Legal Profession Act of Nunavut
The LPA Consolidated to November 2022 is available here.
Note: The November 2022 version is not an official consolidation. Amendments have been incorporated for convenience, and the original statutes should be consulted for legal purposes.
Rules of the Law Society of Nunavut
The Rules (Current to November 2, 2022) are available for download here.
Note: The amendments relating to CLE came into force effective January 1, 2022.
Code of Conduct 2022
- The Law Society of Nunavut adopted an updated version on June 16, 2022 (AGM), view and download it here.
- Presentation on the Nunavut Code of Conduct – 2022 Updates and Reminders
- View the November 2022 recording here.
- Presentation on the Nunavut Code of Conduct – 2022 Updates and Reminders
- Guidelines for Practicing Ethically with New Information Technologies - Supplemental.
Continuing Legal Education
- Current applicable policy and information on recognized activities is available here.
Anti-Money Laundering
Like all people in Canada, legal professionals are subject to the Criminal Code, but they are exempted from the federal legislative regime under the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act (“PCMLTFA”) due to constitutional principles that protect the rights of clients and the obligations of legal professionals within their confidential relationships. The legal profession has adopted model rules for lawyers and notaries to follow that are designed to reflect the government’s legislative objectives under PCMLTFA, while reflecting the rights of clients and the obligations of legal professionals (excerpt from the FLSC website).
-
Model Rule on Cash Transactions & Client Identification and Verification Rules (adopted at the November 26, 2020 special meeting of the Law Society). See relevant sections 80 to 81.6 of the Rules of the Law Society of Nunavut
-
Model Trust Accounting Rule (revised Oct. 2018) – download here.
FLSC materials:
FAQs on Client ID and Verification Rule (Oct, 2020); Guidance for the Legal Profession (revised Feb. 2019)
Practice of Law
In order to lawfully practice law in Nunavut, you need to either:
- Get called to the Nunavut Bar
- Obtain a Restricted Appearance Certificate (RAC) from the Law Society of Nunavut.
- Learn more about how to become a Member
Notices to the Profession on the Practice of Law
- Learn about arbitration and the practice of law in English and Inuktitut.
- Learn about mediation and the practice of law in English and Inuktitut.
- Learn about the practice of law and unauthorized practice in English and Inuktitut.
- Learn about workplace investigation and the practice of law in English and Inuktitut.
In addition
- Learn about File storage, retention, and destruction
- Learn about civility towards the Law Society staff, social media and professional responsibility in English and Inuktitut.
- Learn about the scope of practice for students-at-law providing legal services to defendants liable, on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term of more than six months (April 28. 2022 Court Agents Order)
Nunavut’s legislation and Rules of Court
These materials are available online through the Nunavut Court of Justice and the Government of Nunavut websites.
- Nunavut Legislation - can be found on the Department of Justice Nunavut website here.
- Citing Nunavut Legislation (how to) here.
- Nunavut Land Claims Agreement here.
- Rules of the Court here.
Rule on Client Identification and Verification of Identity Requirements
“Lawyers by virtue of their trust accounts are targets for those wishing to launder money. Amendments to By-Law 7.1 on client identification and verification were approved by Convocation on April 24, 2008 and come into effect on December 31, 2008.” – Law Society of Upper Canada