News

The Federation of Law Societies of Canada is pleased to announce that Teresa Donnelly has been elected President for 2024-2025. Ms. Donnelly, who joined the Federation Council in 2022, brings extensive public service experience through her career as a prosecutor with the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General since 1994. Her work focuses on increasing access to justice for victims of domestic and sexual violence, the overwhelming majority of whom are women and children. Since 2015, she has served as the West Region Sexual Violence Crown, part of a specialized team of prosecutors dedicated to enhancing the quality of sexual violence prosecutions in Ontario and across Canada.

With a reputation for dedicated leadership and a commitment to advancing the public interest, Ms. Donnelly served as Treasurer of the Law Society of Ontario from 2020 to 2022, where she focused on wellness, equity, diversity, inclusion, and Indigenous reconciliation within the legal profession; and the important role that paralegals play in Ontario in increasing access to justice. 

In recognition of her career contributions, she was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree by the Law Society of Ontario in 2024. Ms. Donnelly’s work to support mental health, elevate professional standards, and promote inclusivity has strengthened the legal profession’s response to contemporary challenges, positioning her as a champion for progress within Canada’s legal community.

The Federation also recognizes outgoing President Erin Kleisinger of Saskatchewan, whose committed leadership over the past year has advanced key Federation initiatives, including wellness, anti-money laundering efforts, and professional standards. Her contributions have been invaluable, and the Federation expresses deep gratitude for her service.

The Federation of Law Societies of Canada is the national association of the 14 law societies mandated by the provinces and territories to regulate Canada’s legal profession in the public interest. It is the body through which Canada’s law societies collaborate at the national level and share information on trends and issues affecting the legal profession. It is also the national and international voice of the law societies on matters related to the regulation and core values of the legal profession. 

For more information about this release, or to acquire a photograph of the Federation President, please contact:

Giulia Doyle
Director, Communications
Federation of Law Societies of Canada
gdoyle@flsc.ca

The Federation of Law Societies of Canada and the Canadian Legal Information Institute (CanLII) are pleased to announce the appointment ofProfessor Adam Dodekas the new Chair ofCanLII’s Board of Directors.In addition,Steeves Bujold, Ad. E., Christena McIsaacand Randolph Mankhave been appointedas new members of theCanLII Board. 

Adam Dodek appointed as Chair of CanLII Board of Directors

Professor Adam Dodek steps into the role of Chair of the CanLII Board of Directors. Professor Dodek served on the CanLII Board from 2016 to 2018 and was re-elected in 2023. He brings a wealth of expertise in public law, constitutional law, and professional responsibility, coupled with an extensive publication record, including eight books and over 50 scholarly articles.

A graduate of McGill University, Harvard Law School, and the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Law, Professor Dodek has an impressive legal background, having clerked at the Supreme Court of Canada, the U.S. Court of Appeals, and the Supreme Court of Israel. His career spanned private practice, public service, and academia, including roles as Chief of Staff and Director of Policy to the Attorney General of Ontario. Recognized for his contributions, Professor Dodek has received multiple awards, including the Canadian Association of Law Teachers Prize for Academic Excellence and the Law Society of Ontario’s Law Society Medal.

Professor Dodek succeeds Crystal O’Donnell as Chair of CanLII Board. Crystal O’Donnell’s leadership was invaluable over the past eight years. She will continue to serve as a member of the Board, and we are grateful and thank her for her dedication to CanLII’s mission.

Steeves Bujold, Christena McIsaac and Randolph Mank appointed to CanLII Board

The Federation is also pleased to announce that Steeves Bujold, Ad. E., a partner at McCarthy Tétrault in Montreal, Christena McIsaac, a partner at Stewart McKelvey in Halifax, and former ambassador Randolph Mank, have been appointed to the CanLII Board. M^e Bujold, a former President of the Canadian Bar Association (2022-2023), was also appointed as Chair of the Board of Lexum Inc., the technology company owned by CanLII that has been the electronic publishing backbone of CanLII since its inception. 

