Branch Sections with an asterisk(*) provide automatic enrollment into corresponding National Section.
| Section | County | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| Aboriginal Law - Vancouver* | Vancouver | MANDATE Provides a forum for the exchange of views and experiences for lawyers who deal with aboriginal issues for First Nations, industry and all levels of government, including self-governments. Meetings/Events Held 2023/2024: 2 |
| Aboriginal Law - Vancouver Island* | Victoria | MANDATE Provides a forum for the exchange of views and experiences for lawyers who deal with aboriginal issues for First Nations, industry and all levels of government, including self-governments. Meetings/Events Held 2023/2024: 4 |
| Aboriginal Lawyers Forum | All | MANDATE The CBABC Aboriginal Lawyers Forum (ALF) is a social networking and mentoring forum for law students, law graduates and lawyers. Due to the nature and mandate of the ALF, members will be primarily but not exclusively Aboriginal lawyers, law graduates and students. Meetings/Events Held 2023/2024: 13 |
| Administrative Law* | All | MANDATE Deals with that area of law which governs the delegation by government of quasi-judicial powers to administrative boards and agencies, eg, the Workers' Compensation Board, the Municipal Board, and the manner in which such powers are exercised by boards and agencies. Meetings/Events Held 2023/2024: 3 |
| ADR - Nanaimo* | Nanaimo | MANDATE Provides a forum for professional development, education, networking and discussion regarding various forms of dispute resolution used within and outside of the litigation system, including arbitration, mediation, collaborative law, and court-annexed settlement procedures. Meetings/Events Held 2023/2024: 5 |
| ADR - Vancouver* | Vancouver | MANDATE Provides a forum for professional development, education, networking and discussion regarding various forms of dispute resolution used within and outside of the litigation system, including arbitration, mediation, collaborative law, and court-annexed settlement procedures. Meetings/Events Held 2023/2024: 1 |
| Air Law* | All | MANDATE Deals with domestic and international law as it applies to the exploration and utilization of outer space and to the aviation industry including accident liabilities and licensing and regulation of aircraft, crew and services. Meetings/Events Held 2023/2024: 3 |
| Animal Law | All | MANDATE To study various issues involving wild and domestic animals and to educate the legal community about the same. Animal Law is an evolving area of practice and this CBABC Section welcomes new ideas, insights and assistance. Meetings/Events Held 2023/2024: 3 |
| Appellate Advocacy | All | MANDATE The mandate of the Section is to provide a forum for discussion of topics of interest related to civil and criminal appellate practice, primarily in the BC Court of Appeal, but also in the Supreme Court of Canada and BC Supreme Court. The Section will consider procedural and substantive law, and oral and written advocacy, relevant to appellate practice in those courts. Meetings/Events Held 2023/2024: 3 |
| Business Law* | All | MANDATE Covers law which governs the rights and responsibilities of parties to commercial transactions and of directors, officers and shareholders of business corporations. Meetings/Events Held 2023/2024: 5 |
| CCCA BC* | All | MANDATE Provides a collegial forum for discussion among corporate counsel and the exchange of experiences, and for the development of programmes and education in response to the specific needs of corporate in-house counsel. The Section will also be operating in the capacity of the BC Chapter of the Canadian Corporate Counsel Association. Meetings/Events Held 2023/2024: 4 |
| Charities and Not-for-Profit Law* | All | MANDATE To deal with law and practice relating to the regulation and administration of charities, non-profit organizations and social enterprises. Meetings/Events Held 2023/2024: 5 |
| Children's Law* | All | MANDATE The mandate of the Section will be to highlight the significance, complexity and impact of legal situations facing children and youth, to improve the law affecting children and youth and to provide practitioners interested and involved in children and youth issues a forum for discussion, support and action. Meetings/Events Held 2023/2024: 5 |
| Civil Litigation - Okanagan* | Yale | MANDATE Deals with the practice of civil litigation, including rules and procedures for the conduct of civil cases, the jurisdiction of civil courts, the enforcement of judicial decisions of a civil nature and the role of counsel in the civil litigation system. Meetings/Events Held 2023/2024: 2 |
