Law Society Equity Ombuds Assist Canadian Legal Professional

Many Canadian law societies, which regulate the profession in the public interest, have added an Ombuds service to assist lawyers, law students and legal support staff who want help resolving complaints of discrimination or harassment. According to Canadian Lawyer Magazine, law society Equity Ombuds are usually an outside contractor, not a law society employee, hired as part of a broad program to promote diversity and equity in the legal sector. (Canadian Lawyer Magazine.)

Equity Ombuds are similar to Organizational Ombuds in that they both provide confidential, neutral and informal services. Some even provide anonymous feedback to law firms and offer training services.

• Law Society of British Columbia Equity Ombudsperson
• Law Society of Saskatchewan Ombudsperson
• Law Society of Alberta Equity Ombudsperson
• Law Society of Manitoba Equity Ombudsperson

The practice has not yet caught on in the United States, although some bar associations have considered similar schemes.

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