St. John’s defence lawyer Averill Baker has been disbarred by the Law Society of Newfoundland and Labrador.
An adjudication tribunal made the order in late November, concluding Baker is “ungovernable” and resulting in her being struck from the roll of barristers in this province.
The decision was posted on the law society’s website yesterday, and strips her of all her rights and privileges as a member of the law society.
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The tribunal cited numerous reasons for the decision including:
- Failure to respond to a trust audit report;
- Failure to respond to communications from the Law Society;
- Failure to maintain the safety and confidentiality of files, and ensure the privacy and safekeeping of clients’ confidential information;
- Failure to move client matters forward or respond to client inquiries within a reasonable time;
- Failure to be honest and candid with a client;
- Failure to return a client’s file; and
- Used an unprofessional tone and was misleading in some communications with a client.
Baker must also pay almost $10,000 in costs to the law society for expenses related to the disciplinary process. She has one year to do so.
Baker most recently represented Dana Metcalfe with her charges of alleged harassment of the premier and his family, before she was suspended last fall.
