The Law Society continues to monitor COVID-19 and the impact it has on the legal profession in BC. Currently, there are no health and safety restrictions in place related to COVID-19, however the Law Society encourages employers to have communicable disease plans in place and to review WorkSafeBC’s communicable disease prevention guidelines.

 

BC’s COVID-19 restart plan

If you have a question that does not appear here, please email Communications@lsbc.org.


Frequently Asked Questions

  • Practice management
  • Trust accounting and financial
  • PLTC and articling
  • Law Society operations
  • Courts and government
Practice management

The suspension of limitation periods for starting a civil or family action appeal in BC courts ended on March 25, 2021. For clarity, March 25, 2021 was the final end date for the suspension of the limitation periods. There is no transition or grace period (90 days or 45 days) after March 25, 2021.

While you still have time — don’t wait; file your Notices of Claim and Notices of Appeal now.

See the order and find out more information from the government here. Please note that this order does not apply to the other ministerial orders and regulations made under the COVID-19 Related Measures Act.

Yes. The Court of Appeal for British Columbia, the Supreme Court of British Columbia and the Provincial Court of British Columbia issued notices on March 20 and March 27, 2020 that set out a process for commissioning affidavits in urgent cases where it is not possible, or is medically unsafe, for the deponent of an affidavit to attend physically before a commissioner. The process can be found in the directives linked below:

Court of Appeal for British Columbia

Supreme Court of British Columbia

Provincial Court of British Columbia

Where lawyers reasonably determine that circumstances require virtual commissioning of an affidavit and follow the procedure in the court’s notice, the Law Society will consider the requirement that the deponent be physically present before the lawyers, set out in Appendix A 1(a) of the Code of Professional Conduct, to have been met.

Lawyers appearing in urgent family matters before the Provincial Court should also note that the Provincial Court has issued an announcement that materials filed in support of urgent family hearing requests need not be sworn or affirmed, due to closures of registry operations as a result of COVID-19. For details, read the announcement

Effective September 30, 2023, the LTSA is retiring its COVID-related remote witnessing measures – learn more here: Retirement of COVID Measures Effective September 30, 2023 - LTSA.

BC Registries, which administers and supports registrations of all businesses, not-for-profit societies, cooperatives, personal property and manufactured homes in BC, will accept the virtually signed affidavits that are commissioned following a process similar to that of the courts and which is outlined here.

Some lawyers have asked for clarification about whether the process for virtual commissioning set out by the Court of Appeal, the Supreme Court of British Columbia and the Provincial Court may be used to commission affidavits or take solemn declarations for other purposes than filing at the Courts.

The Law Society has stated that where lawyers reasonably determine that circumstances require virtual commissioning of an affidavit, and they follow the procedure in the Notices, we will consider the requirement set out in Appendix A 1(a) of the Code of Professional Conduct, that the deponent be physically present before the lawyer, to be met.

Other entities that receive affidavits or solemn declarations have to consider whether they have the authority to accept affidavits or solemn declarations that are commissioned using video technology. Lawyers will need to determine whether the particular body for whom the affidavit or solemn declaration is prepared will accept such evidence sworn or taken using video technology, and under what circumstances. The Law Society has been actively engaged in encouraging entities to adopt the same approach as the Courts and us, and we are working with the provincial government to issue its own general statement regarding the use of virtual commissioning.

There are two methods for verifying a client’s identity that do not require a face-to-face meeting with the client – the dual process method or using information in a client’s credit file. Lawyers should also consider whether they may be able to rely upon the previous verification by another person (for example, a real estate agent) where permitted under the rules.

In unique circumstances where lawyers are unable to avail themselves of any other verification method, the Law Society will take a reasonable approach in its compliance activity if a lawyer verifies identity of a client located in Canada by using video-conferencing technology. Lawyers who verify a client’s identification using video conference technology should be able to demonstrate that they:

  • are reasonably satisfied that the government issued identification is valid and current;
  • were able to compare the image in the government issued identification with the client to be reasonably satisfied that it is the same person;
  • record (with the applicable date) the method used to verify the client’s identification;
  • treat the transaction as a high risk transaction and continue to monitor the business relationship as a high risk transaction; and
  • document the efforts that were made to verify the client’s identity in accordance with the existing rules and the reasons why they were unable to verify the client’s identity in accordance with the existing rules.

When using video conferencing for the provision of legal advice or services, lawyers should:

  • Confirm the client’s consent to proceed in this manner.
  • Ask that all individuals in the remote location introduce themselves.
  • Ensure there is no one else at the remote location who may be improperly influencing the client.
  • Make sure that audio and video feeds are stable and that you can hear and see all parties.
  • Where identification is produced to support verification of identity, ensure that a copy of the document (front and back) is sent to you in advance of the online meeting and that when it is produced that the entire document is visible and legible.
  • Determine how to provide the client with copies of the document executed remotely.
  • Confirm your client’s understanding about the documents they are executing and provide adequate opportunity for them to ask questions during the video conference.
  • Maintain detailed records including: date, start and end time, method of communication, identity of all present, and minutes of content of meeting.

