or fitness to act as a principal.
(2) A Member who does not meet the requirements under Rule 6.07(1) may apply to the Education Committee for approval to serve as a principal and the Committee may, in its discretion, grant or refuse such an application.
(3) The Education Committee may inquire into a Member’s suitability to act or to continue to act as principal to a Student and may do any of the following:
(a) conduct or authorize any person to conduct an investigation concerning the fitness of the Member to act as a principal;
(b) require the Member to appear before the Education Committee and to respond to questions of the Committee; or
(c) order the Member to produce any documents, records, or files that the Education Committee may reasonably require.
(4) Following an inquiry pursuant to Rule 6.07(3), the Education Committee may do any of the following:
(a) permit the Member to act as a principal;
(b) permit the Member to act as a principal, subject to conditions, restrictions, or requirements; or
(c) refuse permission for the Member to act as principal.
(5) The onus is on the Member to demonstrate that they are suitable to act as a principal to a Student.
(6) Articles of Clerkship may be assigned to another Member by filing an assignment of articles in Required Form with the Law Society, provided that the assignment must be approved by the Director or the Education Committee.
(Amended Rule 6.07 Winter Term Convocation, February 19, 2024)
6.08(1) A Student shall work in the practice of their principal(s) pursuant to the terms of their Articles of Clerkship for a term of at least 52 weeks, which shall include attendance at the Bar Admission Course (the “Articling Term”).
(2) Unless otherwise provided by this Rule or the Act, the Articling Term must be continuous, except for:
(a) leave of up to 20 working days at the discretion of the principal; and/or
(b) a leave of absence granted by the Education Committee.
(3) Any time taken for matters referred to in Rule 6.08(2)(b) shall not be included in the calculation of the Articling Term.
(4) A person who applies for admission as a Student may request that some or all of their Articling Term be completed on a part-time basis. Such a request must be made at least 8 weeks before the commencement of the Articling Term and, in addition to the ordinary requirements set out under Rule 6.06, shall include:
(a) written approval of the arrangement by the current or prospective principal;
(b) a detailed description of the working arrangement, including (i) the type of experience to be provided by the principal, (ii) the hours per day to be worked by the Student, and (iii) the length of the proposed Articling Term.
(5) A Student who has not been enrolled as a Member within 3 years from the date they commenced their Articling Term shall be removed from the register of Students. Such persons are eligible to reapply for admission as a Student pursuant to Rule 6.06.
(6) Where a person is enrolled as a Student for a second or subsequent time, the Education Committee may grant credit for some or all time the Student has previously articled.
(7) A Student employed as a law clerk of a judge of any division of the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Newfoundland and Labrador Court of Appeal, the Federal Court of Canada, the Federal Court of Appeal, or the Supreme Court of Canada may earn credit toward their Articling Term for the time they are so employed to a maximum of twenty-six (26) weeks, except for a Student employed as a law clerk to a judge of the Tax Court of Canada who may earn credit to a maximum of twelve (12) weeks, provided that:
(a) the judge provides a written report to the Education Committee detailing their assessment of the Student’s character and competence; and
(b) the Student spends the remainder of their Articling Term in the service of their principal(s) according to a schedule approved by the Education Committee.
(8) For the purposes of calculating the Articling Term:
(a) A week is comprised of five (5) working days and no additional credit is permitted for working more than five (5) working days in a week; and
(b) A working day is comprised of seven (7) hours of scheduled work and no additional credit is permitted for working more than seven (7) hours in a working day.
(9) In the event that an articling relationship is terminated:
(a) both the Student and the Principal must provide written notice to the Director within one week of the termination, which shall include the effective date of the termination and the reason for the termination;
(b) the principal must provide a report satisfactory to the Education Committee detailing the work completed and experience gained by the Student up to the date of termination;
(c) the onus is on the Student to obtain another articling placement in order to complete their Articling Term; and
(d) the Education Committee will make a determination as to what portion, if any, of the period of time spent in the terminated articling position will be credited towards the Student’s Articling Term.
