Announcements

The Canadian Bar Association, BC Branch has submitted recommendations to the Ministry of Attorney General, in response to its Intentions Paper released in September 2022.  

The Canadian Bar Association, BC Branch, supports a single regulator model for the legal profession, as long as these changes do not impact lawyers’ independence and self-regulation, the legal association says in its submission to the Ministry of the Attorney General.

The newly minted president of the B.C. branch of the Canadian Bar Association (CBA) is saying he will be pushing for more access to justice and increased legal aid funding over the course of his term in office, which will run alongside anticipated major changes to the governance of lawyers in the province.

CBABC will be asking lawyers several questions arising from the Intentions Paper including, “how should we define the practice of law?”, “what should be the scope of practice for each profession?”, “how should paralegals be regulated?” and, “how many lawyers should be on the governing board?”

The BC government has outlined its ideas for creating a single regulator in the province for lawyers, notaries, and paralegals but vows it has “no intention” of interfering with the legal profession’s independence.

British Columbia is recommending a large-scale modernization of how the legal professions are governed in the province, and an expert is saying the proposals would represent a “quantum leap” for regulation in Canada if they are adopted.

Lawyer with Community Legal Services Association will focus on diversity, inclusion, access to justice

The Canadian Bar Association, BC Branch (CBABC) announced that Aleem Bharmal starts his term as president for the 2022-23 term on Sept. 1.

The Canadian Bar Association, BC Branch announces Aleem Bharmal, QC, as President for the 2022-23 term. Aleem steps into this position of leadership during a time marked by transformation and modernization, both within the legal profession and justice system. 

"The Aboriginal Lawyers Forum of the Canadian Bar Association BC Branch extends our most sincere congratulations to the Honourable Madam Justice Michelle O’Bonsawin on becoming the first Indigenous person, member of the Abenaki of the Odanak First Nation, nominated to the Supreme Court of Canada."