On January 25, 2021, a Hearing Committee of the Law Society of Ontario found your client, Mr. Ronald Merchant, guilty of six breaches of theParalegal Rules of Conduct. The hearing was adjourned to February 1, 2021 to argue the issue of penalty. On January 28, 2021, the Chair of the Hearing Committee telephoned a lawyer who was a complainant and witness in the proceedings. The Hearing Chair asked the complainant several questions that he claimed he had forgotten to ask during the hearing but that he felt were relevant to the issue of penalty.

When the hearing reconvened on February 1, 2021, the Hearing Committee ordered the suspension of your client, Mr. Merchant's P1 license for 6 months. The telephone conversation between the Hearing Chair and the complainant was not made known during that proceeding. Following the completion of the hearing, you are contacted by the complainant who advises you of his conversation with the Hearing Chair. Discuss any issues arising from the Hearing Chair's conduct and what you would recommend to your client?