| Civil Litigation - Vancouver* | Vancouver | MANDATE Deals with the practice of civil litigation, including rules and procedures for the conduct of civil cases, the jurisdiction of civil courts, the enforcement of judicial decisions of a civil nature and the role of counsel in the civil litigation system. Meetings/Events Held 2023/2024: 3 |
| Civil Litigation - Vancouver Island* | Victoria | MANDATE Deals with the practice of civil litigation, including rules and procedures for the conduct of civil cases, the jurisdiction of civil courts, the enforcement of judicial decisions of a civil nature and the role of counsel in the civil litigation system. Meetings/Events Held 2023/2024: 1 |
| Class Action* | All | MANDATE Addresses developments and trends in the legislation and case law governing the approval or certification of class proceedings under the Rules of Court and the Class Proceedings Act as well as general topics of procedural and substantive law as they apply in the context of class proceedings. Meetings/Events Held 2023/2024: 3 |
| Commercial and Real Estate - Okanagan* | Yale | MANDATE Concerned with law which establishes and regulates the rights and obligations of the owner, mortgagee, landlord and tenant in the use and disposition of land and interests in land and which provides the facilities for the public recording of ownership of interests in land. Meetings/Events Held 2023/2024: 1 |
| Commodity Tax, Customs and Trade* | National | There is no BC chapter of this Section This Section deals with law and practice related to commodity tax, customs and trade remedy matters including, but not limited to, the goods and services or harmonized sales tax, provincial sales taxes, excise taxes, North American Free Trade Agreement, customs duties, valuation, tariff classification, rules of origin, procurement, trade remedies, import/export controls and related matters. Activities include consultation with the Department of Finance (Canada), the Canada Revenue Agency, the Canada Border Services Agency, involvement in the Federal Court/Tax Court review process and Bench and Bar Committees with the Tax Court and Canadian International Trade Tribunal. |
| Competition Law and Foreign Investment Review* | National | There is no BC chapter of this Section The Section deals with legal policy, issues, and developments in the competition field domestically and internationally and promotes a greater awareness of competition law and foreign investment review. The Section consults on an ongoing basis with the Competition Bureau, the Department of Justice (Canada), the Competition Tribunal, Investment Review Division of Industry Canada, and Heritage Canada on issues relating to the administration of the Competition Act and the Investment Canada Act and on current and proposed enforcement policies and practices in relation to such legislation. It also contributes to the review of competition legislation and foreign investment review legislation and fosters relations in foreign jurisdictions with the legal profession and others interested in international competition law and policy issues or foreign investment review, and promotes cooperative educational efforts. |
| Constitutional/Civil Liberties Law* | All | MANDATE Concerned with constitutional law, including issues of federalism, the role of the executive, the Charter and related areas of law which define and protect individual and collective rights. Civil Liberties deals with the law where the rights of the individual are subject to infringement; prevention of injustice to individuals. Meetings/Events Held 2023/2024: 4 |
| Construction Law* | All | MANDATE Deals with commercial litigation relating to residential, commercial and industrial construction; issues related to financing and structuring of construction projects; advising contractors, engineers, architects, and planners; builders’ liens; and general contract preparation. Meetings/Events Held 2023/2024: 4 |
| Criminal Justice - Vancouver* | Vancouver | MANDATE Involves collegial discussion of issues and developments related to criminal law (and provincial offences), procedure and practice ethics, evidence and the Charter. Meetings/Events Held 2023/2024: 6 |
| Criminal Justice - Vancouver Island* | Victoria | MANDATE Involves collegial discussion of issues and developments related to criminal law (and provincial offences), procedure and practice ethics, evidence and the Charter. Meetings/Events Held 2023/2024: 5 |
| Elder Law* | All | MANDATE Addresses legal issues and problems of the elderly including age discrimination, elder abuse and exploitation, mental capacity and consent, medical and housing issues, guardianship, ethical and practical aspects of advising the older client. Meetings/Events Held 2023/2024: 7 |
| Employment Law* | All | MANDATE The Employment Law Section deals with employment law issues in non-unionized workplaces. Meetings/Events Held 2023/2024: 5 |
