2006 : No. 05 November-December
Shannon Michelle Barber
Vancouver, BC
Called to the bar: May 21, 1999
Ceased membership: January 1, 2005
Ms. Barber was employed by Firm B from June 5, 2000 to October 5, 2003, and she ceased to practise law on or before July 30, 2004. On March 25, 2004, Firm B wrote to the Law Society to report the circumstances under which Ms. Barber had misled four clients and misappropriated firm funds. A citation was issued against Ms. Barber on January 10, 2006, all the allegations of which were admitted by Ms. Barber as amounting to professional misconduct.
Misleading Clients
Ms. Barber misled four immigration clients by reporting falsely to them that she had submitted various applications to Citizenship and Immigration Canada on their behalf.
Misappropriation
In April 2003, Ms. Barber requested and received $1,500 from Firm B for disbursements on a client's file. Instead, the funds were used to cover Ms. Barber's residential rent and her hotel costs related to attendance at a conference in Montreal.
Misleading Firm B and the Law Society
By letters dated February 9 and June 28, 2004, Ms. Barber provided evasive and misleading responses to written inquires from both Firm B and the Law Society regarding her disposition of those funds.
Admission and penalty
In October 2006, Ms. Barber admitted to the Discipline Committee that her conduct constituted professional misconduct. Under Rule 4-21, the Committee accepted Ms. Barber's admission and her undertakings:
1. not to reapply for membership in the Law Society until July 30, 2008 (four years from the time she ceased to practise);
2. not to apply for membership in any other law society without first advising the Law Society of BC in writing;
3. not to permit her name to appear on the letterhead of any lawyer or law firm without the written consent of the Law Society; and
4. not to work for any lawyer or law firm in British Columbia without the written consent of the Law Society.