(Amended Rule 6.08(7)(9) , August 13, 2024)
6.09(1) A Student shall devote their full time and attention to the practice of their principal and other Members within their firm/organization, as assigned by their principal, and shall not engage in another vocation or business endeavour without the consent of their principal and the approval of the Education Committee.
(2) A Student must receive such experience and instruction during their Articling Term as directed by the Education Committee. Students and their principals shall be provided with such direction at the time of the Student’s admission.
(3) Where a principal is not able to provide their Student with any of the experience and/or instruction required by the Education Committee pursuant to Rule 6.09(2), the principal shall make the necessary arrangements for the Student to obtain such experience and/or instruction from another Member or Members.
(4) Arrangements made under Rule 6.09(3) shall not require an assignment of the Articles of Clerkship.
(5) A Student shall file a report detailing their progress with respect to the experience and instruction required pursuant to Rule 6.09(2), in Required Form, within the date range specified by the Director.
(6) Where the Education Committee is not satisfied with the progress detailed in the report described in Rule 6.09(5), it may direct the Student and/or principal to take certain steps to ensure compliance with the requirements set out in this Rule prior to the end of the Articling Term.
(7) Upon fulfilling the requirements set out in this Rule, the Student and their principal shall each file a Certificate of Completion of Articles, in Required Form, with the Director.
(Amended Rule 6.09(1)(9) , August 13, 2024)
6.10 (1) Subject to the Rules, the Act, or any other prohibition in law, a Student may appear on the proceedings specified below, provided the Student’s principal or another lawyer supervising the Student pursuant to Rule 6.09(3) ensures that the Student is:
(a) competent to make the appearance;
(b) supervised to the extent necessary in the circumstances;
(c) properly prepared before making the appearance.
(2) A Student may appear, with the Student’s principal or another lawyer supervising the Student pursuant to Rule 6.09(3) in attendance and directly supervising the Student, as counsel or agent before:
(a) any board, commission, tribunal or other similar body (whether composed of one person or more than one person) established by or under an Act of the Legislature of Newfoundland and Labrador, including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing;
i. the Labour Relations Board;
ii. the Public Utilities Board;
iii. a board of inquiry appointed under the Human Rights Act, 2010;
iv. a panel or committee appointed under the Law Society Act, 1999;
v. a commissioner or commissioners appointed under the Public Inquiries Act,
vi. a board of arbitrators appointed under the Expropriation Act; and
vii. WorkplaceNL;
(b) a provincial court judge on a matter under the Small Claims Act or any successor legislation dealing with small claims matters in the Provincial Court of Newfoundland and Labrador;
(c) a provincial court judge on any summary conviction criminal or regulatory offence, or provincial offence, subject to certain restrictions regarding judicial interim release hearings as specified in Rule 6.10(2)(d);
(d) a provincial court judge on an application for judicial interim release for offences not listed in section 469 of the Criminal Code, for the limited purpose of:
i. setting the date(s) for the hearing of the application for judicial interim release; or
ii. consenting to a release where the conditions of release have been reviewed in advance by the Student’s principal or another lawyer supervising the Student pursuant to Rule 6.09(3);
(e) a provincial court judge on any hybrid or indictable offence, provided the Student’s principal or another lawyer supervising the Student pursuant to Rule 6.09(3) has given instructions to a Student, with respect to:
i. an application for an adjournment where all parties are consenting to the adjournment and this consent has been communicated in writing to the Student’s principal or another lawyer supervising the Student pursuant to Rule 6.09(3) in advance of the appearance;
ii. setting the date(s) for a preliminary inquiry or trial where all parties are consenting to the date(s) and this consent has been communicated in writing to the Student’s principal or another lawyer supervising the Student pursuant to Rule 6.09(3) in advance of the appearance;
iii. an application to vacate a release or detention order and to make a different order where all parties are consenting to the new order and this consent has been communicated in writing to the Student’s principal or another lawyer supervising the Student pursuant to Rule 6.09(3) in advance of the appearance;
iv. the Crown election to proceed summarily with defence consent;
v. the defence election as to mode of trial; and/or
vi. the entry of a plea of not guilty.
