Harassment or Discrimination
A lawyer or limited licensee must not discriminate against, or harass, a coworker, employee, client, or anyone else.
Examples of discrimination include:
- refusing to give legal services to someone because of a personal trait protected by law
- charging higher fees because of a personal trait protected by law
- using insulting racial, gendered, or religious language about a person or group
- making comments or jokes that cause shame, embarrassment, or offence, or that are clearly meant to do so
Harassment can include discrimination or be linked to it. It may involve:
- physical, spoken, or unspoken actions (including online messages)
- behaviour that could cause shame, offence, or fear
See section 6.3-2, commentary [1] of the Law Society of Saskatchewan Code of Professional Conduct for Lawyers or the Law Society of Saskatchewan Code of Professional Conduct for Limited Licensees for more information.
The lawyer on the other side does not owe you any duty. Their job is to fight hard for their client’s case. However, they are not allowed to harass the other side during the legal process.
Examples of harassment include:
- Bringing actions that have no real purpose, such as unnecessary objections, court applications, or messages
- Trying to take advantage of small mistakes or oversights
- Refusing to agree to reasonable requests to delay (adjourn) a hearing or meeting
See section 5.1-1, commentary [8] of the Law Society of Saskatchewan Code of Professional Conduct for Lawyers or the Law Society of Saskatchewan Code of Professional Conduct for Limited Licensees for more information.
If you believe a lawyer or limited licensee has harassed or discriminated against you, submit a complaint.
Common Questions
Examples of harassment include, but are not limited to:
- offensive behaviour that is, or should be, known to be unwelcome. This includes comments or displays that shame, belittle, scare, or embarrass someone.
- behaviour that is degrading, threatening, or abusive — whether physical, mental, or emotional.
- bullying.
- verbal abuse.
- misuse of authority, where a lawyer or limited licensee uses their position to harm, intimidate, or block another person’s career.
- comments, jokes, or hints that are, or should be, known to cause shame, embarrassment, or offence. This also includes words or actions that are clearly meant to embarrass, shame, or offend someone in their context.
- giving out work unfairly.
Bullying, including cyberbullying, is a kind of harassment. It can be physical, spoken, or silent actions. Bullying includes, but is not limited to:
- unfair or excessive criticism
- ridicule
- humiliation
- exclusion or isolation
- constantly changing, or setting unrealistic work targets
- threats or intimidation