The Law Society of BC acknowledges the outcome of the October 24, 2026 provincial election, which saw the Conservative Party of BC elected to a majority government. The Conservative Party of BC has previously committed to repealing the Legal Professions Act, which was passed by the Legislative Assembly of BC in 2024.
“The Law Society welcomes the new government’s promises to repeal the Act and encourages them to do so immediately upon forming government” said Thomas L. Spraggs, KC, President of the Law Society of BC. “Repealing the Act will preserve the independence of the Bar and the public’s right to impartial legal advice, and stop further costs to the profession caused by the transition.”
We look forward to future conversations with the new government on matters relating to the justice system in BC. Our focus remains on our statutory mandate to uphold and protect the public interest in the administration of justice, including through the independent regulation of lawyers in BC.
Lawyers are reminded that their annual membership expires on December 31 and a late fee will be applied if their 2027 annual fee is paid later than November 30. Outstanding invoices can be found under “Invoices & Receipts” in the Member Portal. Ensure your payment amount matches the invoice(s) as the 2027 practice fee has increased.
A 2027 special assessment of $210 is required to recover the Law Society’s share of transition costs (projected to December 2026) imposed by the new Legal Professions Act. Transition costs are legally required to be paid by the Law Society and the Society of Notaries Public. The cost to fulfill our legal obligations to transition to a single legal regulator under the new Act is expected to be $3.3 million by the end of 2026, and another $2.1 million is projected for 2027.
The special assessment is included as a separate line item on the annual fee invoice for all practising lawyers and is also due on November 30. Payment after that date will incur a late fee of $42. Additional information on the special assessment can be found on our website.
If you need to change your membership category or indemnity coverage, submit the appropriate application through the Member Portal as soon as possible. Visit our Annual Fee webpage or contact the Registration & Licensee Services department at registration@lsbc.org or 604.605.5311 if you have any questions.
Be alert: Cybercriminals posing as law firm IT staff
Cybercriminals are targeting law firm employees at all levels by impersonating the firm’s IT helpdesk over the phone and Microsoft Teams. The fraudulent callers claim that an urgent security change is needed and direct employees to a fake login page that mimics the firm’s legitimate login page. Employees enter their username and password, thereby unwittingly giving their login credentials to cybercriminals who gain immediate access to the firm’s systems and commit further cybercrimes. Some employees have been duped by this sophisticated scheme, and confidential documents have been compromised.
Law Society launches new demographic data questionnaire
Beginning November 23, legal professionals will have the opportunity to fill out a new demographic questionnaire after completing the mandatory Annual Practice Declaration (APD). The data gathered from this questionnaire will give us better information to help us identify inequalities and barriers to accessing the legal profession and improving retention. It will also inform policies and programs that support our public interest mandate, which is best served by having a legal profession that reflects the diversity of our communities. If you have already completed your APD for 2026, you will have the opportunity to fill out the questionnaire next year.
More information will be posted on our website in the coming weeks.
Voting for Bencher by-election in County of Westminster opens November 9
Online voting for the Westminster Bencher by-election will open on November 9 and close at 4:30 pm on November 16. Votes will be counted on November 17. Voting instructions and voter credentials will be sent to eligible voters in the County of Westminster on November 9.
To view the candidate biographies and election statements, and for further information regarding the by-election, view the elections webpage.
Tanya Chamberlain, KC selected as FLSC’s Second Vice-President
Congratulations to Bencher Tanya Chamberlain, KC, who has been selected as second vice-president for the Federation of Law Societies of Canada for a one-year term beginning January 2027. Her appointment marks the first time in 10 years that a BC Bencher has joined the Executive Committee at the Federation.
The Law Society of BC is pleased to present the 2026 Rule of Law Lecture on November 26 featuring a panel discussion with Joanna Chiu, author, former China correspondent and managing partner of global research and advisory firm Nüora Global Advisors, and Stephanie Nolen, veteran foreign correspondent and global health reporter at the New York Times. The panel will explore the theme of “The rule of law under pressure: Lessons from international reporting.” Members of the legal profession, journalists and the public are invited to attend. This event is eligible for 1.5 hours of CPD credit.
The annual Rule of Law essay contest is now open. For the 2026–2027 school year, the Law Society invites all Grade 12 students and students who have taken, or are currently enrolled in, either Law 12, Political Studies 12, Social Justice 12 or Social Studies 11, to submit an essay on the independence of the Bar as an unwritten constitutional principle.
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.
