Law Society news
Second instalment of 2026 practice fee due May 31
Practising lawyers can find their outstanding invoices under “Invoices & Receipts” in the Member Portal. If you need to change your indemnity coverage or membership category to non-practising or retired, or resign from your membership, submit the appropriate application through the Member Portal no later than May 17 to avoid the late payment fee.
For more information, visit the Annual Fee webpage or contact the Registration & Licensee Services department at registration@lsbc.org or 604.605.5311.
New trust shortage and cash transaction reporting form now available
The Law Society has created an online reporting tool to assist lawyers with quickly and easily reporting trust shortages and cash transactions, as required under Rules 3-74 and 3-59. The online reporting form is available in the Member Portal under Tools and Reporting and includes built-in prompts to support lawyers in making complete and accurate reports.
New LawCast BC episode: CanLII’s new AI-powered search tool
CanLII’s new artificial intelligence research tool, Search+, was developed to make access to legal information more intuitive and efficient for the legal community and the Canadian public. The tool is designed to convert plain language questions into a structured Boolean query and to analyze results for the most relevant documents from case law, legislation and commentary available on CanLII.
In this episode of LawCast BC, we chat with Francis Barragan, President and CEO of CanLII and Emma Elliott, Vice President of Operations at Lexum, the firm that developed Search+. They explain what problems the tool solves, how it actually works and how it differs from other AI tools that are more prone to hallucinations or errors. We also walk through a couple of live demos with real-life prompts, demonstrating the power of the tool to analyze and score results based on relevancy.
Listen here or wherever you get your podcasts.
Virtual verification of client ID using authentication technology
Lawyers may verify an individual client’s identity virtually, provided that they use reliable authentication technology to confirm that the individual’s government-issued photo ID is genuine, and confirm that the name and photo are those of the individual in the ID. A video conference with the individual is not sufficient to satisfy a lawyer’s obligations.
The Digital ID & Authentication Council of Canada (DIACC) is a non-governmental body that has developed certifications for vendors of authentication technology. It is not affiliated with the Law Society. While the Law Society does not endorse, vet or certify vendors of authentication technology services, or their claims of compliancy with Law Society requirements, DIACC’s Certified Service Providers Authoritative Trust Registry may be a starting place if you are considering such a service.
See the Law Society’s guidance for information about compliance with your obligations. If you have questions, contact Barbara Buchanan, KC at bbuchanan@lsbc.org or 604.697.5816.
Risks of circumventing Canada’s sanctions
Prospective clients or existing clients, whether individuals or entities, may attempt to use lawyers to circumvent Canada’s sanctions legislation and associated regulations without a permit or certificate. Lawyers must not directly or indirectly assist clients to evade sanctions. See the Government of Canada’s red flags to assist in detecting suspicious transactions.
Sanctions are imposed under the United Nations Act, Special Economic Measures Act, the Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act, the Criminal Code, Part II.1 and the Freezing Assets of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act. You may need to seek legal advice to determine whether a particular transaction is permitted. If you have questions regarding your professional obligations, you may contact Barbara Buchanan, KC at 604.697.5816 or bbuchanan@lsbc.org.
Seeking expressions of interest: Federal Judicial Advisory Committee
The Law Society is seeking expressions of interest from individuals who wish to be considered for appointment to the Federal Judicial Advisory Committee. For details on the appointments process and position requirements, please see our Appointments Guidebook. The deadline for applications is 4:30 pm on May 1, and applications can be submitted online.
Further information can be found on our website.
Latest discipline news
To read the latest discipline outcomes, including conduct review summaries and admitted discipline violations, head to our Discipline Outcomes section. You can read summaries of discipline outcomes in our news section.
Read the latest discipline outcomes.
News from the legal profession
Early Resolution Process expands to more Provincial Court registries
The Early Resolution Process (ERP) has been rolled out to 35 more Provincial Court registries in the Vancouver Coastal, Vancouver Island, Interior/Okanagan and Kootenay regions. The ERP allows certain issues under the Family Law Act to be resolved by agreement before going to court.
More information on the ERP is available on the BC Government's webpage.
Update on LTSA Verified Transaction initiative
The Land Title and Survey Authority of British Columbia (LTSA) is continuing to modernize and secure real estate transactions through its Verified Transaction initiative. The initiative allows property owners to independently monitor their title, and lawyers to easily submit land title forms.
To support the development of this new service, LTSA is asking BC property owners to participate as pilot users and provide feedback. Sign up or encourage your clients to sign up for the pilot program on the LTSA’s website.
LTSA announces annual fee changes
Most LTSA fees increased on April 1, 2026. LTSA uses revenue from fees to cover operational costs and address the impact of inflation.
Learn more on LTSA’s website.
Latest from Lawyers Indemnity Fund
Enhanced coverage: Outside Directorship Liability Insurance
All lawyers indemnified by LIF now have the protection of Outside Directorship Liability (ODL) insurance through Lloyd’s Underwriters, at no additional cost. The ODL policy provides coverage (subject to terms) for claims made against you as a director or equivalent position of a company, charity or other entity (excluding publicly traded companies and your own law firms and related entities). With a limit of $1 million and no deductible, you can now accept a director position and rest easy that you have the protection of liability insurance.
If you have questions, contact Michael Mulhern, LIF’s Director of Underwriting and Claims at mmulhern@lif.ca or 604.697.5869.
Thinking about reporting a claim? Don’t wait
At LIF, we understand that mistakes happen. Over the past five years, 6,331 lawyers have reported claims to us. To avoid making a second, potentially more serious mistake, we encourage you to report the claim right away. There is never a benefit in waiting, and delay can jeopardize your coverage — something no lawyer ever wants.
Take three minutes to watch this video of Director of Claims, Leanne Wood describing the reporting process.
