LAW SOCIETY TRIBUNAL
HEARING DIVISION
Date: February 6, 2026 Tribunal File No.: 25H-121
BETWEEN:
Law Society of Ontario Applicant
- and -
Berina Gacanin Respondent
Before: Nicole Treksler (chair), Randi Druzin, Deborah Moriah
Heard: November 13, 2025, by videoconference
Appearances:
Ellisif Harris, for the applicant Respondent, not present or represented
Summary:
GACANIN – Misappropriation – Providing Legal Services While Suspended – Failing to Co‑operate – Paralegal Scope of Practice – Proceeding in Absence of Licensee – The panel concluded that the Paralegal had engaged in professional misconduct as alleged and, in the absence of any mitigating evidence, ordered her licence revoked – The Paralegal was also ordered to refund retainer fees and / or the Compensation Fund as appropriate – She must also pay $12,068.76 in costs to the Law Society.
REASONS FOR DECISION
INTRODUCTION
1Nicole Treksler (for the panel):– The respondent, Berina Gacanin, is a paralegal who was licensed in 2014. Her licence has been suspended since July 2021. Prior to that suspension, she was in a non-practising status.
2The Law Society alleges that the respondent engaged in professional misconduct by:
misappropriating approximately $17,835 in funds received from five separate clients;
providing legal services while suspended;
providing legal services beyond the scope of practice of a paralegal practice; and
failing to co-operate with five Law Society investigations by failing to respond fully to written requests and to produce books and records.
3The respondent has a history of non-compliance with the Law Society, including, in 2021, an indefinite suspension pending compliance for failing to respond promptly and completely to communications from Investigation Services of the Law Society. That suspension remains in effect.
4Further, the respondent failed to co-operate with the Law Society’s investigations underlying these matters and did not participate in the pre-hearing process.
5Finally, the respondent failed to attend the conduct hearing. We found that the respondent was given proper notice of the allegations made against her and of the hearing