(3) A Student may make the appearances specified in Rule 6.10(2) without the Student’s principal or another lawyer supervising the Student pursuant to Rule 6.09(3) in attendance if that Student has completed at least 12 weeks of their Articling Term.
(4) Prior to appearing in a proceeding on behalf of a client, the Student must first obtain the client’s consent, in Required Form, which shall be filed with the:
(a) Director; and
(b) the presiding judge, or the board, commission, tribunal, or similar body established by or under an Act of the Newfoundland and Labrador Legislature, as the case may be.
6.11(1) Every Student shall take and participate in the Bar Admission Course and write the Bar Admission Examinations and the Student’s principal shall allow the Student time away from their practice to do so.
(2) The Education Committee shall determine the time(s) and location(s) of the Bar Admission Course and the Bar Admission Examinations and provide these details to a Student at the time of their admission.
(3) Notwithstanding Rule 6.11(2), the Education Committee may amend the time and location of the Bar Admission Course where it is deemed necessary or appropriate to do so.
(4) Any Student who is unable to write the Bar Admission Examinations or participate in the Bar Admission Course or write one or more Bar Admission Examinations in its ordinary format shall notify the Director in the manner set out in the Bar Admissions Course accommodation policy, a copy of which shall be provided to every Student upon admission. All decisions with respect to accommodations in the Bar Admissions Course and Bar Admission Examinations shall be made in accordance with the provisions of accommodation policy and shall not be subject to appeal or review.
(5) Marks for Bar Admission Examinations shall be expressed as a percentage of 100 and shall be rounded to the nearest whole number.
(6) A Student shall be deemed to have passed the Bar Admission Examinations where:
(a) they received a mark of at least 60% in each Bar Admission Examination they were required to write; and
(b) the cumulative average of the marks they received in all Bar Admission Examinations they were required to write is at least 65%.
(7) Each Bar Admission Examination which has received a mark of at least 55% and below 60% shall be automatically reviewed by the grader(s) and, if warranted, a different mark shall be assigned.
(8) A Student who has failed one or more Bar Admission Examinations may, upon payment to the Law Society of a sum equal to 20% of the total fee paid by that Student for participation in the Bar Admission Course for each Bar Admission Examination to be reviewed and remarked (the total in no event to exceed the total Bar Admission Course fee paid by that Student), require the grader(s) to review one or more of the Bar Admission Examinations, provided that the request is made in writing to the Director no later than 10 days following publication of the marks.
(9) The mark given to a Bar Admission Examination following a review under Rule 6.11(8) shall be final and not subject to further review.
6.12(1) A Student who has failed at least one but not more than two Bar Admission Examinations may write supplementary Bar Admission Examinations at the time(s) and date(s) determined by the Director, provided that a Student shall not be permitted to write a supplementary Bar Admission Examination in a subject in which they scored less than 40% without the approval of the Education Committee.
(2) A Student who has failed to achieve the cumulative average specified in Rule 6.11(6)(b) may write no more than 2 supplementary Bar Admission Examinations in subjects of their choosing.
(3) A Student may write only one supplementary Bar Admission Examination per subject unless otherwise permitted by the Education Committee.
(4) A Student who wishes to write one or more supplementary Bar Admission Examinations must notify the Director, in writing, no later than 20 days after the marks have been published.