| Environmental Law* | All | MANDATE Covers law which imposes, regulates or prevents conduct which damages or destroys the environment Meetings/Events Held 2023/2024: 2 |
| Family Law - Fraser Valley* | Westminster | MANDATE To promote education and networking in the field of family law in the Fraser Valley and to create a stronger community of family law lawyers in the Fraser Valley. Our Section will promote better knowledge of family law and more collaboration among family law counsel for the purposes of better servicing our clients in the Fraser Valley. Meetings/Events Held 2023/2024: 2 |
| Family Law - Kamloops* | Yale | MANDATE Family Law covers divorce, adoption, child protection, common law and same–sex marriages, and generally all areas of family rights and responsibilities: property division; child custody, guardianship and access; mobility (moving away); child, spousal, and parental support. It also encompasses new methods of resolving such issues: family law mediation and collaborative law. Meetings/Events Held 2023/2024: 3 |
| Family Law - Okanagan* | Yale | MANDATE Family Law covers divorce, adoption, child protection, common law and same–sex marriages, and generally all areas of family rights and responsibilities: property division; child custody, guardianship and access; mobility (moving away); child, spousal, and parental support. It also encompasses new methods of resolving such issues: family law mediation and collaborative law. Meetings/Events Held 2023/2024: 3 |
| Family Law - Vancouver* | Vancouver | MANDATE Family Law covers divorce, adoption, child protection, common law and same–sex marriages, and generally all areas of family rights and responsibilities: property division; child custody, guardianship and access; mobility (moving away); child, spousal, and parental support. It also encompasses new methods of resolving such issues: family law mediation and collaborative law. Meetings/Events Held 2023/2024: 8 |
| Family Law – Vancouver Island Section | Victoria | MANDATE The mandate of the Section be to address the needs of lawyers practising family law in the Vancouver Island regions by organizing meetings and events in substantive areas of law, procedure, and practice ethics; to provide a forum for the exchange of information and opinion; and to promote and support the retention of all lawyers across Vancouver Island regions through networking, collegiality, and professional development. Meetings/Events Held 2023/2024: 11 |
| Freedom of Information and Privacy Law* | All | MANDATE Provides a forum for the exchange of information, networking and education of lawyers practising or interested in the area of freedom of information and privacy law. Meetings/Events Held 2023/2024: 2 |
| French Speaking Common Law Members* | National | There is no BC chapter of this Section To make the Association, its Branches and its members aware of the practice of common law in French, identifying and making members aware of relevant tools and resources; to work with National and Branch Sections, Conferences and Standing Committees to promote the organization of meetings, continuing legal education and other programs in French; and to organize common law programs and programming in French at meetings of the Association. |
| General Practice, Solo & Small Firm - Lower Mainland* | Vancouver | MANDATE Addresses the needs of general practitioners by organizing specialized programmes and by providing a forum for the exchange of information and opinion. Meetings/Events Held 2023/2024: 4 |
| Health Law* | All | MANDATE Addresses different issues of health law, such as health disciplines, mental health, public health facilities and patients' rights and provides a forum for rational and articulate discussion of issues in the health law field. Meetings/Events Held 2023/2024: 3 |
| Human Rights Law* | All | MANDATE Addresses various issues in the area of human rights law such as practice before the tribunal, alternate dispute resolution and pre-hearing procedures. It also provides a forum for general discussion of issues in the area, such as the intersection of human rights with legal rights extended under the Charter, labour and employment law. Meetings/Events Held 2023/2024: 3/p> |
| Immigration Law* | All | MANDATE Share information and expertise among lawyers practising in immigration, citizenship and refugee law; identify common problems experienced by practitioners in their daily work; develop positions and constructive suggestions; and foster a continuing dialogue with interested government departments such as Citizenship and Immigration Canada, Canada Border Services Agency, the Immigration and Refugee Board, the Provincial Nominee Program and the Department of Justice as to how issues can be resolved in a manner that is just and equitable for Canadian citizens, permanent residents and potential immigrants to Canada. Meetings/Events Held 2023/2024: 19 |
