The Law Society of BC is making important changes to its Bar admission training program. After careful consideration by Benchers and leadership, the Professional Legal Training Course, which has been in operation since 1984, will be gradually retired. We are pleased to announce we will be adopting the Bar admission training program designed by the Canadian Centre for Professional Legal Education (CPLED). We are confident that CPLED’s Practice Readiness Education Program (PREP) will be an enriching and dynamic education experience that will effectively equip future BC lawyers with the relevant skills and depth of knowledge they need to enter the profession. Though PREP is an online course, the Law Society plans to incorporate opportunities for students to connect in person with peers and mentors to allow for networking and social connection. In addition, PREP supports student engagement through services like PREP Recess and PREP Connect, which facilitate networking within each cohort and across jurisdictions.
The Benchers recently considered recommendations by the Trust Review Task Force regarding the collection of the Trust Assurance Fee (TAF). At their October meeting, the Benchers approved amendments to Rule 2-110 so that the TAF will be payable for each client matter where the lawyer receives trust funds in an aggregate amount greater than $10,000. This change comes into effect on January 1, 2026.
The change addresses issues relating to the exemption of the TAF for “fees and retainers,” but also to recognize that for low-value matters, the imposition of TAF may be a burden. Therefore, there will be no requirement to pay the TAF until the threshold of $10,000 deposited into the trust fund has been passed. To address client matters that extend over the transition date of January 1, the Benchers agreed that amounts deposited in trust before January 1 will not be applied to the $10,000.
2025 Bencher elections: Candidate package now available
Following the close of the call for Bencher nominations on October 15, the Law Society website has now been updated to include a link to the candidate biographies and election statements. Candidates are listed by the ballot order lottery conducted in accordance with Rule 1-28. Voting is open from Monday, November 10 until Monday, November 17 at 4:30 pm. The results will be published on Tuesday, November 18. An email communication will be sent to all eligible voters on Monday, November 10, which will include voting instructions, a randomly generated password and a link to the voting site.
Lawyers are reminded that their annual membership expires on December 31, 2025 and the due date for their 2026 annual fee is November 30, after which a late payment fee will be applied. Outstanding invoices can be found under “Invoices & Receipts” in the Member Portal. Ensure your payment amount matches that on the invoice(s) as the 2026 practice fee has increased. If you need to change your membership category or indemnity coverage, submit the appropriate application through the Member Portal as soon as possible.
Have your say on discrimination, harassment and bullying
The Law Society is seeking feedback from the legal community to explore the prevalence of discrimination, harassment, sexual harassment and bullying in BC, including barriers to reporting, experiences with reporting processes and outcomes and possible measures to address these issues. The anonymous and confidential survey is available on the Law Society’s website until November 21. We invite participation from the legal community, including legal professionals and individuals who work and interact with them in professional or work-related social contexts. Participation in the survey is voluntary.
Survey on improving accessibility in BC’s legal profession
The Law Society is conducting a survey to learn more about the challenges faced by legal professionals with disabilities and how to make the profession more accessible and inclusive. We welcome input from legal professionals who have lived experience with disability, as well as from those who wish to share observations or experiences on behalf of family members, friends or colleagues in the legal profession.
You can take part by completing a 15–20-minute online survey or doing a one-on-one phone interview. Your answers will be anonymous and won’t be linked to your name or member ID. What you share will help inform future policy improvements. The survey will remain open till October 31. Check out the Engagement and Consultation page for full project details.
Addressing women’s mental health in the legal profession
Women make up 42 per cent of lawyers in British Columbia, with many facing ongoing challenges that impact their mental health and well-being. In 2022, the Health and Wellness Determinants of Legal Professionals in Canada study found that women in the legal profession experience high levels of psychological strain and work-life conflict.
Rule of law essay contest for secondary school students
BC secondary school students in grade 12, or who have taken or are currently enrolled in Law 12, Political Studies 12, Social Justice 12 or Social Studies 11, are invited to submit an essay on the following topic: “In a famous case in 1958 called Roncarelli v. Duplessis, the Supreme Court of Canada held that the rule of law was a fundamental postulate of the Canadian constitutional structure. What do you think the Court meant by that? Give examples of how the Court’s judgment may still be relevant today.” The winning entry will be awarded a $1,000 prize, and the runner-up will receive $500. The deadline for submissions is April 12, 2026.
