Canadian Lawyer

12 O c t O b e r 2 0 1 4 w w w . C A N A D I A N L a w y e r m a g . c o m RegionAl wRAp-up S cams perpetrated against law firms are becoming more sophisticated, complex, and frequent, says Law Society of British Columbia practice adviser Barbara Buchanan, who counsels members on how to deal with suspected scams. That's why Buchanan is advising firms to appoint someone within their firm to keep abreast of scams that are circulating. "I have recom- mended that if a law firm has a new client that they are unsure of that they check the list the LSBC has on its web site," she says. The LSBC regularly posts names, dates, and mechanics of new schemes. "Ontario also keeps a list. Or, they can just Google it and see if the name turns up." Law firms should also check with Buchanan if they suspect a fraud is occurring and the name doesn't appear. Here's how many scams work. The Internet has been a source for shot-gunning letters to lawyers, which may carry a general salutation or bear the lawyer's name. The e-mail involves some kind of collection: debt payment or family support payment. The e-mail may even have a legitimate company name (One tip-off is if the B efore veteran lawyer Robert M. Dick retired from full-time law practice at Wilson King LLP in Prince George last year, after joining in 1967, he spent a day in the Vancouver law library searching for how many lawyers had gone through the firm. It is B.C.'s oldest north- ern law firm, celebrating 100 years of service in 2014. "It took a whole day," says Dick, who recalls "helpful" staff wheeled out carts stacked with Canadian Law List records for Prince George. But, Dick, a former Law Society of British Columbia bencher and president (1991), found the count. It was 73 and if articling students were included, more than 100. The firm had only three lawyers Peter E. Wilson, Jack (J.O.) Wilson, and Hubert King until 1950 and eight lawyers for the first 50 years. The other 65 had served to present day reflecting the resource boom that opened up B.C.'s north starting in the 1950s. Dick also found the firm had two chief justices go through its doors: J.O. Wilson, the son of the firm's founder and R.J. (Bob) Bauman. The area in front of the Prince George courthouse is today known as J.O. Wilson Square. "For a small firm such as ours to have two chief justices go through is unheard of," says Dick, adding at least eight law- yers from the firm have ascended to the bench at some level. But, it is Peter E. Wilson who lays claim to a page of B.C. history. He was a former county judge based in Cranbrook, who resigned over his low daily stipend, and moved his family of five to the northern frontier town of Fort George in 1914. There he set up shop and snagged the contract for the Grand Trunk Railway — the forerunner of the Canadian National Railway. A year later, says Dick, Wilson made his mark. He drew up the petition for let- ters patent to incorporate the City of Prince George. Dick says: "It gives a whole new meaning to the expression 'city father.'" He remained the city solicitor until his death in 1961. Wilson King would retain the account with the city for 90 years. Hubert B. King practised in Barkerville before taking a seat on the Wartime Prices and Trade Board during the Second World War and joined Wilson King in 1948. Dick himself retains the title of the longest-serving law- yer at Wilson King, working there for 48 years (articling in 1966 and staying until 2014), longer than founders Wilson who practised for 46 years (1914-1961) and King who stayed for 40 years (1948-88). Dick's record, though, as he moves into retirement, is expected to be short-lived if friend and long-time colleague John Outhet stays with the firm until 2016. "If he continues with the firm he will have prac- tised for 49 years," says Dick. Dick says he believes the trend of young lawyers cycling through smaller or northern firms is abating as they real- ize such firms can offer a better quality of life with time for family and the opportunity to practise a broad spectrum of law. He says a newer four-bedroom home in Prince George sells for $350,000 rather than the $850,000 or more that would be needed just to buy a lot in Vancouver. "You can have a life here," he says as the city has a university, sympho- ny, and other cultural activities. New entrants going north are like the early lawyers who pioneered the area — they are looking to stay for the long term and grow with the town. And, perhaps carry Wilson King into the next century. — JeAN soReNseN jean_sorensen@telus.net PRINcE gEoRgE FIRm cElEbRATEs A cENTuRy oF lAw law firms need scam gatekeepers

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