The Federation of Law Societies of Canada and CanLII congratulate Professor Dodek and Me Bujold on their new leadership roles and extend best wishes to Ms. McIsaac and Mr. Mank as they join the CanLII Board. We look forward to the fresh perspectives and contributions each will bring to our organizations.

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About the Federation of Law Societies of Canada

The Federation of Law Societies of Canada is the national association of the 14 law societies mandated by the provinces and territories to regulate Canada’s legal profession in the public interest. It is the body through which Canada’s law societies collaborate at the national level and share information on trends and issues affecting the legal profession. It is also the national and international voice of the law societies on matters related to the regulation and core values of the legal profession. 

For more information on the Federation, please visit our web site at www.flsc.ca.

About CanLII

CanLII is a non-profit organization founded in 2001 by the Federation of Law Societies of Canada on behalf of its 14-member law societies. Its mandate is to provide efficient and open online access to judicial decisions and legislative documents. By doing so, CanLII supports members of the legal profession in the performance of their duties while providing the public with permanent open access to laws and legal decisions from all Canadian jurisdictions. For more information, visit www.canlii.org.

For more information about this release, please contact:

Giulia Doyle
Director, Communications
Federation of Law Societies of Canada
gdoyle@flsc.ca 

Ottawa, ON – The Federation of Law Societies of Canada (FLSC) has released the Omnibus Report for Phase II of the National Study on the Psychological Health Determinants of Legal Professionals in Canada, marking the completion of the most comprehensive investigation into the mental health and well-being of Canadian legal professionals. This report, prepared under the scientific direction of Dr. Nathalie Cadieux from the Université de Sherbrooke, is the culmination of a five-year research project aimed at understanding and addressing the psychological challenges faced by legal professionals across the country.

Key Findings:

The Omnibus Report consolidates the findings of both Phase I and Phase II of the study, offering a detailed analysis of the mental health risks and protective factors identified among legal professionals. It highlights pervasive issues such as high levels of stress, burnout, anxiety, and depression within the profession, with significant disparities observed based on gender, age, and professional role. For example, younger legal professionals, women, and those in marginalized groups experience notably higher levels of psychological distress, suggesting that targeted interventions are urgently needed to address these vulnerabilities.

“This report provides critical insights into the ongoing mental health challenges in the legal profession,” said Erin Kleisinger, President of the Federation of Law Societies of Canada. “It not only confirms the distressing prevalence of mental health issues but also lays out clear, evidence-based recommendations for creating a healthier, more sustainable work environment for legal professionals across Canada. This builds on the information gained through the Phase I study, providing further evidence and details of the experiences of legal professionals, which must culminate in specific, meaningful changes across the profession.”

Phase II Highlights:

Phase II of the study, which involved in-depth interviews with legal professionals from every province and territory, has identified key systemic issues that contribute to poor mental health in the profession. The report emphasizes the need for systemic changes in work culture, better support systems, and the promotion of work-life balance to improve the well-being of legal professionals.

Dr. Nathalie Cadieux, the study’s principal investigator, stated: “This report is a significant step forward in our understanding of the mental health challenges faced by legal professionals. It underscores the importance of taking action at all levels—individual, organizational, and regulatory—to foster a culture of wellness in the legal profession.”

Recommendations:

The Omnibus Report provides a series of actionable recommendations tailored to address the unique challenges identified in each province and territory. These include promoting mental health awareness, enhancing access to support services, and implementing policies that prioritize work-life balance and reduce the stigma around mental health issues.

“This study represents a major milestone in our efforts to understand and improve the mental health of legal professionals,” said Dr. Cadieux. “The strong commitment of the Canadian legal community to this project, along with the initiatives implemented across the country, has planted the seeds for a culture of wellness and sustainability within the profession. I hope it will continue to grow and flourish in the years to come, inspiring lasting changes that benefit not only legal professionals but also the clients and communities they serve.”

Read the Full Report:

To view the full report and its detailed findings and recommendations, please visit here.

About the Federation of Law Societies of Canada:

The Federation of Law Societies of Canada is the national association of the 14 law societies mandated to regulate Canada’s 134,390 lawyers, Quebec’s 4,200 notaries, and Ontario’s 10,000 licensed paralegals in the public interest.

