Trevor Parry, Freedom Fighter and Bencher of the Law Society of Ontario.

Trevor Parry, Freedom Fighter and Bencher of the LSO.

The Law Society of Ontario is currently in the midst of electing its Board of Governors referred to as Benchers. Trevor Parry is standing for re-election.

Trevor brings an outsider's view of legal governance to the law society. He was called to the Bar in 1996 but brings business decision-making skills to the table. A sworn enemy of bloat and committee think he believes that in addition to returning to its original name, the Law Society of Upper Canada needs to return to its core mission.

This is certainly the most contentious Bencher election in recent history with rival slates of candidates bringing forth two very different visions of what the LSO should be doing. I asked Trevor what he believes the LSO must be. He answered I am an unconventional lawyer., I am dedicated at a DNA level to freedom and liberty. I think and act like a businessman, I believe in getting things done. The LSO needs to adopt sensible and efficient practices that allow it to deliver on its core mission, namely licensing competent lawyers and getting rid of incompetent or unethical ones. The organization suffers from bloat and mission creep, looking for new areas of behavior to regulate. It has become Leviathan, and it must be stopped.

I asked Trevor why he decided to run in the last Bencher election. He answered in his typical unfiltered manner, Mark, I had always considered the Law Society as an expensive necessary evil to which I paid my fees every month. I received no tangible benefit from the organization. However, when they introduced the Statement of Principles (SOP), I was aghast. Why would a regulator of lawyers, who should be the vanguard of liberty, be subject to a speech code? I think this woke overreach stirred enough of the base, regardless of political leanings to say, no.

A rival slate, calling themselves the “Good Governance Coalition” has formed to take back the LSO. Several of their well-credentialled candidates have vociferously claimed that the SOP is not going to be reintroduced. I asked Trevor if he believed that. His answer was straightforward, “simply put, no. I think this is a case of “the lady doth protest too much”. Many of what I call the “Shut up and prepare to be Governed” coalition vehemently supported the SOP. They believe in regulating speech. You will only see more regulation, more intrusion, more “we know better”. Members have to ask themselves the same question, “do you think the SOP won’t reappear under another name or guise”? Don’t bet the farm on it.”

I asked Trevor why he wants to be re-elected. He said for him the answer is clear, the battle isn’t won, and the LSO continues along the same path of amorphous expansion. Lawyers need to help the LSO get back to basics. Embracing new technologies to improve legal practice is preferable to coercing speech. Lawyers should be the vanguard of liberty. The intention to introduce a race index for firms is anathema to that.

The manner in which the LSO licenses new lawyers needs to be changed. Being admitted to Bar shouldn’t be based on passing a couple of exams, that doesn’t create practical knowledge. Trevor believes that the Bar Admissions Course needs to be brought back. The LSO needs to get out of the woke business and mandating indoctrination has no place. Focus on competent practice, not ideology.

Trevor went on to say, if the LSO focuses on its core mission and becomes less intrusive the organization can be substantially reduced in size and fees can be dramatically reduced. It has nothing to do with slates or the nebulous panacea of “good governance”, it has to do with common sense, something that seems scarce at the current LSO.

Trevor R. Parry M.A. LL. B LL.M CLU TEP, is a tax mercenary delivering prudent and robust tax relief and reduction for entrepreneurs and professionals right across Canada. He lives in Ancaster and can be reached through his website at www.trevorparry.com

Mark Borkowski is president of Mercantile Mergers and Acquisitions Corp.

www.mercantilemergersacquisitions.com