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.
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.
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.
Membership category change and voluntary resignation
We explain what to do if you will no longer be engaged in the practice of law (short-term or long-term). This includes non-practising membership, retired membership and voluntary resignation.
Forms
Forms for BC lawyers (status changes, compulsory professional liability indemnity coverage, law corporations) and students and lawyers outside BC.
Law firm registration
We explain which firms must register, the information to be provided, and how to register.
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.
Certificates: Standing, Authentication and Notarial
-
- Act, Rules & Code
-
- Law Society Rules
- Highlights of Amendments to the Law Society Rules
- Definitions
- Part 1 – Organization
- Part 2 – Membership and Authority to Practise Law
- Part 3 – Protection of the Public
- Part 4 – Discipline
- Part 5 – Tribunal, Hearings and Appeals
- Part 6 – Custodianships
- Part 8 – Lawyers’ Fees
- Part 9 – Incorporation and Limited Liability Partnerships
- Part 10 – General
- Schedule 1 – Law Society Fees and Assessments
- Schedule 2 – Prorated Fees and Assessments for Practising Lawyers
- Schedule 3 – Prorated Fees for Non-Practising and Retired Members
- Schedule 4 – Tariff for Hearing and Review Costs
- Schedule 5 – Form of Summons
-
- Code of Professional Conduct for British Columbia (the BC Code) – annotated
- About the Code of Professional Conduct for BC
- Highlights of Amendments to the BC Code
- Introduction to the BC Code
- Chapter 1 – Interpretation and Definitions – annotated
- Chapter 2 – Standards of the Legal Profession – annotated
- Chapter 3 – Relationship to Clients – annotated
- Chapter 4 – Marketing of Legal Services – annotated
- Chapter 5 – Relationship to the Administration of Justice – annotated
- Chapter 6 – Relationship to Students, Employees, and Others – annotated
- Chapter 7 – Relationship to the Society and Other Lawyers
- Appendix A – Affidavits, Solemn Declarations and Officer Certifications – annotated
- Appendix B – Family Law Mediation, Arbitration and Parenting Coordination
- Appendix C – Real Property Transactions – annotated
- Appendix E – Supervision of Paralegals
- Annotations to Chapter 1 – Interpretation and Definitions
- Annotations to Chapter 2 – Standards of the Legal Profession
- Annotations to Chapter 3 – Relationship to Clients
- Annotations to Chapter 4 – Marketing of Legal Services
- Annotations to Chapter 5 – Relationship to the Administration of Justice
- Annotations to Chapter 6 - Relationship to Students, Employees, and Others
- Annotations to Chapter 7 – Relationship to the Society and Other Lawyers
- Annotations to Appendix A – Affidavits, Solemn Declarations and Officer Certifications
- Annotations to Appendix C – Real Property Transactions
- Member's Manual
- Legal Profession Act
-
- Discipline Advisories
- June 2, 2022
- August 31, 2021
- June 29, 2021
- February 10, 2021
- August 13, 2020
- June 1, 2020
- April 2, 2019
- April 10, 2018
- February 8, 2018
- July 13, 2017
- March 31, 2016
- October 2, 2015
- August 20, 2015
- September 25, 2014
- November 8, 2013
- May 1, 2013
- February 18, 2013
- January 11, 2013
- November 22, 2012
- August 10, 2012
- June 12, 2012
- February 1, 2012
- December 7, 2011
- October 19, 2011
- August 19, 2011
- July 18, 2011
- June 10, 2011
- Discipline and Suspension Resources for Lawyers
- Lawyers Indemnity Fund Website