For more information, please contact:

Giulia Doyle
Director of Communications  
Federation of Law Societies of Canada  
gdoyle@flsc.ca
613 219 0452

The Federation of Law Societies of Canada has serious concerns about the future of independent lawyer regulation in British Columbia following the tabling on April 10th Bill 21 – Legal Professions Act by the Government of British Columbia.

Based on a preliminary review of the proposed legislation, the Federation shares the concerns of the Law Society of British Columbia that the tabled legislation, which will create a single regulator for lawyers, notaries public and regulated paralegals, fails to adequately ensure the independence of the legal professions and their regulation, in keeping with core democratic principles.

In correspondence to the BC Attorney General earlier this year, Federation President Erin Kleisinger, K.C. urged the government to engage in meaningful consultation prior to finalizing its proposal for a single regulator of the BC legal professions.

“Now that the bill has been tabled, it will be important for the democratic process to play out in a way that allows robust consultation and debate on its specific provisions,” said President Kleisinger.

Addressing the significance of the proposed regulatory reform for legal regulators across Canada, President Kleisinger said, “Legislative intrusion upon the independence of the legal professions has serious national implications. The Federation will be consulting with its members as it considers a possible further response to the Bill.”

The Federation of Law Societies of Canada is the national association of the 14 law societies mandated by the provinces and territories to regulate Canada’s legal profession in the public interest. It is the body through which Canada’s law societies collaborate at the national level, share information on trends and issues affecting the legal profession, and engage in collective action and decision-making.

The Federation is also the law societies’ national and international voice on important issues related to the regulation and core values of the legal profession. For more information on the Federation, please visit our web site at www.flsc.ca.

For more information about this release, or to acquire a high-resolution photograph of the Federation President, please contact:

Alex Bolt
Director, Policy and Public Affairs
Federation of Law Societies of Canada
abolt@flsc.ca

The Supreme Court of British Columbia has ruled that there will be no retroactive application of the mandatory disclosure provisions of the Income Tax Act that are the subject of a constitutional challenge launched by the Federation of Law Societies of Canada. An application for an injunction suspending application of the provisions to legal professionals pending the outcome of the litigation was granted in late November 2023.  

A disagreement over the scope of the injunction delayed the issuing of the official Order by the Court. On March 13, 2024 Justice Warren ruled in the Federation’s favour, dismissing the government’s argument that in the event the constitutional challenge fails, legal professionals would be required to file disclosures for any reportable transactions occurring while the injunction was in effect. As a result, should the Court rule against the Federation on the merits of the challenge legal professionals would be required to make disclosures only for transactions for which the reporting obligation arises after the date of the final decision. A copy of the injunction Order is available here.

The Federation launched its challenge to amendments to the Income Tax Act expanding mandatory disclosure obligations and creating a new category of notifiable transactions in September 2023.  The amendments came into force at the end of June 2023. The provisions, which require taxpayers and advisors, including legal counsel, to report to the CRA on transactions that may constitute aggressive tax planning, purport to compel legal counsel to disclose confidential and potentially privileged client information to the government and undermine the duty of loyalty owed by members of the legal profession to their clients.

A date has not yet been set for a hearing on the merits of the Federation’s petition. A Backgrounder with additional information on the constitutional challenge is available here.

The Standing Committee on the Model Code of Professional Conduct of the Federation of Law Societies of Canada has extended the review period for proposed changes to the Model Code of Professional Conduct from May 31, 2024 to November 29, 2024 to ensure there is adequate time for meaningful consideration and discussion of the proposed changes.

The Model Code was developed by the Federation to synchronize, as much as possible, the ethical and professional conduct standards for the legal profession across Canada. The proposed amendments address the issues raised in and underlying the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Call to Action 27. The consultation invites input on the proposed amendments from a broad spectrum of Canada’s legal community including Indigenous individuals and organizations, the legal academy, law societies, and practitioners. Comments should be sent to consultations@flsc.ca