In Law Society of Ontario v. Guiste, the Tribunal upheld a suspension and a $225,000 costs award, not just based on past conduct, but on how the licensee behaved during the hearing. This case shows that in professional discipline, remorse must be demonstrated, not declared. Evidence matters, including for claims of reform or financial hardship. For lawyers facing discipline, credibility and documentation are everything. It’s not just the evidence you file, its also how you conduct yourself during the hearing.
A recent Ontario Labour Relations Board decision offers a cautionary tale about what happens when emotions take over. A university instructor’s reprisal complaint was dismissed not on its merits, but because he failed to follow procedural directions. This post explores how even highly educated professionals can self-sabotage under stress, and why representation isn’t about intelligence. Instead, it’s about creating the distance between the opposing counsel and oneself.