The Discrimination & Harassment Counsel (DHC) for the Law Society of Upper Canada provides confidential advice and assistance to individuals who believe they have been subjected to discrimination or harassment by a lawyer or paralegal.

To ensure the confidentiality of the DHC Program, the Program operates at arm's length from the Law Society. All information provided to the DHC is kept strictly confidential.

• formally exempts the DHC from the reporting requirements under the Rules of Professional Conduct;
• amends the Law Society Act to extend the duty of confidentiality to include the DHC.

In addition, the Commentary to Rule 6 of the new Rules of Professional Conduct states:

• Communications with the DHC must generally remain confidential;
• the DHC will not be called by the Society or by any investigative committee to testify at any conduct, capacity, or competence hearing without the consent of the person from whom the information was received

In addition to the rules regarding confidentiality, the following procedures are in place:
Separate Office and Files: The DHC Program is operated off site. The DHC is the only person with access to the files, the confidential telephone line, e-mail and message systems.

Law Society Reports: The only information provided to the Law Society is anonymous statistical data showing the number and type of complaints and anonymous demographic data about complainants.