Record-Breaking Financial Penalty Mandated

Stephen Hill faces a historic financial assessment of $1,477,763.48 following his disbarment by the Law Society of New Brunswick. According to Joleen Dable, the society’s registrar of complaints, the sum covers compensation paid out to affected complainants, along with hearing, legal, investigative, and janitorial expenses. This total surpasses the regulatory body’s previous record payout of $700,000 from 2023.

“This is almost double … what Mr. Hill has to repay and so it’s very significant,” Dable noted, adding, “We’re hoping that we can get this money back and that we can put closure to the damage that it has caused.”

Misconduct Findings and Disbarment Notice

The disbarment follows a formal notice issued by the law society on Sept. 10, confirming that Hill is officially prohibited from practising law. A panel from the discipline committee found him guilty of 29 charges in early June. The offenses included professional misconduct, failure to complete work, failure to adhere to client directions, and the misappropriation of over $1 million in client funds.

Hill had previously been suspended from practice in February 2025 after the law society received several misconduct complaints.

Investigation Details to be Released

Full documentation detailing the circumstances of the case will be made public within the coming month. Dable emphasized the thoroughness of the regulatory process regarding the affected clients.

“We wanted to ensure that all complainants that came forward, that their complaint was looked at thoroughly investigated and brought to the very end so that we could dispose of it,” Dable said, “essentially, which led to the disbarment.”