The Law Society’s Practice Checklists Manual is a professional reference for BC lawyers, maintained with the assistance of the Continuing Legal Education Society of BC.
Highlights of the 2020 Practice Checklists
The Law Society would like to thank the 2020 contributors who helped develop the practice checklists.
Client identification, verification and source of Money
Client Identification, Verification and Source of Money [updated to September 1, 2021] Word | pdf
Client file opening and closing
Client file opening and closing [updated to September 1, 2020] Word | pdf
New and Notable
Law Society Notable Updates List 2020 Word | pdf
Corporate and commercial
Asset Purchase Procedure [updated to September 1, 2020] Word | pdf
Asset Purchase Agreement Drafting [updated to September 1, 2020] Word | pdf
Share Purchase Procedure [updated to September 1, 2020] Word | pdf
Share Purchase Agreement Drafting [updated to September 1, 2020] Word | pdf
Incorporation — Business Corporations Act Procedure [updated to September 1, 2020] Word | pdf
Shareholders’ Agreement Procedure [updated to September 1, 2020] Word | pdf
Shareholders’ Agreement Drafting [updated to September 1, 2020] Word | pdf
Partnership Agreement Procedure [updated to September 1, 2020] Word | pdf
Partnership Agreement Drafting [updated to September 1, 2020] Word | pdf
Commercial Lease Procedure [updated to September 1, 2020] Word | pdf
Commercial Lease Drafting [updated to September 1, 2020] Word | pdf
Security Agreement Procedure [updated to September 1, 2020] Word | pdf
Security Agreement Drafting [updated to September 1, 2020] Word | pdf
Criminal
Criminal Procedure [updated to September 1, 2020] Word | pdf
Judicial Interim Release Procedure [updated to September 1, 2020] Word | pdf
Sentencing Procedure [updated to September 1, 2020] Word | pdf
Impaired/Over 80 Trial Examination of Witnesses [updated to September 1, 2020] Word | pdf
Family
Family Practice Interview [updated to September 1, 2020] Word | pdf
Family Law Agreement Procedure [updated to September 1, 2020] Word | pdf
Separation Agreement Drafting [updated to September 1, 2020] Word | pdf
Marriage Agreement Drafting [updated to September 1, 2020] Word | pdf
Family Law Proceeding [updated to September 1, 2020] Word | pdf
Child, Family and Community Service Act Procedure [updated to September 1, 2020] Word | pdf
Polyfam Agreement Procedure [updated to September 1, 2020] Word | pdf
Polyfam Agreement Drafting [updated to September 1, 2020] Word | pdf
Litigation
Foreclosure Procedure [updated to September 1, 2020] Word | pdf
General Litigation Procedure [updated to September 1, 2020] Word | pdf
Personal Injury Plaintiff’s Interview or Examination for Discovery [updated to September 1, 2020] Word | pdf
Collections Procedure [updated to September 1, 2020] Word | pdf
Collections — Examination in Aid of Execution [updated to September 1, 2020] Word | pdf
Builders Lien Procedure [updated to September 1, 2020] Word | pdf
Real estate
Residential Conveyance Procedure [updated to September 1, 2020] Word | pdf
Mortgage Procedure [updated to September 1, 2020] Word | pdf
Mortgage Drafting [updated to September 1, 2020] Word | pdf
Wills and estates
Will Procedure [updated to September 1, 2020] Word | pdf
Will-Maker Interview [updated to September 1, 2020] Word | pdf
Will Drafting [updated to September 1, 2020] Word | pdf
Probate and Administration Interview [updated to September 1, 2020] Word | pdf
Probate and Administration Procedure [updated to September 1, 2020] Word | pdf
Human rights
Human Rights Complaint Procedure [updated to September 1, 2020] Word | pdf
Immigration
Protection Claim [updated to September 1, 2020] Word | pdf
Appeal Against Deportation [updated to September 1, 2020] Word | pdf
Use of the checklists
Although the checklists are the result of a careful consideration of each area of the law covered, they are not intended as a substitute for the professional judgment of a lawyer. An attempt has been made to be comprehensive, but the checklists are not exhaustive. Nor are they intended to impose mandatory guidelines for practice in any of the areas covered. In many cases, it will not be necessary to carry out all the activities outlined in the checklists; in other cases, alternative procedures may be more appropriate. The checklists are intended primarily to assist in the organization of a matter and to suggest things that a lawyer should consider.
We suggest that, when opening a file, you place copies of the relevant checklists to place in the file folder. When you first review a “procedure” checklist for a file, assign a responsible individual and due date for each relevant item, and mark inapplicable items with an “X” in the NA (not applicable) column. When you deal with the file subsequently, you will not have to re-read each item on a long checklist; you may concentrate on the applicable items only. It may be prudent, however, to make a final review of all checklist items before finalizing the file in case an item originally marked “NA” has become relevant in the interim.
Some checklists, such as the “drafting” ones, appear in a slightly different form than the “procedure” checklists. They have a column for recording notes.
You may find it useful to customize some of the checklists for use in your particular areas of practice.
Caveat
The authors of the checklists have assumed that lawyers will exercise their professional judgement respecting the correctness and applicability of the material. Checklists and forms should be used only as an initial reference point. Reliance on them to the exclusion of other resources is imprudent, as conduct of each file depends on its own particular circumstances and instructions of the client.
The practice checklists should be used only as a secondary reference. For definitive answers, lawyers should refer to applicable statutes, regulations, practice directions and case law.
The Law Society of British Columbia, the Continuing Legal Education Society of British Columbia and the authors and editors of the manual accept no responsibility for any errors or omissions, and expressly disclaim any such responsibility.
All references to statutory amendments, new case law and changes in practice are current to the date indicated at the beginning of each checklist.