The British Columbia Branch of the Canadian Bar Association (CBABC), has submitted a comprehensive response to the British Columbia Law Institute’s (BCLI) consultation paper on artificial intelligence and civil liability. In its response, the CBABC considers the recommendations of the BCLI on the application of tort law to AI software. The CBABC’s thoughtful response highlights…
Law Society of British Columbia announces legal action to challenge Legal Professions Act
The Law Society of British Columbia has announced its intention to challenge the constitutionality of Bill 21, known as the Legal Professions Act, which was granted Royal Assent on May 16, 2024. This Act consolidates the regulation of lawyers, notaries, and paralegals under a single regulatory body, a move that the Law Society argues undermines…
Client Contingency Planning Report by the Law Society of Ontario
The “Client Contingency Planning Report” details proposed amendments to By-Law 7.1 by the Law Society of Ontario, aiming to enhance protection of client interests through mandatory contingency plans for all private practice licensees, which includes solicitors and paralegals. These plans are intended to address potential interruptions in legal services due to the sudden or unexpected…
Law Society of Ontario provides comprehensive guidelines on the use of generative AI in legal practices
The April 2024 Futures Committee Report of the Law Society of Ontario provides comprehensive guidelines on the use of generative AI in legal practices. It emphasises the rapid evolution and integration of generative AI technologies, urging legal professionals to embrace these advancements while considering the ethical and professional implications. The report outlines the potential of…
The Federation of Law Societies Canada is seeking feedback on draft amendments to its model code of conduct
The Federation of Law Societies of Canada is seeking feedback on draft amendments to its model code of conduct. The proposed changes seek to implement the call from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission for all lawyers in Canada to be provided with appropriate cultural competency training, covering topics such as residential schools, Indigenous rights, and…
February feature: On-going regulatory reform
This month’s feature looks at a few of the jurisdictions currently engaging in a review of the legislative framework for the regulation of legal services. These reviews cover issues ranging from a restatement of the objectives of lawyer regulation through to a fundamental redesign of the architecture of regulation and the roles and responsibilities of…
Law Society of Ontario hosts 8th annual access-to-justice week
The eighth annual Access to Justice Week (A2J Week) in Ontario, held from October 23 to 27, marked the “10th anniversary of Canada’s Justice Development Goals.” The event showcased over 30 virtual and in-person programs, attracting more than 3000 participants nationwide. Focused on reviewing a decade of progress and setting goals for the future, the…
Law society of Saskatchewan begins beta use of AI for case law summaries
The Law Society of Saskatchewan in partnership with Lexum has introduced AI-powered case law summaries on CanLII, the Canadian Legal Information Institute, for recent decisions from Saskatchewan. This initiative aims to enhance the accessibility of Saskatchewan case law by providing quick access to crucial case points. The integration of AI-powered summaries brings benefits such as…
The National Requirement Review Committee of Canada is conducting a review of National Requirements.
The National Requirement Review Committee (NRRC) is conducting a comprehensive review of the National Requirement, which specifies the knowledge and skills required for graduates of Canadian law school programs and internationally trained graduates and lawyers to be admitted to law society admission programs in the Canadian common law jurisdictions. The NRRC has received input from…
Recommendations made following Canadian study into well-being of the legal profession
The original report showed the Canadian legal profession had significantly high levels of psychological distress and depressive thoughts. These came from a number of different causes, including violence and incivility in the workplace as well as organisational risk factors such as emotional demands of the job, lack of resources, job insecurity, compassion fatigue and workload….