Last week, the Québec Court of Appeal reaffirmed a clear principle: only practising lawyers may draft pleadings and appear before the courts on behalf of others.

In Regroupement de défense des citoyens du Domaine Ouellet enr. v. Excavation Michel Plante inc., 2025 QCCA 1616 – a dispute concerning reconstructing the culvert of the sole access road to the Domaine – the group entrusted its legal representation to its president, who was not a lawyer.

The Court dismissed the appeal on the ground that he had carried out acts exclusive to the legal profession without being legally authorized to do so. Moreover, as he was not a resident of the Domaine, he did not share the group’s common interest and could neither represent it nor retain counsel on its behalf.

This decision underscores the importance for organizations and associations of appointing a legally authorized representative. An error at this stage can jeopardize the entire case.