Lawyers should continue to consult the relevant legislation and case law that govern capacity when determining whether they have the ability to adequately assess a person’s capacity through remote means such as video-conferencing or telephone.

If video-conferencing or telephone is used as the exclusive means of communicating with a client, lawyers should also assess whether there is a risk that the client may be subject to undue influence or duress.

Use of electronic signatures is a substantive legal issue and context specific. Lawyers are encouraged to review the Electronic Transactions Act and any other applicable legislation to determine if electronic signatures are permitted.

Lawyers should contact the Lawyers Indemnity Fund for answers to questions about professional liability in the context of COVID-19; go to www.lif.ca.

Yes, it will — assuming the indemnity fee is paid. Nothing changes in your indemnity coverage as a result of being laid off or terminated. As long as any claim or potential claim you report falls within the terms of the policy, you will be covered. For more information about what is covered and what is not, go to the Lawyers Indemnity Fund website.

Also, you must notify Registration and Licensee Services (registration@lsbc.org) at the Law Society about your change of practice circumstances. They will help and advise you of requirements under the Rules, and arrange for you to pay the second installment of the indemnity fee, if necessary.

Practice advisors continue to be available to answer questions about practice and professional obligations:

 

Trust accounting and financial

Lawyers have the following options:

  • Lawyers can scan or fax the information to their bookkeeper, who can send back the completed accounting records. Ensure you have custody and control of your original records at all times.
  • Lawyers can complete the recordkeeping function on their own. We recommend that you read the Trust Accounting Handbook which provides guidance on how to keep basic records that comply with the rules.
  • Lawyers may wish to consider maintaining accounting records on the cloud so the information can be accessed anywhere at any time. The Law Society has a Cloud Computing Checklist that raises many of the issues that you will face.

Even if you did not use your trust account, you will need to retain a copy of your monthly trust bank statement as a supporting document for the trust reconciliation.

Yes, but you must ensure:

  • You obtain written confirmation of the details of the transfer from the financial institution or the remitter of the funds within two banking days; and
  • The confirmation includes the following information, which must be recorded in the trust book of entry:
    1. The date of the transaction;
    2. The amount;
    3. The source of funds received (i.e. the payer’s name);
    4. The form of funds received; and
    5. The client’s name or client number.

A reminder: be sure to follow-up on each third-party deposit to determine whether the funds received were in the form of cash. 

It is possible to withdraw trust funds electronically, if the following conditions are met:

  • Your law firm uses a commercial banking platform that requires two individuals:
    • A person other than the lawyer authorizing the online transaction, who uses his or her password to enter data into the online system, and
    • The lawyer authorizing the online transaction and who uses his or her own password.
  • You have completed and signed the Electronic Funds Transfer requisition form before any data is entered into the electronic funds transfer system.
  • No later than the next business day, the transfer system produces a confirmation form from the financial institution.
  • No later than the following business day, the lawyer:
    • produces a printed copy of the confirmation;
    • compares the printed copy of the confirmation against the signed EFT requisition to verify the funds were withdrawn as specified;
    • indicates the name of the client, the subject matter of the file and the file number on the printed copy of the confirmation; and
    • signs and dates the confirmation.

The Electronic Funds Transfer requisition form may be signed using an electronic signature.

The confirmation must be retained as supporting documentation for the transaction and should be kept with your accounting records so that they are easily accessible.

A lawyer who is a sole practitioner with no other staff is permitted to personally use one password to enter the data into the online banking platform and use another password to enter data to authorize the transaction.

Do not disclose your password to anyone or allow anyone else to use it.

Lawyers are permitted to make deposits into a trust account via ATM. We recommend that you ask your financial institution to set the bank card to “deposit only” to ensure funds are not inadvertently withdrawn.

Please ensure that you:

  • Write the client name, client number, the source and form of the funds received on the ATM receipt, which you may also want to record on a deposit slip in your deposit book; and
  • Retain the receipt as part of your accounting records, which can be done by stapling the ATM receipt into the deposit book in chronological order to ensure a proper audit trail.

Note that while ATM deposits into trust are permitted, lawyers are not permitted to make withdrawals from the trust account via ATM.

Many financial institutions offer their clients an app to download on to their mobile device so that cheques can be easily deposited from the comfort of your own home. The app will usually require you to take a picture of the front and back of the cheque and confirm the details of your deposit.

Another option is to use a remote deposit capture (RDC) scanner. Lawyers can quickly scan the front and back images of the cheque to be deposited and the funds are deposited straight into your trust account. You should consider this option if you have many cheques to be deposited. Speak to your financial institution for more details.