(5) A Student who does not receive the minimum marks specified in Rule 6.11(6) and, where they were eligible to write one or more supplementary Bar Admission Examinations, has failed any such supplementary Bar Admission Examination(s) or does not avail of the opportunity to write a supplementary Bar Admission Examination for any subject that they have failed, shall be thereafter required, as a condition of enrolment as a Member, to rewrite all of the Bar Admission Examinations at the next regularly scheduled dates and times and the Education Committee may, if it deems appropriate:
(a) require the Student to attend a subsequent Bar Admission Course; and/or
(b) extend the Articling Term to be served by the Student.
6.13(1) For the purposes of this Rule, cheating means the taking by a Student of unfair advantage with respect to presentation and retention of information required on a Bar Admission Examination that is not available or allowed to other Students and, without limitation, includes:
(a) the action(s) of any Student in knowingly assisting any other Student to cheat;
(b) the use or possession of electronic devices or other material not specifically allowed to be used or possessed by a Student while they are writing a Bar Admission Examination; and
(c) becoming aware, even inadvertently, of the contents of all or a part of a Bar Admission Examination prior to the time scheduled for the writing thereof and not forthwith informing the Director of that fact.
(2) Where the Director becomes aware of an allegation of cheating, they shall cause an investigation to be undertaken and, if satisfied that a prima facie case exists, shall notify the Student accused of cheating, in writing, stating the nature of the accusation. The accused Student shall be given an opportunity to reply to the charge, in writing, and to appear, with or without counsel, before the Education Committee to make full answer and defence.
(3) The Education Committee shall within 14 days of the hearing or, if there is no hearing, the completion of the review, render a decision and make a finding of fact as to whether the Student cheated.
(4) A Student who has cheated shall be:
(a) deemed to have failed all of the Bar Admission Examinations written that year, including any supplementary Bar Admission Examinations written thereafter;
(b) not permitted to write supplementary Bar Admission Examinations for that year; and
(c) referred to the vice president who shall commence discipline proceedings in accordance with Part II of the Act.
6.14(1) A Student’s application for enrolment as a Member shall be made in Required Form on or before such date as may be determined by the Director.
(2) A Student must complete their Articling Term at least ten (10) days prior to the scheduled date of the Call to the Bar ceremony in which they are to be enrolled as a Member.
(3) A Student’s application for enrolment as a Member shall be approved by the Education Committee, provided it is satisfied that the Student has complied with all of the necessary requirements and there is no reason that it would not be in the public interest to permit the Student to be enrolled as a Member.
(4) The Education Committee may make its approval under Rule 6.14(2) subject to such conditions, restrictions, and/or requirements as it considers necessary to protect the public interest.
(5) Notice of the Education Committee’s approval granted under Rule 6.14(2) shall be provided to the Vice President as soon as practicable.
(6) Students who have been approved to be enrolled as Members pursuant to Rule 6.14(2) shall be presented to a judge of the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador (General Division) to be sworn and enrolled as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador at such date and time as may be arranged by the Vice President in consultation with the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
(7) Upon being enrolled as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador, the solicitor shall appear before Benchers to be enrolled as a barrister on the rolls of the Law Society.
(8) Upon being enrolled as a barrister, the person so enrolled shall be a Member and is entitled to all the rights, benefits, and privileges and subject to all the duties, obligations, and responsibilities of a Member.
(9) The diploma of a barrister-at-law of the Law Society shall be in Required Form and shall be signed by the President of the Law Society.
(10) Where a person has not been enrolled as a solicitor and a barrister within one year of receiving the approval of the Education Committee, the Education Committee may prescribe such requirements which it determines are necessary to demonstrate the person’s fitness to engage in the practice of law before the person is enrolled.
(Amended Rule 6.14(2) , August 13, 2024)
6.15(1) A non-practising Member, suspended Member or former Member shall file an application for the commencement or resumption of practice in Required Form with the Law Society before having their status changed to that of a practising Member and shall, in addition to the conditions outlined in Rules 2.21, 10.02 and the conditions, restrictions and requirements otherwise imposed in accordance with the Rules, be required by the Education Committee to do one or more of the following:
(a) provide such evidence as the Education Committee may require to demonstrate that they are of good character and reputation and have a current working knowledge of the law;
(b) complete continuing professional development activities;
(c) take the Bar Admission Course and/or write and pass such Bar Admission Examinations as directed by the Education Committee;
(d) comply with such other requirements which the Education Committee reasonably determines are necessary to protect the public interest.
