Annual fees

Membership with the Law Society expires on December 31 each year. Lawyers are responsible for ensuring that payment of their annual fee and indemnity fee, if applicable, is made before the deadlines outlined in Part 2, Division 3 of the Law Society Rules. Lawyers are notified by email when the invoice for their annual fee is available in their Member Portal account in October.

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Member cards and practising certificates

Practising, non-practising and retired lawyers, as well as Canadian Legal Advisors, may retrieve their printable member cards from their accounts in the Member Portal under “My Profile” when their payment for the annual fee and all other outstanding dues, if any, are processed by the Law Society, and they have no outstanding Annual Practice Declarations.

Practising lawyers in good standing may retrieve their practising certificates from their accounts in the Member Portal under “My Profile” when their payment for the annual fee and all other outstanding dues, if any, are processed by the Law Society, and they have no outstanding Annual Practice Declarations.

These documents will not be supplied as physical documents by mail.

Go to Member Portal 

Change contact information

Lawyers must notify the Law Society of any changes to their business address information. Prompt disclosure of this information is required under Law Society Rules 2-9 to 2-11.

Lawyers can submit changes to their business address information online through the Member Portal. To update your information, log in and select the appropriate option under "My Profile" in the navigation menu.

Go to Member Portal 

Forms

Forms for BC lawyers (status changes, compulsory professional liability indemnity coverage, law corporations, Aboriginal Lawyers Mentorship Program), students and lawyers outside BC.

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Law firm registration

We explain which firms must register, the information to be provided, and how to register.

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Apply for compulsory professional liability indemnity coverage or claim an exemption

Every BC lawyer in private practice must pay the annual indemnity fee unless exempt.

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Certificates: Standing, Authentication and Notarial

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Changes to membership category

Non-practising membership

Non-practising members must not engage in the practice of law, except providing pro bono legal services or acting as a designated paralegal under Rule 2-13, until a release from undertaking is granted by the Executive Director. They must not use a notarial seal for the purpose of notarizing documents as only a practising lawyer is entitled to use a notarial seal (section 14(3) of the Legal Profession Act). 

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Retired membership

Retired members must not engage in the practice of law, except providing pro bono legal services or acting as a designated paralegal under Rule 2-13, until a release from undertaking is granted by the Executive Director. They must not use a notarial seal for the purpose of notarizing documents as only a practising lawyer is entitled to use a notarial seal (section 14(3) of the Legal Profession Act). 

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Termination of membership

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