The tribunal's active caseload at the end of 2023 was the lowest since 2017
The Law Society Tribunal has released its 2023 Annual Report, outlining significant improvements and operational efficiency.
In his message, tribunal chair Malcolm M. Mercer emphasized key developments from the past year. "This year has seen the Tribunal develop and improve in a number of ways; our processes have been fine-tuned, our jurisprudence has been tested, and we have focused resources that will continue to help us provide fair, timely, and just hearings and decisions for many years to come," he said.
One of the most impactful changes in 2023 was the implementation of Rule 21. Passed by Convocation in May 2022, Rule 21 created a more efficient process for handling failure-to-cooperate cases, the most common type of misconduct the tribunal deals with. Under the new rule, such cases can now be heard in writing unless there are legal or factual disputes that require an oral hearing. According to Mercer, this change has helped reduce demands on tribunal resources and lowered costs for the parties involved.
The report highlighted that the tribunal’s active caseload at the end of 2023 was the lowest since 2017, signalling an improvement in operational efficiency. The tribunal also closed more cases in 2023 than in any of the previous five years, reflecting a recovery from the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
In addition to operational improvements, the tribunal invested heavily in training to maintain high standards in adjudication. In 2023, new adjudicators underwent a comprehensive five-day training course, with sessions on topics ranging from Indigenous justice to effective decision-writing. The training, developed with assistance from the Society of Ontario Adjudicators and Regulators, aimed to ensure that tribunal decisions continue to be well-reasoned and high-quality.
The report also detailed other initiatives aimed at reinforcing the tribunal’s core values of fairness, transparency, and quality. Updates to the openness policy are mentioned, and there is a focus on ensuring that all adjudicators receive refresher training on mental health, online hearings, and other relevant topics.
The full report is available on the Law Society Tribunal’s website.
