For the Public
In Saskatchewan, the membership of the legal profession is
self-regulated. The Law Society of Saskatchewan was
established in 1907 to carry out that purpose, with an over-arching
mandate to protect the public interest. The Law Society sets
standards for the practice of law in the province, disciplines
its members when they breach those standards, and regulates the
competency qualifications required to practice law in
Saskatchewan. The Code of Professional
Conduct sets out the standards for ethics and competency for
the Law Society membership, which consists of all individuals who
are legally entitled to practice law in Saskatchewan.
The Benchers
are the governing body of the Law Society, consisting of 18 lawyers
elected by region, up to four lay-benchers appointed by the
lieutenant-governor in council, and the dean of the College of Law
at the University of Saskatchewan. The Law Society
Administration, located in Regina, assists the Benchers to
discharge their functions and to administer the affairs of the Law
Society. It also acts as liaison to promote and maintain good
relationships between the Law Society, members of the legal
profession and the general public, including the handling of
complaints by members of the public against lawyers. However,
the Law Society staff does not advocate on behalf of individual
members of the public; rather, it conducts investigations and, when
it believes one of its members has breached the ethical or
competency standards which all lawyers must adhere to, it conducts
discipline hearings with a view
to protecting the public interest.
