{{Short description|Legal term}} '''Sharp practice''' or '''sharp dealing''' is a pejorative phrase to describe sneaky or cunning behavior that is technically within the rules of the law but borders on being unethical.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lawsociety.bc.ca/page.cfm?cid=1027&t=Professional-Conduct-Handbook-Chapter-1-Canons-of-Legal-Ethics#1-4|title=Professional Conduct Handbook - Chapter 1 - Canons of Legal Ethics {{!}} The Law Society of British Columbia|last=|first=|date=|website=www.lawsociety.bc.ca|publisher=The Law Society of British Columbia|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160501051623/https://www.lawsociety.bc.ca/page.cfm?cid=1027&t=Professional-Conduct-Handbook-Chapter-1-Canons-of-Legal-Ethics|archive-date=2016-05-01|access-date=2017-01-28|quote=A lawyer should avoid all sharp practice and should take no paltry advantage when an opponent has made a slip or overlooked some technical matter. A lawyer should accede to reasonable requests which do not prejudice the rights of the client or the interest of justice.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.duhaime.org/LegalDictionary/S/SharpPractice.aspx|title=Sharp Practice Definition|last=|first=|date=|website=www.duhaime.org|publisher=|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160412005553/http://www.duhaime.org/LegalDictionary/S/SharpPractice.aspx|archive-date=2016-04-12|access-date=2017-01-28|quote=Sharp Practice Definition: Prohibited conduct by a licensed lawyer in taking, or attempting to take advantage of a slip or overlooked technical matter by the other side to litigation, and to agree to reasonable requests which either prejudice his client or the interests of justice.}}</ref>
The term has been used by judges in Canada; in one case, a Canadian Construction Board gave an example of "sharp practice" for one party to "take advantage of a clear oversight by the opposite party in a proceeding."<ref>{{Cite Canadian Court |litigants=Construction Workers Local 53 v. Fahringer Mechanical Contractors Limited |decisionyear=2001 |reporter=CanLII |page=3504 |court= ON L.R.B. |url=http://www.canlii.org/en/on/onlrb/doc/2001/2001canlii3504/2001canlii3504.html}}</ref> According to another source, a Canadian court of appeal judgement, judges should not accuse counsel of sharp practice lightly and should generally not make such an accusation based solely on written submissions.<ref>{{Cite Canadian Court |litigants=Kelly v. Dosch |decisionyear=2005 |reporter=CanLII |page=8669 |court= ON C.A. |url=http://www.canlii.org/en/on/onca/doc/2005/2005canlii8669/2005canlii8669.html}}</ref> Likewise in ''R v Badger'' the Supreme Court of Canada forbade the government from engaging in "sharp dealing" with First Nations in implementing treaties.
==See also== * Gaming the system
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Miscarriage of Justice}}
Category:Law of Canada Category:Legal ethics Category:Abuse of the legal system Category:Canadian case law Category:Legal terminology
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