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…
IAALS publishes series on what it takes to reach minimum lawyer competence
IAALS, the Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System, has published a series on what is required for minimum competency as a lawyer. The study identifies 12 interlocking “building blocks” that define minimum competence in the legal profession and how current licensing systems must be improved to reflect what new lawyers actually do…
Legal Services Board of England and Wales release new report on ongoing competence
The Legal Services Board of England and Wales (LSB) has released a new blog alongside a newly commissioned report on ongoing competence. The blog highlights the fact that ‘the LSB’s work on ongoing competence is central to its regulatory objective to protect and promote the interests of consumers. Consumers should be able to trust that…
New lawyers in Alberta to be automatically enrolled in mentoring programme
Following the approval of 2020 recommendations by the Alberta Benchers, focused on enhancing lawyer competence in the province; the Law Society has implemented a new programme whereby newly qualified lawyers will automatically be registered for mentorship. The programme has arisen from the fact that one of the recommendations in the report was to encourage all…
Legal Services Board releases options on ongoing competence
The Legal Services Board (LSB) has published a new report on ongoing competence in the legal services sector. Confirming that it plans to develop this thinking further and consult on how competence can be assured over the course of a lawyer’s career. In the report the LSB points out that whilst legal regulators have comprehensive…