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Difference between revisions of "The Law Society, Bar Associations, and Law Foundation"
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The Law Society, Bar Associations, and Law Foundation (view source)
Revision as of 03:46, 30 October 2020
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Several organizations play roles overseeing and supporting the legal profession in British Columbia. Learn how between them, they regulate lawyers, promote the interests of lawyers, and support access to justice. | Several organizations play roles overseeing and supporting the legal profession in British Columbia. Learn how between them, they regulate lawyers, promote the interests of lawyers, and support access to justice. | ||
== | ==What you should know== | ||
===The Law Society of BC regulates lawyers=== | ===The Law Society of BC regulates lawyers=== | ||
The '''Law Society of BC''' is the governing body for the legal profession in British Columbia. Under the ''[https://www.canlii.org/en/bc/laws/stat/sbc-1998-c-9/latest/sbc-1998-c-9.html#sec3_smooth Legal Profession Act]'', its duty is to protect the public interest in the administration of justice. A board of directors, called '''benchers''', governs the Law Society. The board consists of 25 elected lawyers and six appointed non-lawyers (called lay benchers). The lawyer benchers are elected to represent districts across BC. | The '''Law Society of BC''' is the governing body for the legal profession in British Columbia. Under the ''[https://www.canlii.org/en/bc/laws/stat/sbc-1998-c-9/latest/sbc-1998-c-9.html#sec3_smooth Legal Profession Act]'', its duty is to protect the public interest in the administration of justice. A board of directors, called '''benchers''', governs the Law Society. The board consists of 25 elected lawyers and six appointed non-lawyers (called lay benchers). The lawyer benchers are elected to represent districts across BC. | ||
====Protecting the public==== | ====Protecting the public==== | ||
The Law Society works to ensure that lawyers do their work properly and that the public is well served by lawyers who are honourable, competent and independent. It sets and enforces standards for licensing, competence, education, ethics, and professional conduct. The Law Society also sets the qualifications to become a lawyer and to practise law in BC. | The Law Society works to ensure that lawyers do their work properly and that the public is well served by lawyers who are honourable, competent and independent. It sets and enforces standards for licensing, competence, education, ethics, and professional conduct. The Law Society also sets the qualifications to become a lawyer and to practise law in BC. | ||
The Law Society requires lawyers to carry '''liability insurance''' to protect clients who suffer financial loss because of their lawyer's negligence. It also has a fund to pay clients who lose money because their lawyer steals trust money. | The Law Society requires lawyers to carry '''liability insurance''' to protect clients who suffer financial loss because of their lawyer's negligence. It also has a fund to pay clients who lose money because their lawyer steals trust money. | ||
====Dealing with complaints==== | ====Dealing with complaints==== | ||
The Law Society deals with [[If You Have a Problem with a Lawyer | The Law Society deals with [[If You Have a Problem with a Lawyer|complaints from the public]] about lawyers' conduct. In some cases, the Law Society holds a hearing into a lawyer's conduct. All Law Society hearings are open to the public. If the hearing finds the lawyer guilty of professional misconduct or a breach of the rules or laws governing lawyers, the Law Society may reprimand, fine or suspend the lawyer. It can also put conditions on the lawyer. And for serious misconduct, the Law Society can '''disbar''' a lawyer, meaning that the lawyer can’t practise law. | ||
To contact the Law Society, visit [https://www.lawsociety.bc.ca lawsociety.bc.ca], or call 604-669-2533 in the Lower Mainland or 1-800-903-5300 elsewhere in BC. | To contact the Law Society, visit [https://www.lawsociety.bc.ca/ lawsociety.bc.ca], or call 604-669-2533 in the Lower Mainland or 1-800-903-5300 elsewhere in BC. | ||
===The Canadian Bar Association promotes the interests of lawyers=== | ===The Canadian Bar Association promotes the interests of lawyers=== | ||
The '''Canadian Bar Association''', or CBA, is a voluntary national organization that promotes the interests of the legal profession and promotes law reform. The '''British Columbia Branch''' of the CBA helps its lawyer members in BC stay current in their areas of practice. Lawyers with similar professional interests meet regularly and exchange information and ideas. Unlike the Law Society, the CBA does not license or regulate lawyers. To contact the BC Branch of the CBA, visit [https://www.cbabc.org/Home cbabc.org], or call 604-687-3404 in the Lower Mainland or 1-888-687-3404 elsewhere in BC. | The '''Canadian Bar Association''', or CBA, is a voluntary national organization that promotes the interests of the legal profession and promotes law reform. The '''British Columbia Branch''' of the CBA helps its lawyer members in BC stay current in their areas of practice. Lawyers with similar professional interests meet regularly and exchange information and ideas. Unlike the Law Society, the CBA does not license or regulate lawyers. To contact the BC Branch of the CBA, visit [https://www.cbabc.org/Home cbabc.org], or call 604-687-3404 in the Lower Mainland or 1-888-687-3404 elsewhere in BC. | ||
====Local bar associations==== | ====Local bar associations==== | ||
There are also local bar associations in most cities and towns in British Columbia. They are voluntary organizations concerned with local matters affecting their lawyer members. | There are also local bar associations in most cities and towns in British Columbia. They are voluntary organizations concerned with local matters affecting their lawyer members. | ||
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The '''Law Foundation of BC''' is a non-profit organization, created by law in 1969. It receives and distributes the interest on clients' funds held in lawyers' pooled trust accounts. The Foundation uses this money to fund programs and projects throughout BC that benefit the public in the areas of legal education, legal research, legal aid, law reform, and law libraries. These initiatives advance a just society and the public’s access to justice. Dial-A-Law is one of the legal education programs that the Foundation funds. | The '''Law Foundation of BC''' is a non-profit organization, created by law in 1969. It receives and distributes the interest on clients' funds held in lawyers' pooled trust accounts. The Foundation uses this money to fund programs and projects throughout BC that benefit the public in the areas of legal education, legal research, legal aid, law reform, and law libraries. These initiatives advance a just society and the public’s access to justice. Dial-A-Law is one of the legal education programs that the Foundation funds. | ||
To contact the Law Foundation of BC, visit [https://www.lawfoundationbc.org lawfoundationbc.org] or call 604-688-2337. | To contact the Law Foundation of BC, visit [https://www.lawfoundationbc.org/ lawfoundationbc.org] or call 604-688-2337. | ||
{{Dial-A-Law_Navbox|type=courts}} | {{Dial-A-Law_Navbox|type=courts}} | ||
{{Dial-A-Law Copyright}} | {{Dial-A-Law Copyright}} | ||