Terminating/Deregistering a Law Firm

If you are a sole practitioner closing your law firm, you are required to wind up your practice by following the steps outlined on this page. 

These steps also apply if you are the only BC lawyer practising at an extraprovincial law firm registered with the Law Society and you will be leaving the firm, even if the firm will continue to operate at its current location.  

How do I close my practice?

Step 1: Prepare for practice closure:

Prior to closing your practice, you must:

1. Return any remaining trust funds to your clients or remit the funds to the Law Society as unclaimed trust funds, in accordance with Rule 3-89;
2. Close the firm’s trust account(s);
3. File a trust report as per Rule 3-79 and 3-84; and
4. Provide information on the disposition of your client files and other records related to your practice, as required by Rule 3-87.

Refer to our practice resource for further assistance with decisions and tasks to be completed:

• Winding up (or closing) a law practice
• Winding Up A Practice: A Checklist

Step 2: Report law firm termination 

Once you have completed steps 1 to 4 above, submit a request to terminate your law firm through your Member Portal (required under Rule 2-12.2(2)):

1. Log into your Member Portal
2. Navigate to “Law Firm Information” and select your law firm. 
3. Click on the tab named “Location(s) & Contact Information”
4. Select the “Expire” button for the location.

Your request will be processed within 5 business days by the Registration & Licensee Services department, and you will receive a confirmation email once your request has been processed.

Step 3: Submit final Trust Report

Our Trust Assurance Department will then contact you via email and provide instructions, along with corresponding due dates to:

• file your final trust report,
• provide a completed Disposal Information Checklist, 
• provide proof of trust account closure, if applicable.

Acceptable proof of trust account closure documents include an email or letter from your financial institution, or a bank statement showing that the account(s) has been closed. 

Note that all law firms are required to file a final trust report, under Rule 3-79, regardless of whether you have a trust account. If you do not have a trust account, you are still required to file Section A of the final trust report.