Roderick Coston McLeod

Findings — machine-extracted (anthropic-batch:claude-opus-4-8); verify against the decision

Roderick Coston McLeod, a BC lawyer called in 1979, entered into a Rule 3-7.1 consent agreement approved September 11, 2024. He admitted professional misconduct including misappropriating $8,985.99 in residual client trust funds across 23 files, failing to prepare/deliver bills before withdrawing fees, failing to maintain proper accounting records, failing to promptly remit $28,360.59 in GST to the CRA, filing trust reports with false or misleading information, and breaching trust conditions in a real estate transaction. No express finding of dishonesty was made; mitigating factors noted the conduct was not intentional and arose amid stressful circumstances and a medical condition. He agreed to a ten-week suspension.

Duties found breached:

• Non-discriminatory acceptance and cab-rank
• No improper use of client money
• Prompt accounting and return of money
• Accounting records, reconciliation and reports
• Self-report to the regulator

Aggravating factors:

• Professional conduct record dating back to 2009, including two conduct reviews, one involving similar conduct and discussion of trust accounting practices

Mitigating factors:

• Conduct was not intentional, resulting from overlooking responsibilities during stressful circumstances
• Significant pressure from stressful trial and appeal, travel between practice locations, COVID-19 pandemic, and a flood in Kamloops office
• Stress exacerbated the Lawyer's medical condition, contributing to inattention
• Took educational steps to ensure compliance with trust accounting rules
• Remorseful and acknowledges his misconduct
• Repaid outstanding GST to CRA over time (last payment May 2023)