Law Firms and Practitioners

­The Rural Education and Access to Lawyers Initiative (REAL) is committed to assisting law firms and practitioners in small communities and rural areas of British Columbia to recruit, hire and retain law students and new lawyers. REAL has established programs specifically designed to provide this assistance.

Funding applications for 2024 are now closed.

Benefits

The benefits of the REAL initiative to law firms and practitioners in regional areas include:

  • Funding to assist law firms and practitioners to hire summer students;
  • Professional support from the REAL Program Manager to assist with job postings and possible student matching

Process

CBABC reviews all applications to determine which firms will receive funding through the program. Incoming applications will be weighted on a number of factors including:

  1. Location in a high needs community or serving a high needs community
  2. Urgency of need
  3. Ability and willingness to offer an articling position in the following year.

Funding

Firms must provide their students with a minimum monthly salary of $3,500 during the placement period from May to August. The REAL program offers financial support by covering 50% of these wage costs through reimbursement.

If you would like further information regarding the initiative, please contact the REAL Program Manager at realbc@cbabc.org.

Learn More: Law Students