Vancouver, January 5, 2016 – The Law Society of British Columbia has filed an appeal of the recent decision of the Supreme Court of British Columbia in TWU v. Law Society of British Columbia.
On December 10, 2015 the Court ruled that the Benchers inappropriately fettered their discretion in their October 30, 2014 decision not to approve a proposed law school at Trinity Western University (TWU) for the purpose of the Law Society’s admission program. The ruling quashed the October 2014 Benchers decision, and restored the decision from the April 11, 2014 Benchers meeting approving the proposed law school for the purpose of the Law Society’s admission program.
The Law Society is appealing on the grounds the Court erred in deciding the procedure followed by the Benchers was inappropriate, and erred in finding TWU was not afforded procedural fairness. The Law Society takes the position that it properly made the right decision in October 2014 concerning TWU and will seek to restore that decision.
“We respectfully maintain that it was proper for the Benchers to conclude that the voice of our members is important and that we should be guided by that voice on this issue. In addition, the circumstances surrounding the proposal for a law school at TWU raise issues regarding two competing Charter rights and values: the equality rights of the LGBTQ community and the position taken by TWU concerning religious freedom. The Law Society believes the interests of the public and our profession are best served by our appellate court addressing and resolving this fundamental constitutional issue,” says Law Society President David Crossin, QC.
The Law Society of British Columbia upholds and protects the public interest in the administration of justice by ensuring the independence, integrity and competence of lawyers, establishing education and professional development standards for lawyers, regulating the practice of law and preserving and protecting the rights and freedoms of all persons.
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For further information contact:
David Jordan
Communications Officer
604.443.5708
djordan@lsbc.org