(2) Notwithstanding Rule 6.15(1), the Director may reinstate a non-practising Member or former Member to practising status where the Member has held the status of non-practising Member or been a former Member for a period of less than 24 months and where the Member complies with the conditions outlined in Rules 2.21, 10.02 and all other conditions, restrictions and requirements imposed in accordance with the Rules.
(3) The Education Committee may impose such terms, conditions, limitations, or restrictions on a Member’s authorization to practise law as are reasonably determined to be necessary to protect the public interest.
6.16 (1) Benchers or the Education Committee may direct some or all of the practising Members to complete a professional development course or seminar by a particular date and every Member so directed shall, unless exempted, in writing, by the body imposing the requirement, be required to comply with this direction as a condition of retaining their practising status.
(2) In the event that the Member fails to comply with Rule 6.16(1), their membership or enrolment in the Law Society shall be suspended until the Member completes the required professional development course or seminar and:
(a) files an application for the commencement or resumption of practice in form 2.21A, which is subject to approval by the vice-president or education committee;
(b) pays all outstanding fees, deductibles due at the time of suspension;
(c) complies with all conditions, restrictions and requirements imposed in accordance with the Rules; and
(d) pays the administration fee approved by Benchers.
6.17 (1) Except where provided otherwise in this Rule, every practising Member is required to:
(a) participate in a minimum of fifteen (15) hours of eligible continuing professional development (“CPD”) activities annually; and
(b) report their CPD activities in the Law Society’s online portal on an annual basis in Required Form as directed by the Law Society
no later than the 31st of December each year.
(2) Practising Members who do not comply with the requirements specified in Rule 6.17(1) shall be:
(a) subject to a late fee of $500.00, plus applicable taxes, which shall be paid no later than January 31st of the year in which the late fee was incurred; and
(b) referred to the Vice President who may take one or more of the following actions:
i. require the Member to comply with the requirements by a specified date;
ii. impose an administrative suspension until the Member complies with the requirements; and/or
iii. engage the disciplinary process set out in Part II of the Act.
(3) To qualify as an eligible CPD activity, the activity must be:
(a) relevant to the Member’s present or perceived future professional needs;
(b) directly related to the Member’s current or anticipated practice areas; and/or
(c) relevant to professional ethics and the professional responsibilities of lawyers.
(4) In addition to the requirements set out in Rule 6.17(3), an eligible CPD activity shall include activities/content related to:
(a) the practice of law (e.g. ethics, professional responsibility, practice standards, substantive law, procedural law etc.);
(b) lawyering skills (e.g. advocacy, drafting, research, communications, interviewing, negotiation etc.); and
(c) practice management (e.g. client relations, wellness, time management, practice technology etc.).
(5) A Member’s CPD activities must be classified under one of the following categories:
(a) Courses or seminars – participation in courses, seminars, educational components of conferences, podcasts, or webcasts, either live or recorded;
(b) Teaching (maximum of 6 hours per year) – teaching in a legal context, excluding presentations given to clients or required in the ordinary course of the Member’s practice or employment (Members may claim a reasonable amount of preparation time up to a maximum of 2x the time spent teaching. Combined preparation and teaching time shall not exceed the annual maximum of 6 hours per year that can be claimed under this category);
(c) Legal writing (maximum of 6 hours per year) – authoring legal texts, legal articles, or other written materials, the primary purpose of which is for use in an educational program or to educate about the law, excluding written material produced in the ordinary course of the Member’s practice or employment; or
(d) Self-study/reviewing written materials (maximum of 3 hours per year) – self-study or reviewing written materials such as legal articles, textbooks, case reports, journals, etc.
