Vancouver, November 28, 2016 – The Law Society sets standards of professional responsibility for BC lawyers and articled students, and upholds those standards through a complaints and discipline process. These standards and processes are important to maintain public confidence and trust in lawyers. Accordingly, the Law Society has ordered that lawyer Susan Ben-Oliel of Vancouver, who is currently suspended for a minimum of six months, be suspended for an additional four months, and pay costs of $2,494.34.
As part of an investigation into a complaint from her client, the Law Society sent letters and emails to Ben-Oliel to request more information. She did not respond to the request by the deadline and by the time of the hearing. She did not attend the hearing and the hearing proceeded in her absence. The Law Society found that Ben-Oliel’s repeated failures to respond constituted professional misconduct.
Ben-Oliel was previously ordered to serve two suspensions for a minimum of six months beginning October 1, 2016. The suspension ordered on November 23, 2016 is for a minimum of four months and will commence immediately following the conclusion of the two suspensions previously ordered. If she continues to fail to respond, the third suspension will endure until she provides a complete and substantive response to the Law Society’s requests.
Written reasons for disciplinary action are available here.
The Law Society of British Columbia upholds and protects the public interest in the administration of justice by ensuring the independence, integrity and competence of lawyers, establishing education and professional development standards for lawyers, regulating the practice of law and preserving and protecting the rights and freedoms of all persons.
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For further information contact:
Vinnie Yuen
Communications Officer
604.697.5836
vyuen@lsbc.org
David Jordan
Communications Officer
604.443.5708
djordan@lsbc.org