Penalties for fraudulent immigration and citizenship representatives
The Government of Canada is committed to upholding the integrity of its immigration and citizenship systems and protecting applicants from fraud and exploitation. To help safeguard applicants from those who would take advantage of them, new penalties of up to $1.5 million are now in force for those who break the law when providing paid immigration or citizenship advice or legal representation.
New national guidance on deemed ownership provisions
Global Affairs Canada (GAC) provides information and guidance regarding sanctions, including red flags, to assist with implementing a compliance program to prevent sanctions contraventions. GAC’s Sanctions and Strategic Controls Bureau issued new guidance on the thresholds for establishing deemed ownership under the Special Economic Measures Act and the Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act. GAC also sets out important considerations in the context of risk management, including means to prevent designated persons from obtaining access to property or other assets. The new guidance includes deemed ownership scenarios to aid understanding.
Lawyers with questions about their professional responsibilities regarding the confluence of anti-money laundering and sanctions compliance may contact Barbara Buchanan, KC at 604.697.5816 or bbuchanan@lsbc.org
Holds on trust cheques, certified cheques and bank drafts
Financial institutions may place holds on trust cheques, certified cheques and bank drafts, which can cause issues with lawyers' undertakings and closings. Consider periodically reviewing your financial institution’s hold policy and establishing a relationship with your account manager to understand why holds may be placed.
At the September 25 meeting, Benchers approved amendments to the Law Society Rules, including those related to accounting, client verification and trust, that will come into effect on July 1, 2027. These amendments include updated guidelines on education requirements for being a signatory to a trust account as well as rules surrounding receipts, trust cheques and more.
Obtain CPD credit by watching our anti-money laundering measures webinar
A free online webinar is available to help lawyers comply with their anti-money laundering obligations and avoid being targeted by criminals, including those who seek to launder the proceeds of crime. The webinar counts for three hours of CPD credit.
The Law Society of British Columbia is seeking its next Tribunal Chair. Reporting to the Benchers, the Tribunal Chair provides independent leadership to the Tribunal, ensuring its proceedings reflect the highest standards of fairness, transparency, efficiency and administrative justice. The Chair oversees hearing processes, supports and develops adjudicators, champions continuous improvement and modernization initiatives and helps guide the Tribunal through an evolving regulatory environment. This is a unique opportunity to make a meaningful public-interest contribution while shaping the future of administrative justice in British Columbia.
Read the job posting for more information on the appointment and the application process.
Law Foundation of BC Appointment
The Law Society is seeking expressions of interest from practising lawyers from Vancouver County, Prince Rupert County and Cariboo County who wish to be considered for a three-year term as a Law Society appointee to the Law Foundation of BC’s Board of Governors. Further information about this opportunity can be found on our website. Eligible lawyers are encouraged to submit an application and supporting resume online along with an explanation of how they meet the detailed criteria.
For more information about the appointments process and requirements for each board position, see our Appointments Guidebook. The deadline for applications is 4:30 pm on November 6.
More news
FINTRAC publishes 2025–2026 Annual Report
The Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC) has published its 2025-2026 Annual Report, which includes information about money laundering associated with extortion, the fight against illegal fentanyl, combatting human trafficking and cyber-enabled and cryptocurrency fraud. Fraud is a primary focus for FINTRAC. See Annex A for more information on the report submitted to FINTRAC by its reporting entities.
The Supreme Court has issued new guidance to the public regarding judgment delivery expectations and the circumstances in which a party or counsel may submit an inquiry to the Court regarding the status of a reserved judgment.
See the announcement on the Supreme Court’s website for more information.
Latest from Lawyers Indemnity Fund
Lawyers fall for new bad cheque scam in Ontario
In this scam, fraudsters pose as new clients asking the lawyer to review settlement documents, provide independent legal advice and receive the settlement funds into the lawyer’s trust account. To enhance the credibility of this fraudulent scheme, the documents include the name of a real insurance company. Their objective is to persuade a lawyer to deposit a fraudulent certified cheque, bank draft, credit union official cheque or money order into a trust account.
Cybersecurity awareness: Think before you click, verify before you transfer
Cybercriminals continue to target law firms using sophisticated social engineering and email fraud to deceive lawyers into wiring trust funds to fraudsters.
Watch this three-minute video by Director of Risk Management, Maryanne Prohl, to learn how to avoid funds transfer frauds. We also recommend using a checklist for every payment.
On October 13, 2026, BC’s new Mortgage Services Act, S.B.C. 2022, c. 27 (the Act) came into force replacing the Mortgage Brokers Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, ch. 313. The Act introduces several changes for mortgage service providers, including expanded licensing requirements, increased disclosure obligations, enhanced enforcement tools and higher penalties for non-compliance.