(6) The Law Society will not assess or accredit CPD providers, content, or subject matter in advance. It is each Member’s responsibility to ensure that the CPD activities they report to the Law Society meet the requirements set out in Rule 6.17.
(7) Notwithstanding Rule 6.17(6), the Education Committee has the discretion to determine whether a specific activity is an eligible CPD activity.
(8) The Education Committee may require a Member to provide further information or documentation relating to the details of the Member’s participation in a CPD activity and/or the eligibility of a reported CPD activity.
(9) Members who are subject to comparable mandatory CPD requirements in another Canadian jurisdiction may count CPD activities reported in the other Canadian jurisdiction towards the requirements set out in Rule 6.17, provided that the activities were completed in the year for which it is being reported.
(10) A Member who has held non-practising and practising status in the same year is responsible for completing 1.25 hours of eligible CPD activities for every month and partial month in which they held practising status.
(11) Members who maintain practising status but are not engaged in the practice of law due to parental leave or a leave of absence due to medical reasons may seek an exemption from the mandatory CPD requirements to a maximum of 1.25 hours for every full calendar month in which they are on leave from practice in a calendar year by submitting a request to the Director in Required Form. Where the Director does not approve the exemption request, it shall be referred to the Education Committee for a decision.
(12) Requests for an exemption pursuant to Rule 6.17(11) must be filed with the Director no later than December 1st unless prevented from doing so by circumstances outside of the Member’s control.
(Amended Rule 6.17(5)(B) Winter Term Convocation, February 19, 2024)
Appointment of Panel
6.18(1) Where the Education Committee determines that a hearing is necessary before making a decision with respect to an application, it shall appoint a panel to make a decision on behalf of the Committee. The Panel shall be comprised of at least 3 members of the Education Committee, one of whom shall be designated as the chair, and shall promptly notify the Applicant and counsel
for the Law Society in writing of the purpose of the hearing and the circumstances to be inquired into at the hearing.
(2) Where the Applicant or the Law Society wishes to challenge for cause the appointment of a member of the panel, the challenge shall be raised with the Education Committee at the earliest opportunity.
(3) The Education Committee shall hear submissions, either in person or in writing, from the Applicant and/or the Law Society with respect to the challenge and shall decide the issue(s) raised.
(4) Where the Education Committee decides that the appointment should be set aside, the appointee shall withdraw from the panel and the Education Committee shall appoint another member to the panel as soon as practicable.
(5) The panel shall immediately provide notice to the parties and the Education Committee if, at any time during the course of a proceeding, any member of the panel identifies a conflict of interest or is otherwise required to withdraw from their appointment and the Education Committee shall endeavour to fill any vacancy on the panel as soon as practicable.
Pre-hearing Conference
(6) The Law Society may elect not to appear or make submissions in a pre-hearing conference hearing.
(7) A pre-hearing conference shall commence within 30 days of the panel being appointed or as otherwise consented to by the parties.
(8) The requirement to conduct a pre-hearing conference may be waived with the agreement of the Applicant and the panel.
(9) The panel, after consulting with the parties on their availability, shall set the time, date, and place of the pre-hearing conference.
(10) A pre-hearing conference shall not be open to the public.
(11) At a pre-hearing conference the panel may consider:
(a) the identification and/or simplification of the issues;
(b) any possibility of admissions or agreed statements of fact;
(c) the identification of witnesses in the proceeding;
(d) the discovery and production of documents;
(e) deadlines for the filing of expert and/or other reports;
(f) the desirability of conducting the hearing or a part of it in camera;
(g) the necessity of an additional pre-hearing conference;
(h) the number of days the parties anticipate requiring for the hearing;
(i) setting a date for the commencement of the hearing; and
(j) any other matters that may aid in the disposition of the matter before the panel.
(12) The panel may make orders relating to issues resolved during a pre-hearing conference and may determine that a hearing is no longer required.
