Resources by Area of Practice

Corporate / commercial

The Solicitors' Legal Opinions Committee materials are now published on the Continuing Legal Education Society's website: go to Solicitors' Legal Opinions.

Family law

Best Practice Guidelines for Lawyers Practising Family Law
The above guidelines were endorsed by the Benchers as aspirational standards for lawyers practising family law (July 11, 2011).
Family law alternate dispute resolution accreditation

Litigation

Committee on Relations with the Judiciary

The mandate of the Committee on Relations with the Judiciary is to:

• assist lawyers who need emergency assistance in the course of a trial or other proceeding in circumstances where such assistance is requested by the judiciary; and
• provide advice and assistance to lawyers who wish to make complaints about judges, or who wish to argue that a judge’s conduct has manifested a bias against the lawyer’s client, and in suitable cases would raise the complaints directly with the judiciary.

The committee acts independently of the Law Society, responding directly to requests for assistance from the Bench and Bar in carrying out its mandate. Communication with the committee by judges and lawyers is voluntary and the committee does not communicate with or report to the Law Society on particular cases.

To access the services of the committee, contact one of its current members directly:

J. Kenneth McEwan, KC (civil): 604.283.7988
Ian Donaldson, KC (criminal): 604.681.5232
Dinyar Marzban, KC (family): 604.681.6564

The committee is composed of at least three practitioners, drawn from the civil, criminal and family litigation bars, and respected and trusted by the members of the judiciary and the profession. Appointments to the committee are made by the president of the Law Society, following consultation with senior members of the judiciary and the profession. Appointments are for an indefinite term and subject to annual review.

The committee was originally formed in the late 1990s, drawing its mandate and terms of reference from the 1997 Protocol between the Law Society and the BC Courts Respecting Concerns that Arise in Ongoing Proceedings (the 1997 Protocol).

If you have any questions about the committee, contact a committee member.

Real estate, mortgages, Juricert

Title insurers report to FINTRAC from October 1, 2025
Real estate transactions – know your client primer, Summer 2021 Benchers’ Bulletin (p. 12)
Juricert – certification authority recognized by the Director of Land Titles
Cancellation of discriminatory covenants on land titles (August 7, 2015 LTSA practice note)
Ministry of Finance announces additional property transfer tax effective August 2, 2016
Reporting Form for Mortgage Discharge Failures
The law of property in BC might not give your clients the result they expect (Lin v. CIBC Mortgages Inc.)
Guidelines for Solicitors to Facilitate Discharging or Transfer of Mortgages (Canadian Bankers Association)
Contact List for Matters Involving Mortgage Discharges (Canadian Bankers Association)  
Western Law Societies Conveyancing Protocol (British Columbia) Version 3.0

Wills, undue influence

Top ten tips for lawyers drafting wills and administering estates
Handling requests for a deceased client's file
Guide to Wills and Estates Planning for First Nations Clients Living on Reserves (BCLI, February 2025)
A Guide for Assisting Persons in Vulnerable Situations (STEP Canada, 2023), generously shared with permission as part of STEP Canada’s commitment to fostering knowledge exchange on this critical topic.
Acting for a client with dementia (Benchers' Bulletin, Spring 2015)
Report on Common-Law Tests of Capacity (BCLI, 2013)
Undue Influence Recognition and Prevention: A Reference Aid (BCLI, 2022)
Undue Influence Recognition and Prevention: A Guide for Legal Practitioners (BCLI, 2022)