Dozens of members temporarily lose their right to practise after failing to complete mandatory training designed to protect victims of violence.
February 2026 · Legal News
Quebec's legal system is facing a significant administrative setback. The Barreau du Québec has struck off several dozen lawyers who failed to complete the mandatory training required to practise before the new Specialized Tribunal on Sexual Violence and Domestic Violence. The timing could hardly be worse for a justice system already stretched to its limits.
A failure to prepare with real consequences
At the centre of this situation is the Specialized Tribunal, a flagship initiative of the Quebec government designed to provide a safer environment and greater expertise for victims of sexual and domestic violence.
To appear before it, lawyers — whether Crown prosecutors or defence counsel — must complete a mandatory foundational training on coercive control and victim trauma, available since March 31, 2023, and worth three accredited hours in ethics and professional practice.
Despite repeated reminders from the Bar, a number of members did not meet their obligations within the prescribed deadlines, leaving the Board of Directors with no choice but to enforce the rules and proceed with disbarment.
The human cost behind the paperwork
Beyond the administrative failure lies a more troubling reality. When a lawyer is struck off, they immediately lose the right to represent their clients. For a victim who has spent months preparing to testify, learning that their case has been postponed because their lawyer — or the opposing counsel — was suspended over an overdue training requirement is an additional burden that is very difficult to accept.
Reversible, but the message is clear
The Barreau du Québec emphasizes that these disbarments are reversible. As seen in official notices published on the Bar's website, some names already appear with an asterisk, indicating that the member regularized their situation at the last minute. Reinstatement to the Roll is possible as soon as proof of completed training is provided and administrative fees are paid.
This kind of enforcement action is not new. In May 2024, the Board of Directors struck off 84 members for non-payment of annual dues — a number that, according to the Bar, fluctuates between 50 and 200 each year. But by targeting continuing education obligations this time, the Bar is sending an even stronger signal: technical competency on issues of violence is no longer optional — it is a prerequisite for the right to practise law in Quebec.
At a glance
- Reason : Failure to complete mandatory training for the Specialized Tribunal on sexual and domestic violence
- Consequence : Immediate suspension of the right to practise
- Precedent : 84 lawyers struck off in 2024 for non-payment of dues
- Reversibility : Reinstatement possible upon regularization
A note to readers : If you currently have an active legal case, it is strongly recommended that you verify your lawyer's standing directly with the Barreau du Québec's Roll of the Order — Montreal : 514 954-3411 · Toll-free : 1 844 954-3411.
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