(13) The panel does not need to provide written reasons to support its decision that a hearing is not required.
(14) The panel shall provide a summary of matters resolved during a pre-hearing conference that do not require an order and that summary will form part of the record.
Commencement of the Hearing
(15) The panel shall set a date for the hearing to commence that is no earlier than 30 days after the conclusion of the pre-hearing conference, unless otherwise consented to by the parties.
(16) The date, time and place for the hearing to commence shall be set:
(a) with the consent of the parties and the panel; or
(b) as otherwise determined by the panel.
Notice of the Hearing Date
(17) When a date is set under Rule 6.18(16), the panel shall provide the parties with a notice of the hearing date at least 30 days before the date set for the commencement of the hearing, unless the parties consent to a shorter notice period.
Adjournments
(18) The panel may, on application of one of the parties or on its own motion, adjourn a pre-hearing conference or a hearing on any terms and conditions it considers just.
Mode of Proceedings
(19) Any proceeding before the panel may be conducted in person, in writing, by telephone, or by electronic communication including videoconference, as determined by the panel.
(20) In determining the mode of proceedings, the panel may consider any relevant factors, including:
(a) the nature of the hearing, the subject matter of the hearing, and the issues to be addressed, including whether they are issues of fact, law, or procedure;
(b) the evidence to be presented, including whether facts are in dispute and credibility is an issue;
(c) the cost, efficiency and timeliness of the hearing or the proceeding; and
(d) the fairness of the hearing process to, and the convenience of, each of the parties.
Recordings and Transcripts
(21) Unless otherwise directed by the panel:
(a) a pre-hearing conference shall not be recorded by the Law Society;
(b) a hearing shall be recorded by the Law Society;
(c) no other person is permitted to transmit or record any proceedings before the panel;
(d) recorded proceedings before the panel do not need to be transcribed.
(22) The panel and any of the parties to the proceeding may request a copy of the recording and/or transcript of the hearing and the cost associated with producing the recording and/or transcript shall be incurred by the party requesting it or, shared equally where there are multiple parties requesting a copy of the recording and/or transcript of the hearing.
Compelling Evidence
(23) Before the date set for the commencement of the hearing, or at any time during the hearing at the panel’s discretion, the Applicant or the Law Society may request a summons (subpoena) or authorization be issued to:
(a) compel the attendance of a witness and give evidence orally or in writing; and/or
(b) require a person to produce documents or records, including documents or records maintained in electronic form, and things in their custody or control that may relate to the hearing.
(24) The panel may require submissions from either or both parties with respect to a request for a summons or authorization.
(25) After considering any submissions under Rule 6.18(24), the panel shall:
(a) make the order requested;
(b) refuse to issue the summons or authorization; or
(c) make any order with respect to the request for a summons or authorization deemed appropriate.
(26) A summons issued under Rule 6.18(25) may be executed by any member of the panel.
Disclosure of Evidence
(27) Not less than 2 weeks before the date set for the commencement of the hearing, the Applicant and the Law Society shall provide to each other the following:
(a) the names of each witness that the party intends to call to give evidence at the hearing;
(b) copies of any written statements, or where no written statements exist, a summary of the evidence that the party expects will be given by that witness;
(c) a summary of the qualifications of a witness where they are being called to give expert evidence; and
(d) copies of all documents that the party intends to introduce into evidence at the hearing unless those documents have already been provided.
(28) Where the Applicant or the Law Society has not complied with Rule 6.18(27), the panel may, in its discretion, allow the introduction of evidence that has not been properly disclosed, or exclude evidence that would otherwise be admissible, and may make such directions that it considers necessary to ensure that a party is not prejudiced.
Memorandum of Fact and Law
(29) Unless otherwise directed by the panel, the Applicant may file with the panel and provide to the Law Society, a copy of their memorandum of fact and law at least 14 days prior to the date set for the commencement of the hearing.
