In March 2022, the BC government announced their intention to create legislation to have all legal professionals in British Columbia regulated by a single regulator. Since that time, the Law Society has issued several public statements in response to the government’s intentions paper, updates and progress. We have provided ongoing feedback to the Ministry of the Attorney General on the proposed legislation, which is expected to be tabled during the government’s Spring session in 2024. While supportive of a single legal regulator in principle, the Law Society has made clear to the government that the new legislation must preserve the independence of the regulator and Bar, among other considerations regarding scope of practice and governance. Below is a summary and timeline of public statements and responses from the Law Society and government to date.
March 2022: the BC government announced its intention to combine regulation of the legal profession under one regulator.
- Read the Ministry of the Attorney General’s Intentions Paper
- Public consultation was open between September to November 2022 and the findings were published in the government’s What We Heard report.
November 2022: The Law Society issued its response to the Intentions Paper.
March 2023: The Law Society asked the BC government to bring amendments to the current Legal Profession Act into force to allow for the licensing of paralegals.
June 2023: The Attorney General declined the Law Society’s request to bring the amendments into force, noting that the single legal regulator legislation to be tabled in the fall would allow for the licensing of paralegals, notaries and lawyers under one entity.
October 2023: The Attorney General announced that the proposed legislation was delayed until Spring 2024.
March 2024: The Ministry of Attorney General released a public update on the proposed legislation.
- The Law Society responded to the public update encouraging more consultation.
- The Canadian Bar Association BC Branch has set engagement sessions in March and April for the profession to share their thoughts on the proposed regulatory reform. Registration is open.
April 2024: The BC government tabled
Bill 21 – the Legal Professions Act.
- The Law Society issued its response, which opposed the legislation as it fails to protect the public’s interest in having access to independent legal professions governed by an independent regulator.
- The Law Society sent a letter to the Attorney General urging the government to halt Bill 21 to allow for wider consultation with the public, the legal professions and Indigenous peoples of BC.
This page will be updated as new developments occur.
