The Law Society's initiatives relate to our mandate to protect the public interest in the administration of justice. Track our progress here.

 

Initiative

Current status

Reports and related material

Rule / other changes

Indigenous Framework and Principles Approved by the Board at its September 23, 2022 meeting.  The Framework sets out six principles to guide the Law Society’s application of its governing legislation, Rules, Code, policies, procedures and practices. The principles can be found here: The principles will provide an assessment tool to ensure the Law Society is meeting its existing commitments to advance reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples.

Requirement for practising lawyers to complete Indigenous intercultural competency course

Strategic Plan goal 1-3(c)

The Law Society began piloting its Indigenous course in September 2021 and it went live on January 26, 2022. The course takes six hours, to be completed at your own pace over two years. Lawyers will be able to claim CPD credit for the time taking the course.

Joint Recommendation Report of the Truth and Reconciliation and the Lawyer Education Advisory Committees

Truth and Reconciliation Action Plan
Rule 3-28.1  Indigenous intercultural course
Creation of Competency Framework for Lawyer Licensing in BC. The Board has approved recommendation to develop competence based system for the licensing of legal professionals in BC, beginning with development of Competency Framework.

Lawyer Development Task Force Report to Benchers, Recommendation to Develop a Competence-Based System for lawyer licensing dated September 9, 2022

A Competence-Based System for Lawyer Licensing in British Columbia by Jordan Furlong dated May 10, 2022

Regulatory Impact Assessment: Competence Based System for Lawyer Licensing

Bencher’s Meeting Minutes – September 23, 2022

Not applicable. 
Innovation Sandbox Over 25 participants have now been approved as part of the Sandbox to provide new legal services. Sandbox is continuing to accept proposals from individuals and businesses seeking to provide new legal services.

Licensed Paralegal Task Force Report

Final report of the Futures Task Force

Final report of the Unauthorized Practice Task Force
Public Policy on Unauthorized Practice (see p.13 of October 2020 Bencher meeting minutes for approved wording)

Assessment of factors and forces that are likely to influence the future delivery of legal services and regulation of the legal profession

Recommendations approved at October 30, 2020 Benchers meeting.

Final report of the Futures Task Force

Futures Task Force consultation paper

 

Licensed Paralegals for areas of unmet need in the legal services market

Strategic Plan goal 1-1(b)

Recommendation to open innovation sandbox to licensed paralegal pilots approved at October 30, 2020 Benchers meeting.

Licensed Paralegal Task Force Report

2018 AGM resolution

Report of the Legal Services Regulatory Framework Task Force, Dec. 2014 

Legal Service Provider Task Force Final Report, Dec. 2013

 

Proposed amendment to fiduciary property rule (Rule 3-55) for compliance with anti-money laundering

Strategic Plan goal 3-2

Discussed at July 15, 2019 Bencher meeting. Revisions considered for Bencher decision in 2020.

Federation Backgrounder on Model Trust Accounting Rules

 

Requirement for practising lawyers to complete Indigenous intercultural competency course

Strategic Plan goal 1-3(c)

Course under development for introduction in 2021.

Joint Recommendation Report of the Truth and Reconciliation and the Lawyer Education Advisory Committees

Truth and Reconciliation Action Plan

 

Law Firm Regulation: Firm Self-Assessment

Strategic Plan goal 4-2

Approved for profession-wide implementation in 2021

Final Report of the Law Firm Regulation Task Force

Professional Elements Report

Second interim: December 2017

 

Consultation on retainers held by lawyers who are mediators, arbitrators or parenting co-ordinators (Rule 3-58.1) Consultation closed August 31, 2020. Consultation paper