Are you thinking about how to increase transparency in the Canadian legal system? We are as well!

Our company was created to provide a better way for people to make a decision about which solicitor they should hire.

Even if a lawyer works for the government, a non-profit, or a corporation, are they a good lawyer?

Do they treat the public with respect? Are they good at communicating?

In our opinion, there are a number of lawyers that make the litigation process more litigious than it needs to be.

Transparency in Action: Essential for Trust

This is partly done to increase legal fees (more hours worked.) But it’s also done because the lawyer’s personality has changed after many years of dealing with conflict.

We understand and are sympathetic to lawyers that have become “tainted” after too many years of dealing with complex litigation.

However, this is not an excuse to treat other lawyers, clients, and laypeople poorly.

There are also many solicitors that are unreachable, and that leads to massive stress. When a home purchase is closing, and the real estate lawyer can’t be reached, that sucks.

Our website, and in particular our lawyer listing, was created so that people could leave reviews for every lawyer in Canada.

Listen to the audio blog below.

Shaping Justice: The Impact of Transparency

Transparency within Canada’s legal system emerges as an indispensable element in maintaining public trust and promoting fairness. Despite being veiled in legalese and complex procedures, the transparency of this system remains pivotal in shaping how Canadians perceive the rule of law.

In the heart of Canada’s legal system, transparency ensures that citizens comprehend the processes that define their rights, privileges, and obligations. A study conducted in 2022 revealed that around 73% of Canadians feel more confident in the legal system when they can see it operating openly, underscoring the palpable link between transparency and public trust.

This openness facilitates the understanding of legal processes and outcomes, decreasing the likelihood of misconceptions and increasing societal adherence to the law.

Impact of Transparency in the Canadian Legal Framework

Canada handles millions of court cases each year, ranging from petty offences to serious criminal charges. For the legal year 2022-2023, Statistics Canada reported that Canadian courts resolved approximately 3.7 million cases.

Over 30% of these were publicly accessible, affirming the commitment to ensure transparency and foster public participation. This public access, though sometimes limited due to privacy concerns, is essential in promoting accountability and maintaining the system’s integrity.

Transparency also has a pivotal role in building credibility and fighting corruption. The Corruption Perceptions Index in 2023 reported Canada as ranking 12th out of 180 countries, an improvement over the previous years. Transparency International, the organization behind the index, attributes part of this progress to the increased transparency measures within Canada’s legal and judicial systems.

At the intersection of law and technology, the rise of digitalization adds another layer to the discussion of transparency. An increasing number of court proceedings are being broadcasted live, and digital databases are publicly accessible, making legal information more available than ever.

The Role in Canada’s Legal System

A survey in 2023 indicated that 85% of Canadians believe technology has enhanced the transparency of the legal system, strengthening the connection between legal procedures and public understanding.

When looking at the criminal justice system, transparency acts as an indispensable pillar in providing fair trials. The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, under section 11(d), guarantees the right to a fair and public hearing.

More than 90% of criminal trials are open to the public, reflecting a high degree of transparency. This openness provides a critical check against potential abuses of power, reinforcing the system’s integrity.

But there are still challenges. Transparency might conflict with other vital legal principles, like the right to privacy. In 2023, 67% of Canadians expressed concern over the balance between privacy and transparency in the digital age.

However, the ongoing efforts to strike this balance further attest to transparency’s significance. The legal system must continuously evolve to address these concerns while upholding the principle of openness.

Impact of transparency

Transparency within the legal profession itself has profound implications. A study from 2022 indicated that when law firms operate with greater openness regarding their operations and decisions, clients reported higher levels of satisfaction. Transparent operations reinforce the notion that justice isn’t just about the end verdict, but also about the process that leads to it.

The impact of transparency stretches beyond individual cases or legal firms. It plays a crucial role in shaping public policies. Transparent legal procedures offer a blueprint for the design of government actions, and often, a clear legal system translates into a more transparent government.

The World Justice Project’s Rule of Law Index in 2023 reported that Canada’s ranking has improved, highlighting the link between a transparent legal system and a well-functioning government.

How Are We Creating Transparency In The Canadian Legal System?

We are a lay-person information service, where you can review lawyers, and also reach out to the right lawyer for you. 

We are passionate about solving the access to justice problem through lawyer-generated information and Q&A. Our company doesn’t want to be seen as a bully. We want to help lawyers grow their firms.

But we are public first, and lawyers second.

Lawyers don’t have to pay us to claim their profile. They answer pro bono questions (access to justice problems), write a 500-word article each week, or produce a three-minute video for us.

All content must be original and checked.

The free information combined with the ability for the public to leave reviews for lawyers creates transactions in the Canadian legal system.

If a lawyer causes a lot of problems, they get a 1-star rating. If a lawyer is a good lawyer, then they will likely get a 5-star rating.

We have had some lawyers try to delete their profiles because they are afraid of bad reviews. We don’t allow this.

Transparency Canadian Legal System

All lawyers in Canada will have profiles. Instead of trying to get your profile off the website, which won’t happen, you should think about how to be loved by the public.

This mindset will help you grow your practice. If you work for the government or a company, it will help you advance in your career.

Once the public trusts lawyers more, there will be fewer self-represented people in the Canadian market. This will benefit lawyers and the courts.

Lawyers always try to control everything. But there is something you can’t control, how the public feels about you. You need to earn it.

How does the saying go? You can’t buy love?

If you are a lawyer who believes in transparency and access to justice, reach out to us. There are plenty of ways we can work together. You don’t need to pay us anything.

We need every ally we can find to improve the Canadian legal market.