Updates and timeline: Single legal regulator legislation

January 2026:

The government opened its consultation on the draft recommendations of the Regulated Paralegal Working Group. Read the Regulated Paralegal Working Group’s Report and Executive Summary. Individuals have an opportunity to review the report and complete an online survey. The survey will be open until February 27, 2026. 

If the new Legal Professions Act is brought into force, a new category of legal professional called regulated paralegal would be established. In 2024, the Attorney General established a Regulated Paralegal Working Group to recommend what legal services a regulated paralegal should be able to provide independently in BC in the event the new Act is brought into force.

October 2025:

The Law Society of BC and the Trial Lawyers Association of BC's constitutional challenges to the Legal Professions Act were heard in a summary trial before Chief Justice Skolrood in the Supreme Court of BC from October 14 – 28, 2025. 

The Law Society and the Trial Lawyers Association of BC argued that the Legal Professions Act fails to ensure the independence of lawyers — a fundamental democratic principle. Our arguments focused on democracy, the independence of the Bar, as well as the role of self governance in upholding those two principles. A decision is expected in 2026.

Written submissions can be found below:

1. Law Society of BC
2. Trial Lawyers Association of BC
3. Responses from the government to Law Society of BC and Trial Lawyers Association of BC 

Written submissions from intervenors can be found below:

• The CBA and Law Society of Manitoba argued that Bill 21 offends unwritten constitutional principles about the independence of the bar.
• The Society of Notaries Public of BC argued that the constitution does not guarantee the independence of lawyers, but of legal professionals. Viewed through this lens, Bill 21 does not offend the constitution.
• The Indigenous Bar Association argued, in part, that the tradition of self-governance is unnecessary for the independence of the bar.
• The Law Foundation took no particular position, but opposed the Law Society’s alternative relief.

July 2025:

• The summary trial for the Law Society’s litigation to challenge the constitutionality of the Legal Professions Act is scheduled for 15 days, beginning October 14, 2025.

April 2025:

• Life Bencher Jeevyn Dhaliwal, KC was appointed to the Transitional Board established by the Legal Professions Act, to address a vacancy after the appointment of Judge Dybwad to the BC Provincial Court.

March 2025:

• Bencher Brian Dybwad was appointed to the BC Provincial Court, effective March 21. Judge Dybwad was one of the Law Society appointees to the Transitional Board and the Transitional Indigenous council, established by the Legal Professions Act. The Law Society will be making a new appointment to the Transitional Board in the coming weeks. 
• A website was created to share the latest information and progress about the Legal Professions Act transition work. On the website you can find background information, the project workplan, meeting minutes, agendas and key updates.

February 2025:

• Bencher Katrina Harry, KC was appointed by the Law Society to the Transitional Board established by the Legal Professions Act, to address a vacancy after the appointment of Justice LeBlanc to the BC Supreme Court.

January 2025:

• The Transitional Board, Indigenous Council and Advisory Committee guiding the transition work associated with the Legal Professions Act begin executing their workplan.

December 2024:

• Bencher Lindsay R. LeBlanc, KC was appointed to the BC Supreme Court. Justice LeBlanc was Second Vice-President as well as one of the Law Society’s appointees to the Transitional Board established by the Legal Professions Act.

October 2024:

• The Benchers appointed Sarah Westwood, KC to the Transitional Board after Scott Morishita was appointed to the BC Supreme Court.

July 2024:

• The BC Green Party released an open letter opposing the Legal Professions Act and shared support for the Law Society’s legal challenge that is currently before the court.
• In accordance with s. 223(1)(a) of the Legal Professions Act, the Benchers of the Law Society appointed four members to the transitional board of Legal Professions BC.
• The Law Society issued a statement confirming plans to move forward with litigation against the Legal Professions Act after the court declined to grant injunctive relief.

June 2024: 

• Executive Director Don Avison, KC issued a statement on the Law Society's position on Bill 21 and the current status of litigation.
• Justice Gropper presided over a three-day hearing concerning the injunction application during which the Law Society presented evidence of irreparable harm to the public interest should the Legal Professions Act be brought into force. Both the Trial Lawyers Association of BC and the Law Foundation of BC also presented arguments in support of the injunction. The Province presented arguments against the granting of injunctive relief. The hearing concluded with Justice Gropper reserving judgement. For details, read our statement.

May 2024: 

• The Law Society filed an injunction application on May 24, 2024 to prevent the implementation of the Legal Professions Act until such time as its Notice of Civil Claim could be heard. 
• The Law Society issued a statement announcing plans to initiate litigation to challenge the constitutionality of the Legal Professions Act after it received Royal Assent on May 16, 2024.
• Law 360 Canada published an editorial on what the single legal regulator legislation means for legal independence, written by by Michael Lucas, General Counsel/Senior Policy Counsel.
• The Times Colonist published an op-ed by First Vice-President Brook Greenberg on Bill 21's stigmatizing and discriminatory provisions that allow the regulator to coerce medical treatment of legal professionals.

April 2024: 

• The BC government tabled Bill 21 – the Legal Professions Act.
• The Law Society issued its response, which opposed the legislation as it fails to protect the public’s interest in having access to independent legal professions governed by an independent regulator.
• The Law Society sent a letter to the Attorney General urging the government to halt Bill 21 to allow for wider consultation with the public, the legal professions and Indigenous peoples of BC.
• The Federation of Law Societies of Canada issued a statement in response to Bill 21 expressing serious concerns about the future of independent lawyer regulation in BC.
• The Conservative Party of BC issued a press release opposing Bill 21 and promising to repeal it should it pass.
• BC United issued a press release stating that Bill 21 represents a profound threat to the independence of our legal system.

March 2024: 

• The Ministry of Attorney General released a public update on the proposed legislation.
• The Law Society responded to the public update encouraging more consultation.
• The Canadian Bar Association BC Branch held engagement sessions in March and April for the profession to share their thoughts on the proposed regulatory reform.

October 2023: 

• The Attorney General announced that the proposed legislation was delayed until Spring 2024.

June 2023: 

• The Attorney General declined the Law Society’s request to bring the amendments into force, noting that the single legal regulator legislation to be tabled in the fall would allow for the licensing of paralegals, notaries and lawyers under one entity.

March 2023:

• The Law Society asked the BC government to bring amendments to the current Legal Profession Act into force to allow for the licensing of paralegals.

November 2022: 

• The Law Society issued its response to the Intentions Paper.
• Watch the former Law Society president’s video message on the single legal regulator proposal.

March 2022:

• The BC government announced its intention to combine regulation of the legal profession under one regulator.
• Read the Ministry of the Attorney General’s Intentions Paper
• Public consultation was open between September to November 2022 and the findings were published in the government’s What We Heard report.

This page will be updated as new developments occur.