Integrity (LSO)

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Date Retrieved:	2025-04-19
CLNP Page ID:	2493
Page Categories:	Professionalism
Citation:	Integrity (LSO), CLNP 2493, <https://rvt.link/fe>, retrieved on 2025-04-19
Editor:	MKent
Last Updated:	2025/04/12

Law Society of Upper Canada v. Henryson Emeka Nwakobi, 2013 ONLSHP 140 (CanLII)

[25] We are not offered any definition or description of “integrity of the profession”. In our view it includes honesty, fairness and candour to both a lawyer’s client and a court. It also includes a recognition of and willingness to comply with the rules and by-laws of the profession’s governing body, the Law Society. The respondent was not candid, fair and honest with his client Patrick Cowan or with the court presided over by Justice Rutherford on May 18, 2012.

Law Society of Ontario v. McCallum, 2024 ONLSTH 29 (CanLII)

Integrity

[123] There is no real difficulty understanding what is meant by “integrity” in the context of Rule 2.1-1.

[124] The Law Society submitted the definition of “integrity” from Blacks Law Dictionary as follows:

“As used in statutes prescribing the qualifications of public officers, trustees, etc., this term means soundness or moral principle and character, as shown by one person dealing with others in the making and performance of contracts, and fidelity and honesty in the discharge of trusts; it is synonymous with "probity," "honesty," and "uprightness."

[125] Mr. McCallum noted that Oxford Dictionary defines “integrity” as honesty. However, this is a limited statement of the definition.

[126] More fully, “integrity” is defined by the Oxford English Dictionary (the OED) is “as follows:

In moral sense. Soundness of moral principle; the character of uncorrupted virtue, esp. in relation to truth and fair dealing; uprightness, honesty….”

[127] These definitions of integrity are consistent with Commentary [1][10] to Rule 2.1-1 which provides that:[11]

[1] Integrity is the fundamental quality of any person who seeks to practise as a member of the legal profession. If a client has any doubt about their lawyer’s trustworthiness, the essential element in the true lawyer-client relationship will be missing. If integrity is lacking, the lawyer’s usefulness to the client and reputation within the profession will be destroyed, regardless of how competent the lawyer may be.

Law Society of Upper Canada v. Sharon Ellen Shore, 2006 ONLSHP 55 (CanLII)

[43] The Chief Justice of Ontario Advisory Committee on Professionalism prepared a draft entitled, "Elements of Professionalism." The working group on the definition of professionalism described the building blocks of professionalism as "scholarship, integrity, honour, leadership, independence, pride, spirit, collegiality, service, and balanced commercialism."

[44] Of integrity they wrote in part:

A lawyer should recognize ethical practice and conduct as a key component of professionalism, but in addition to the obligations to observe ethical standards established by their governing body, lawyers are expected to exhibit professional self-discipline and high standards of character.