Credit where credit is due

  • February 22, 2022

How many lawyers is too many lawyers for Supreme Court of Canada rulings to mention?

In a letter to Madame Justice Suzanne Côté, the Supreme Court Liaison Committee of the Canadian Bar Association presents the results of a wide survey of CBA members and other bar members. The short answer is four, for both interveners and main parties.

This would be double the current practice in SCC judgments to limit counsel credits to two lawyers.

The main reason to increase the number of counsel credits is “to recognize lawyers who worked on the file,” the letter reads. Other reasons include helping junior lawyers develop their career and increase the diversity of lawyers who appear before the Court.

The consultation involved over 1,400 CBA members who have appeared before the highest court, as well as other lawyers who were also invited to participate via social media posts. The survey was conducted in English and French.