UPDATES SINCE ORIGINAL NEWS RELEASE
- November 26, 2014: Her suspension was expected to begin on December 1, 2014; however, the Law Society has agreed to delay the order while she applies to the Court of Appeal for a stay of the suspension.
- September 18, 2015: The stay of suspension was granted on February 3, 2015, pending the outcome of her appeal of the suspension. That appeal was dismissed by the BC Court of Appeal on July 21, 2015. Chiang served her suspension from July 22, 2015 through August 21, 2015.
Vancouver, November 19, 2014 – The Law Society sets standards of professional responsibility for BC lawyers and articled students, and upholds those standards through a complaints and discipline process. Accordingly, a review panel comprised of seven Law Society Governors – also known as Benchers – has maintained an earlier order that lawyer Vivian Chiang be suspended for misleading the BC Supreme Court.
High ethical standards are a hallmark of the legal profession, and these standards are the foundation of public confidence and trust in lawyers. In this case, the public is protected by imposing and publicizing a suspension.
The original order was issued in September 2013, when a Law Society hearing panel imposed a one-month suspension on Chiang. She was also required to pay $10,000 for the hearing cost. Following that decision, the Law Society issued a news release regarding the disciplinary action. On November 4, 2013 Chiang was granted a stay of the suspension pending the hearing of a review.
On November 10, 2014 the Bencher review panel concluded that the disciplinary action the hearing panel imposed on Chiang is appropriate and has dismissed her application for review.
The Law Society of British Columbia regulates the more than 11,000 practising lawyers in the province, setting and enforcing standards of professional conduct that ensure the public is well-served by a competent, honourable legal profession.
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For further information or to arrange an interview contact:
Ryan-Sang Lee
Communications Officer
604.443.5708
rlee@lsbc.org
Taylore Ashlie
Director, Communications and Knowledge Management
604.697.5845
tashlie@lsbc.org