You may also want to consider asking the payer to send the funds to you electronically so that you do not handle cheques or other paper-based instruments.

At least one of the individuals who signs a trust cheque must be a practising lawyer. If you are finding it difficult to issue trust cheques, consider withdrawing trust funds electronically as permitted under Rule 3-64.1.

While the Law Society’s rules are silent about the use of electronic signatures on trust cheques, your financial institution may or may not permit electronic signatures.

To ensure that your trust cheques are not returned, contact your financial institution to determine whether it is permitted or consider withdrawing trust funds electronically as permitted under Rule 3-64.1.

Yes. However, the use of a lawyer’s electronic signature should not be delegated to anyone. Be cautious to avoid the risks associated with electronic signatures.

Yes. The rules require only that the date of preparation be recorded on monthly trust reconciliations, and they do not require a signature. However, in order to ensure that trust funds are properly accounted for, we strongly encourage that you review, sign and date each monthly trust reconciliation.

Yes. In order to deliver a bill to your client before withdrawing funds from trust, you have the following options:

  • Mail the bill to the client at the client’s last known address;
  • Deliver the bill personally to the client;
  • Fax the bill to the client at the client’s last known electronic fax number; or
  • Email the bill to the client at the client’s last known email address.

Remember to indicate the method of delivery in the letter and retain supporting documents (e.g. fax confirmation or email).

If you have any further questions regarding trust accounting, contact the Trust Assurance Department via:

Email at trustaccounting@lsbc.org
Phone at 604.697.5810
Fax at 604.646.5917

PLTC and articling

Articled students are eligible to access LifeWorks. LifeWorks is an employee assistance program funded by the Law Society that offers free, confidential, 24/7 support – including for issues related to mental, physical or social well-being of articled students. Articled students can obtain professional help and referrals for issues related to mental or physical health issues that they are experiencing.

PLTC will be conducting all four assessments and both examinations remotely. Students are required to have a working and reliable computer, webcam, microphone, internet and printer to complete the components of PLTC remotely.

For more information, contact the Professional Legal Training Course:

Law Society operations

To ensure that the work of the Tribunal continues in light of the COVID-19 health emergency, the President issued a Practice Direction that gives guidance on conducting hearings and reviews using written submissions, oral hearing by teleconference and oral hearing by video conference as alternatives to in-person hearings. The Direction will remain in effect until further notice. Further information is available in the full Practice Direction.

Yes, but to assist lawyers with options for fulfilling their CPD requirements, the Law Society has compiled the following list of free online programs.

The Law Society reopened its offices to the public as of July 19, 2021 and we look forward to welcoming the public and licensees into the building if they require in-person assistance.

Health and safety will continue to be our top priority. As part of the Law Society’s communicable disease prevention plan, everyone will be required to self-assess before entering the premises. Please avoid coming to the building if you are experiencing fever or chills, coughing or other cold- or flu-like symptoms. Wearing a mask in the elevators and common areas inside the building is optional. Please check in with reception on the 8th floor upon arrival. 

Practice advisors continue to be available to answer questions about practice and professional obligations. Contact information for practice advisors may be found on the About Practice Advice page.

Some applicants for enrolment, call and admission, and reinstatement are finding it difficult to meet in person with a notary public or commissioner to make the required solemn declaration. Until further notice, the Law Society will accept application forms that have been sworn using video technology. The application should include a notation that the declaration was sworn in such a manner.

If the applicant is known to the commissioner, the commissioner will not be required to obtain photo identification. In all other situations, the applicant must show the commissioner current and valid government-issued photo identification. While connected via video technology, the commissioner will administer the oath, the applicant will swear or affirm the truth of the facts, and the commissioner will watch the applicant sign his or her name. The applicant will then send the signed application to the commissioner electronically for the commissioner to sign,

Video technology is also permitted for administering the Barristers and Solicitors oath. While connected via video technology, any practising lawyer can administer the oath to a candidate. Once the candidate has sworn or affirmed the oath, the practising lawyer may sign the Law Society form provided by the Law Society,

If you have further questions regarding the swearing of Law Society application forms or administering the Barristers and Solicitors oath, email Registration and Licensee Services at registration@lsbc.org.

If you wish to make a complaint about a lawyer, please consult our website. If you have a response deadline that you are unable to meet due to current circumstance, please email the staff member you have been dealing with on the matter to request an extension. 

Courts

The courts are posting notices, advisories and updates. For more information, check the website for each court:

Provincial Court of BC – www.provincialcourt.bc.ca/
BC Supreme Court – www.bccourts.ca/supreme_court/
BC Court of Appeal – www.bccourts.ca/Court_of_Appeal/
Federal Court – www.fct-cf.gc.ca/en/pages/law-and-practice/notices
Supreme Court of Canada – www.scc-csc.ca