| Insolvency Law* | All | MANDATE Forum for exchange of ideas and experience for lawyers who deal with insolvency related matters in the course of a general commercial or litigation practice.. Meetings/Events Held 2023/2024: 0 |
| Insurance Law* | All | MANDATE Concerned with law which applies to the insurance contract and regulates the rights and responsibilities of the parties to a contract of insurance. Meetings/Events Held 2023/2024: 3 |
| Intellectual Property and Technology Law* | All | MANDATE Intellectual Property and Technology Law Section deals with legal issues effecting intellectual property and the technology industry. Meetings/Events Held 2023/2024: 2 |
| Internationally Trained Lawyers* | All | MANDATE To connect and support lawyers who are in the process of completing or have completed the National Committee on Accreditation Certificate of Qualification to practice law in Canada. The Section offers a forum for learning, connection and support to secure employment, adapt to the British Columbia legal landscape, and focus on skills and knowledge development relevant to this group. Meetings/Events Held 2023/2024: 4 |
| Labour Law* | All | MANDATE Covers law governing the employer/employee relationship including the establishment of employment standards, trade union organization and the principles and practice relating to the negotiation and enforcement of collective agreements and the arbitration and settlement of labour disputes. Meetings/Events Held 2023/2024: 5 |
| Legal Research | All | MANDATE Improve research skills, discuss interesting law developments and exchange ideas and information regarding the concept of research as a specialty area of practice. Meetings/Events Held 2023/2024: 3 |
| Maritime Law* | All | MANDATE Covers domestic and international law which regulate the use of domestic and international waterways and the operation of commercial and pleasure vessels and provide the procedures for the enforcement of the rights and obligations of the owners of vessels, passengers and cargo owners. Meetings/Events Held 2023/2024: 8 |
| Municipal Law* | All | MANDATE Covers law which establishes the form and powers of municipal government and regulates the manner in which such powers are exercised. Meetings/Events Held 2023/2024: 3 |
| Natural Resources Law* | All | MANDATE Deals with legal issues affecting the natural resource industries. Meetings/Events Held 2023/2024: 0 |
| Pensions & Benefits Law* | All | MANDATE Promotes information exchange and development of pension and employee benefits law. Meetings/Events Held 2023/2024: 3 |
| Public Sector Lawyers* | All | MANDATE Promotes the interests of lawyers employed in the government and public sectors. It provides programs to lawyers not in private practice, such as unionization, self insurance, freedom of information requests and other issues of common concern to those employed by crown corporations, societies, government and funded agencies. Meetings/Events Held 2023/2024: 2 |
| Real Property* | MANDATE Concerned with law which establishes and regulates the rights and obligations of the owner, mortgagee, landlord and tenant in the use and disposition of land and interests in land and which provides the facilities for the public recording of ownership of interests in land. Meetings/Events Held 2023/2024: 4 |
|
| Securities Law* | All | MANDATE Focuses on capital markets and security related issues; deals with the role of securities regulation in BC and in general, and the growth of participants in the financial marketplace. Meetings/Events Held 2023/2024: 6 |
| Senior Counsel | All | MANDATE The Senior Counsel Section welcomes practicing, non-practicing, retired lawyers and academics from all areas of law who have 25+ years of legal experience. Presents programs to support the education and interests of its members. Provides opportunities for members throughout the province to network and socially connect with each other. Supports the CBABC mentorship and practice advisor programs. Meetings/Events Held 2023/2024: 2 |
| Social Justice | All | MANDATE Welcomes those interested in helping marginalized clients to participate in the justice system and in society generally. Our focus is on practice skills, law reform, substantive legal training, and networking. Meetings/Events Held 2023/2024: 2 |
| Sexual and Gender Diversity Alliance Section (SAGDA)* | All | MANDATE CBABC’s Sexual and Gender Diversity Alliance Section (SAGDA) works to address the needs and concerns of members with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities, gender expressions, and sex characteristics within CBABC. This includes, but is not limited to, members who are two-spirited, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual and aromantic. Meetings/Events Held 2023/2024: 7 |
