Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, that Bill 9, An Act to Amend the Legal Profession Act, be read for the second time.
This bill makes a number of changes to the Legal Profession Act relating to the discipline of members of the law society and students-at-law for misconduct. The most significant amendments will permit the chairperson of the discipline committee to appoint a one-person "sole inquirer," as opposed to establishing a three-person committee of inquiry, to conduct an inquiry into the conduct of a member or a student-at-law in circumstances where a finding of misconduct against the member or student-at-law will not likely result in the imposition of severe penalties such as the suspension or disbarment of a member or the suspension or termination of the articles of a student-at-law. A sole inquirer will be empowered to issue a reprimand and impose a fine or an order for costs where the inquiry results in a finding of misconduct.
This bill also amends the act to:
-permit the executive of the law society or the chairperson of the discipline committee to designate a vice-chairperson of the discipline committee to act in the place of the chairperson or to perform specified functions or duties of the chairperson;
-increase the maximum fine that can be imposed against a member of student-at-law by a committee of inquiry; and,
-provide for the automatic suspension of a member or student-at-law who does not pay a fine or an order for costs within the time set by a sole inquirer or committee of inquiry.
