A Pembroke lawyer has had his license suspended after admitting to taking nearly $840,000 from client trust accounts. Mike Conroy, a partner at the local firm Johnson, Fraser and Conroy, self-reported the misappropriation earlier this year, just before a scheduled spot audit was set to begin.
The Law Society Tribunal held a hearing in late March 2025 and issued an interlocutory suspension, which temporarily halts Conroy’s ability to practice law while further legal proceedings take place. The Tribunal cited serious concerns about Conroy’s trustworthiness and the potential risk to the public.
In its ruling, the panel described Conroy’s actions as a major breach of professional integrity. It noted that even though he repaid the funds and cooperated with the investigation, the scale and duration of the misappropriation—spanning four years—raised serious red flags.
According to the Tribunal’s findings, Conroy took funds in several large withdrawals, including over $200,000 in 2021, another $100,000 in 2022, and multiple six-figure amounts throughout 2024. The final amount was removed just weeks before the audit that prompted his disclosure.
The ruling rejected Conroy’s request for a practice restriction or supervision arrangement, instead choosing full suspension. The panel emphasized that allowing him to continue practicing law would pose a significant risk to the public and the justice system.
While no formal client complaints have been made, another lawyer has since taken over supervision of Conroy’s files. The Tribunal also pointed out that, unless exceptional circumstances are presented, permanent license revocation is the expected consequence for such misconduct.
This is not the first time the Conroy name has surfaced in legal controversy. Mike Conroy’s father, Ken Conroy, was previously convicted in 2018 for misappropriating nearly $400,000 from multiple clients. He served a prison sentence and had his law license permanently revoked.
The Law Society Tribunal has not yet made a final decision in Mike Conroy’s case, but the current suspension stands as the investigation continues.
(Written by: Emma Butler)