(30) Unless otherwise directed by the panel, the Law Society may file with the panel and provide to the Applicant, a copy of its memorandum of fact and law at least 7 days prior to the date set for the commencement of the hearing.
Failure to Appear
(31) If an Applicant fails to appear at a hearing or for the resumption of an adjourned hearing after notice thereof, the panel may proceed with the hearing in the Applicant’s absence.
Conduct of the Hearing
(32) Unless otherwise directed by the panel, an in-person hearing shall not be open to the public and will generally be conducted in the following order:
(a) the Applicant may make an opening address, which may be followed by an opening address by the Law Society;
(b) the Applicant shall present their evidence and examine their witnesses, who may be cross-examined by the Law Society;
(c) if the Law Society shall present its evidence and examine its witnesses, who may be cross-examined by the Applicant;
(d) the Applicant will be given the opportunity to present evidence in reply to any evidence presented for the first time by the Law Society;
(e) after cross-examination of a witness, the party who called the witness may further examine the witness with respect to matters raised for the first time in cross-examination;
(f) following examination and cross-examination of a witness, the panel may ask questions of the witness and the parties may ask further questions with respect to matters raised by the panel; and
(g) the Applicant may make closing submissions, followed by the Law Society’s closing submissions and the Applicant’s reply to issues raised by the Law Society.
(33) if the panel requests or permits, the parties may serve and file, by dates ordered by the panel, additional submissions in writing on the facts and legal argument
(34) The panel may control the scope and manner of questioning of a witness.
(35) The panel may order a witness to be excluded from a hearing until the witness is called to give evidence, unless the presence of the witness is necessary to instruct a party’s counsel or agent, in which case the panel may require the witness to be called to give evidence before other witnesses are called.
(36) If the panel orders the exclusion of a witness, evidence given during the witness’s absence from the hearing shall not be communicated to the witness until the witness has completed giving evidence, except with leave of the panel.
(37) The panel may permit a party to present the evidence of a witness or proof of a particular fact or document by affidavit, unless another party reasonably requires the attendance of the witness at the hearing for cross-examination.
(38) Where the panel directs that the hearing may proceed in writing, the panel shall specify the timelines for the filing and provision of written submissions.
Decision of the Panel
(39) The decision of a majority of members of the panel shall be the decision of the panel, which shall be supported by written reasons to be provided to the parties within 30 days of the hearing unless this is not possible due to circumstances outside of the panel’s control.
6.19(1) Except as otherwise provided in this Rule or the Act, a decision made by the Director pursuant to their authority under Rule 6 may be appealed to the Education Committee.
(2) Except as otherwise provided in this Rule or the Act, a decision of (i) the Vice President, (ii) the Education Committee, or (iii) a panel constituted by the Education Committee pursuant to Rule 6.18, which is made pursuant to their authority under Rule 6, may be appealed to Benchers.
(3) An appeal shall be in writing, set forth all grounds of appeal, and be delivered to the Director within 30 days of the appellant having received written notification of the decision being appealed.
(4) The person or body that rendered the decision being appealed shall provide a report outlining the reasons for their decision to the appellant and body hearing the appeal within 30 days of an appeal being received by the Law Society.
(5) An appeal shall be heard as soon as practicable and no later than 4 months following receipt of the report referred to in Rule 6.19(4).
(6) The appellant and the person or member(s) of the body that rendered the initial decision, or their counsel, may file additional written submissions with respect to the appeal no later than seven (7) days prior to the hearing of the appeal.
(7) The appellant and the person or member(s) of the body that rendered the initial decision, or their counsel, may appear before Benchers to make oral argument with respect to the appeal, provided that a request to appear is filed, in writing, with the Law Society no later than 7 days prior to the hearing of the appeal.
(8) The decision of a majority of members of the body hearing the appeal shall be the decision of that body, which shall be supported by written reasons to be provided to the parties within 30 days of the hearing unless this is not possible due to circumstances outside of the body’s control.