CALGARY, Dec. 31 /CNW/ - Starting January 1st, 2009 all lawyers in
Alberta will be required to comply with new client identification and
verification rules.
New Alberta rules on client identification and verification are based on
a model rule developed by the Federation of Law Societies of Canada. These
rules are part of a national initiative to fight fraud and money laundering.
The new rules, adopted by the Law Society of Alberta, contain two
distinct concepts of identification and verification.
Identification requirements apply whenever a lawyer is retained to
provide legal services of any nature to a client. The lawyer must obtain basic
identification information about individual or organizational clients in every
retainer, subject to certain exceptions.
Verification requirements arise when a lawyer, who has been retained by a
client to provide legal services, engages in or gives instructions in respect
of the receipt, payment or transfer of funds on behalf of a client, again
subject to certain exceptions. Lawyers will need to get documentary
identification, such as a driver's license or passport, in the verification
phase.
All lawyers across Canada will have to abide by the new client
identification rules when they are retained by a new client or an existing
client on a new matter.
If the client is an organization, such as a limited company, corporation
or society, the identification required will consist of the business' name,
address, phone number, the business incorporation or identification number,
the nature of the business and contact information of the business owner.
If the client is acting for or representing a third party, lawyers are
required to collect the same information about that third party in accordance
to the new rules. Details are available on the Law Society of Alberta's
website, www.lawsociety.ab.ca
For further information: Sheila Serup, Manager, Communications, Law
Society of Alberta, Ph. (403) 229-4744 or email:
Sheila.serup@lawsociety.ab.ca