| Taxation Law* | All | MANDATE Covers law which imposes tax and which establishes and enforces the manner in which taxation statutes are administered and enforced. Meetings/Events Held 2023/2024: 3 |
| Unbundled Legal Services* | All | MANDATE The mandate of the Unbundled Legal Services Section is to provide a forum for professional development, education, networking, peer support, information exchange and discussion regarding the effective provision of unbundled legal services; also called "limited scope" legal services in BC. Meetings/Events Held 2023/2024: 2 |
| Wills and Trusts - Okanagan* | Yale | MANDATE Concerned with all aspects of succession law and practice including wills, probate and administration, testamentary and inter vivos trusts, mental competency as it relates to succession, estate planning and adult guardianship, and necessary ancillary areas such as the Income Tax Act and the Land Title Act. The Section emphasizes practice issues, presents regular guest speakers and case comments, and holds a practitioners' open forum at each meeting. Meetings/Events Held 2023/2024: 3 |
| Wills and Trusts - Vancouver* | All | MANDATE Concerned with all aspects of succession law and practice including wills, probate and administration, testamentary and inter vivos trusts, mental competency as it relates to succession, estate planning and adult guardianship, and necessary ancillary areas such as the Income Tax Act and the Land Title Act. The Section emphasizes practice issues, presents regular guest speakers and case comments, and holds a practitioners' open forum at each meeting. MMeetings/Events Held 2023/2024: 4 |
| Wills and Trusts - Victoria* | Victoria | MANDATE Concerned with all aspects of succession law and practice including wills, probate and administration, testamentary and inter vivos trusts, mental competency as it relates to succession, estate planning and adult guardianship, and necessary ancillary areas such as the Income Tax Act and the Land Title Act. The Section emphasizes practice issues, presents regular guest speakers and case comments, and holds a practitioners' open forum at each meeting. Meetings/Events Held 2023/2024: 2 |
| Women Lawyers Forum* | All | MANDATE Addresses the need for long term programs, plans and systems to achieve the broad mandate of promoting and supporting the enhancement of the stature and influence of women in the legal profession. Meetings/Events Held 2023/2024: 6 |
| Women Lawyers Forum - Kamloops* | Yale | MANDATE The mandate of the Kamloops Women Lawyers Forum will be to promote and support the retention of women lawyers through collegiality, mentoring and professional development; and to promote equality and social justice for all women. Our values are inclusivity, equality, diversity, and respect. Meetings/Events Held 2023/2024: 4 |
| Women Lawyers Forum - Vancouver Island* | Victoria | MANDATE A women lawyers’ practice group providing opportunities for networking and meeting to discuss and learn about strategies and initiatives to improve satisfaction, survival and success of women lawyers in their careers. Meetings/Events Held 2023/2024: 5 |
| Workplace Investigations | All | MANDATE This Section will focus on improving the quality of workplace investigations by providing meaningful opportunities for lawyers to learn and discuss changes in relevant legislation, as well as case law updates, and best practices. Meetings/Events Held 2023/2024: 5 |
| Young Lawyers - Lower Mainland* | Vancouver | MANDATE Provides opportunities for networking as well as continuing legal education focussed on issues which arise early on in practice. Some locations also provide opportunities to volunteer in the larger community. All law students, articling students and lawyers who have been in practice for less than 10 years are welcome. MMeetings/Events Held 2023/2024: 10 |
| Young Lawyers - Okanagan* | Yale | MANDATE Provides opportunities for networking as well as continuing legal education focussed on issues which arise early on in practice. Some locations also provide opportunities to volunteer in the larger community. All law students, articling students and lawyers who have been in practice for less than 10 years are welcome. Meetings/Events Held 2023/2024: 7 |
| Young Lawyers - Victoria* | Victoria | MANDATE Provides opportunities for networking as well as continuing legal education focussed on issues which arise early on in practice. Some locations also provide opportunities to volunteer in the larger community. All law students, articling students and lawyers who have been in practice for less than 10 years are welcome. Meetings/Events Held 2023/2024: 13 |