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.
Monitoring for sanctions and transaction restrictions
Lawyers are reminded that in addition to meeting their obligations pursuant to the Law Society Rules and the Code of Professional Conduct for British Columbia, they must comply with the law. Canada has imposed sanctions under the Special Economic Measures Act, the Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act and the United Nations Act through specific regulations listing individuals and entities (“listed persons”). Lawyers should check the sanctions lists before offering legal services to listed persons to determine which services they are permitted to provide. Also note the Minister of Finance’s Ministerial Directives regarding Russia, the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, and the Minister’s concerns about risks of facilitating sanctions evasion.
The Law Society is seeking expressions of interest from individuals who wish to be considered for nomination by the Law Society as a Director of the Land Title and Survey Authority (LTSA) for a three-year term starting April 1, 2026. Those interested in being nominated for appointment consideration by the LTSA are invited to review information about the appointment and submit an application form and supporting resume online, along with an explanation of how they meet the detailed criteria. The deadline for applications is 4:30 pm on Friday, November 7, 2025.
For more information about the appointments process and requirements for each board position, see our Appointments Guidebook.
Law Foundation of BC appointment
The Law Society is seeking expressions of interest from practising lawyers from Westminster 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. The deadline for applications is 4:30 pm on Friday, November 7.
For more information about the appointments process and requirements for each board position, see our Appointments Guidebook.
News from the legal profession
New legislation makes online versions of BC laws official
As part of ongoing work to improve and modernize access to justice, the provincial government has introduced new legislation to make online versions of BC laws official. If passed, the new statutes act and the updated Regulations Act will allow BC acts and regulations accessed through a government website to be used as official versions for evidentiary purposes in court and elsewhere.
Indemnity fee unchanged, surcharge increases for first time in 40 years
Benchers have approved keeping the 2026 indemnity fee at $1,800 for full-time lawyers and $900 for part-time lawyers for the ninth year in a row. The deductible for a first paid claim remains at $5,000, unchanged since the program began in 1986.
In 2024, the Lawyers Indemnity Fund continued to receive a record number of claim reports — a trend that has carried into 2025. To ensure greater fairness between lawyers who remain claims-free and those whose claims result in an indemnity payment, the Benchers have approved an adjustment to the indemnity surcharge. For the first time in 40 years, the surcharge will increase from $1,000 to $2,000 for claims reported on or after January 1, 2026. The surcharge applies only when a settlement, judgment or repair cost exceeds the deductible resulting in an indemnity payment by LIF. The surcharge is payable each year for five years. It does not apply to defence costs.
Has your website been spoofed? Is someone sending emails that appear to come from your firm? Unfortunately, several BC law firms have recently faced these kinds of cyber incidents. If this happens to you, contact Coalition immediately. Your cyber insurance policy includes coverage for technical, legal and public relations assistance under the “Phishing” insuring agreement.
Coalition can assist in taking down the fraudulent website, limit any potential exposure of confidential information, verify that your network security has not been breached and assist with communication to clients. Unfortunately, one of the firms that experienced spoofing had allowed its Coalition coverage to lapse and had to manage the situation on its own – a costly reminder of the value of this protection.
How can you check if your firm has coverage under the Coalition policy?
Your firm’s Designated Representative can check whether your firm has Coalition coverage by viewing the Certificate of Insurance in the Law Society Member Portal:
Click on the tab that says “Cyber Insurance” for your firm’s certificate
If no certificate appears, your firm does not have Coalition coverage. Don’t wait until an incident happens — check your coverage today.
Attention criminal lawyers: Claims trending up
Although criminal law generates fewer claims than litigation and real estate, the number of criminal claims has significantly increased in the last several years. The outcome of a criminal matter can have serious and lasting consequences for a client. When results are unfavourable, clients sometimes claim they weren’t properly advised of the implications of entering a plea. They often then appeal the conviction on the basis of “ineffective assistance of counsel,” implicating their lawyer, whether the allegation has merit or not. Claims also frequently arise from the intersection of immigration and criminal law.
Take four minutes to watch this video of Claims Counsel, Richard Panton, who describes actual criminal claim files and the steps you can take to prevent these claims.
