​Law societies across the country have been posting notices alerting lawyers to fraud schemes targeting other lawyers.  The reported facts are remarkably consistent from jurisdiction to jurisdiction so if you've not seen any of these schemes in your neighbourhood yet, keep watch.  Here are some of the most recent notices:
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• Warning to the Profession - Manitoba Lawyers Recently the Target of Fraud (Law Society of Manitoba)
• Law Society Issues a New Fraud Alert (Law Society of Upper Canada)
• B.C. Law Firm Victim of Counterfeit Cheque Scam  (Law Society of British Columbia)
• Fraud Alert (Nova Scotia Barristers' Society)
• Attempts at Frauds at Certain Members of the Quebec Bar (Barreau du Quebec)

In a brief decision, the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal in Cushing v. Hood, upheld the lower court's finding that a solicitor-client relationship did not arise where the person alleging that the lawyer acted in breach of privilege had simply sought an "off the cuff," "common sense" perspective of an employment situation from the lawyer.  The court declined, in the circumstances, to make a declaration finding the lawyer to have breached privilege.   For the complete story, read the decision from the Nova Scotia Supreme Court.

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