Accountability and leadership are key to rebuilding respect and ethical standards in law
A couple of months ago, I attended the Advocates’ Society Spring Symposium, where one of the panels focused on mental health in the legal profession, emphasizing civility. The discussion was both sobering and familiar. It has weighed heavily on my mind ever since. Not just because of the stories shared, but because they mirror what so many of us encounter daily.
In law school, I was taught that civility wasn’t just a nicety but a professional obligation. As a practising lawyer, I learned that civility was embedded in how we wrote our letters, addressed the court, and interacted with opposing counsel. Now, working in-house, I see even more clearly how foundational civility is: it underpins our ability to work collaboratively across teams, navigate complex internal dynamics, and sustain a culture of integrity. Civility was, and remains, a form of respect for our colleagues, institutions, and the rule of law.
Today, that culture feels increasingly fragile.
Over the last year, I have spoken to many colleagues in my network about the profession's crisis regarding civility. Across courtrooms, boardrooms, and even virtual meeting platforms, many of us are witnessing and experiencing a noticeable erosion in how we engage with one another. It may be a virtual meeting where dismissiveness and interruption replace constructive dialogue, an email or phone call laced with sarcasm and provocation, or a refusal to grant routine accommodations to a fellow lawyer. Just the other day, I read a LinkedIn post that counsel refused to grant an adjournment where counsel for the opposing party’s mother was in the hospital on her deathbed. These moments, once rare, now seem almost commonplace.
This is not simply a matter of etiquette. Civility is the scaffolding of our justice system. When it weakens, the entire structure risks instability.
Indeed, the Toronto Lawyers Association’s (TLA) 2024 report, Advancing Civility in the Legal Profession, confirms that concern about civility is systemic. Nearly 70 percent of respondents felt that civility and professionalism among colleagues had declined. Through consultations with legal leaders across firms and in-house departments, the report identified four pervasive patterns of incivility: (1) erosion of professional courtesy, (2) bias and microaggressions, (3) communication breakdowns, and (4) bystander inaction. Particularly troubling was the finding that junior lawyers, particularly women and racialized professionals, are disproportionately affected by these behaviours, often leading to self-doubt or attrition from the profession.
Why It matters
Civility fosters the trust and decorum that allow our adversarial system to function. Without it, the legal profession becomes not just combative but corrosive. Clients see it. The public sees it. Most troublingly, younger lawyers mirror it, often mistaking hostility for strength and incivility for advocacy.
As a chief legal officer and former law firm partner, I’ve seen firsthand how culture and tone can influence conduct. In my current role, I’ve tried to instill a values-driven legal culture where respect guides our approach, even in moments of conflict. But culture isn’t built in isolation. Every interaction shapes it, deciding to de-escalate rather than inflame and choosing to listen rather than dismiss.
What’s driving the decline?
Part of the answer lies in lawyers' increased pressures: heavier workloads, tighter deadlines, and a digital environment that encourages instant reaction over thoughtful reflection. Social media has also blurred professional boundaries, creating a space where tone and mutual respect are too often lost.
The pandemic added further strain. Remote hearings and meetings have, in some instances, reduced empathy. It's easier to be curt or dismissive when the human across the screen is a thumbnail, no longer seen as a person with a lived experience and genuine interest in the matter.
What can we do about it?
First, we need to acknowledge the issue head-on. Civility is not a “soft skill.” It is fundamental to competent and ethical lawyering. In my province, the Law Society of Ontario’s Rules of Professional Conduct make this clear, and so must we.
Second, we need to model it. Senior lawyers have a duty not just to correct incivility but to actively mentor the next generation on what respectful advocacy looks like. This means acknowledging our missteps and striving to do better.
Third, institutions must lead. Firms and businesses need to create environments where civility is expected, reinforced, and supported. Civility cannot be sustained without accountability through performance feedback, principled leadership, and commitment to professional standards. Courts also play a vital role: Judges can set the tone in the courtroom through their decisions, setting clear expectations about what conduct will and will not be tolerated.
Lastly, we must reconnect with our purpose. Most of us entered this profession not to win at all costs, but to serve our clients, the public, and the justice system. Civility is not a constraint on that mission. It is the very thing that makes it possible. And if we are to uphold it, we must be willing to hold ourselves and each other accountable.
A call to the profession
We often speak of access to justice in terms of resources and process. But we must also talk about it in terms of culture. A profession that allows incivility to flourish erects a barrier just as real as any procedural delay.
In its 2024 report, the TLA proposed a three-part framework to shift legal culture: leadership accountability, intentional training and mentorship, and systemic reinforcement through policy and professional standards. This framework doesn’t just emphasize civility as a behavioural goal; it positions it as essential to organizational trust, retention, and the long-term integrity of our profession.
Civility isn’t a relic of the past. It’s a professional imperative for the future. Now is the time to restore it to its rightful place at the heart of how we practise law.
