Law society wants Halifax lawyer be disbarred

The Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society has recommended that Halifax lawyer Lyle Howe be disbarred and desires that he pays at least $450,000 in costs for the longest disciplinary hearing it has ever conducted.

The recommendation comes after a hearing panel of the society issued a decision  finding Howe guilty of professional misconduct and professional incompetence.”Based on the nature and number of their findings, disbarment is the appropriate sanction,” Victoria Rees, the barristers society acting executive director, has said.

The society accused Howe of professional incompetence and professional misconduct. Howe, who is black, countered by saying he was a victim of discrimination based on race.  Howe took exception to his misconduct being placed in the same ballpark as lawyers who steal money from clients.

“I’m not a thief, I’m not driven to take advantage of people,” he is reported to have said. “If anything, in the circumstances where I was dishonest, I was either defending myself recklessly or I was trying to get a better result for a client.” The society said it is seeking between $450,000 and $650,000, which Rees said represents between 40 and 50 per cent of the total costs for the hearing.

At 60 days and 10,000 pages of transcripts, Howe’s disciplinary hearing was the longest in the society’s history. Rees said the society is offering a “10-year payment plan.” 

 Howe has said he will not be able to pay and called the sum “frankly ridiculous.” “They’re never going to get $650,000 and that’s not because I’m not going to try, it’s just not going to happen unless I go into a reckless deal trying to make money as quick as possible,” he said.