Beyond the 2019 Law Society of Ontario Bencher Elections
Even though the elections are now over, all LSO licensees need to keep a watchful eye on the issues addressed further below by Mr. LeSage.
The Law Society of Ontario charges its lawyer members the highest-known fees and sole-insurance premiums in North America and Europe, typically CAN$550.00 each month. Not even do Ontario physicians and surgeons pay anywhere near as much as their lawyer counterparts for membership fees and insurance, although on average they earn either double or more than most lawyers.
In my personal view, if the LSO wishes to continue to spend profligately - which costs are ultimately borne by fee-paying clients, together with lawyers' other operating and marketing costs - and if it wishes to engage in overtly political initiatives, then it is high time that the Provincial Legislature (Committee) assume control over the Law Society in the public interest; and that all LSO revenues, including the H.S.T. received through legal invoices, and expenditure be subjected to annual public audits. Further, all disciplinary decisions could be made subject to an appeal in the provincial Superior Court of Justice.
One of the first, cost-saving decisions of the new Convocation might be to relocate all LSO operations, staff and main offices to a less expensive location outside of Osgoode Hall and Toronto. Locations such as Kingston are well-served by good transport links, as well as by a well-educated local population to meet LSO staffing needs.
2019 Bencher Candidate and Lawyer Mr. Michael LeSage circulated this on April 15th, 2019:
"Greetings,
With the election underway, I wanted to provide you with some choice examples as to how the Law Society spends your money, to help you better appreciate why your fees are going up:
- CEO pay, reportedly 700K, though I could not verify this. Per a senior LSO Managing Officer:
“compensation is a confidential matter for the Board. If you are elected, as a Board member you will be privy to this information.”
This is doubtless an example of acting in the 'open and efficient manner' specified by the Law Society Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. L, 8, Part I., 4.2(4). In contrast, Trudeau earns $347,400 while Premier Ford earns a paltry $208,974.00;
- 12% pension matching for senior executives (yes, the same all star team that has delivered annual deficits of 6.5, 7.5 and 8.7M, while overseeing the budget increase from 121M to 142.5M over the same time) #winning;
- Almost 70M in salaries for 615 employees (which works out to 1 LSO employee for every 50 lawyers in private practice);
- 8.1M to create a spiffy licensee database (rather than using off the shelf software for a fraction of the price), because lets face it, you can’t just expect the Law Society to use Excel like we do;
- 1.2M to plaster shiny ‘Our Society/Your Society’ ads all over the Subway;
- 4.5M Yearly on External Relations and Communications (Media Relations). I wonder if this helps spin cuts to legal aid any better?
- Up to 5 million to prosecute 2 (yes two) professional misconduct hearings (based on reserves set aside to cover adverse cost awards);
- 600K per year renting more downtown office space to handle an increasing number of employees, on top of 1.2M for ‘space relocation’ to said space (as it would be impossible for the LSO to hire lawyers or find cheaper rent outside of Toronto), and they just can’t stop hiring. But maybe this is actually a really good deal, I mean its less than the CEO's pay, right?;
- 1M on desks over the last 3 years (“workstation replacement”), also likely very shiny. Seriously though, the LSO crowd wouldn't use your money to go shopping at Ikea, and hey, what’s a few bucks here and a few bucks there, when it’s just your money;
- 600K (above revenues) to pay for 1,500 LSO catered events per year # LSO_party_time_on_your_dime;
If you’re sick of the Law Society wasting your hard earned money, treating you with a lack of respect, or having more regulations placed upon your practice, vote LeSage for Bencher to push back (and encourage your friends and colleagues to vote for me as well).
This time, we need someone to stand up at Convocation and tell the ‘brain trust’ that ‘enough is enough!’ Plus, wouldn’t it be great to have someone in the room pushing for a budget freeze, a hiring freeze, and to put an end to paying LSO employees nearly 50% more than lawyers in private practice earn, ignoring pension matching of course……
Finally, because I believe in transparency, and for those of you interested, you can see the list of reform candidates I am voting for, as it will take a whole slate of reformers to push through any real change: https://www.michaelsfirm.ca/votingplans/. You should also have received an email today titled '2019 Bencher Election - Voting Instructions and Access to Voting Site' from Computershare , which likely landed in your junk box.
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Yours truly,
Michael B. LeSage
Barrister, Solicitor & Notary Public..."