Legal Professions Act 2024
In April 2024, the BC Government introduced Bill 21 - Legal Professions Act (2024) into the BC Legislature. Bill 21 ends lawyer independence in BC, politicizes the legal system, and provides no new funding at all for legal aid or other access to justice initiatives. Bill 21 ends the elected-lawyer majority that currently exists on the Law Society of BC’s board. Just five of seventeen board seats will be elected lawyers under the new regulatory structure, and the remaining twelve board seats will be direct or indirect government-appointments. In comparison, in Ontario’s single legal regulator model, the board has forty elected lawyers, eight government appointments, and five paralegal representatives. Bill 21 is an enormous departure from the norms governing legal regulation in liberal, democratic societies. The BC Government has rationalized Bill 21 by arguing that it will improve access to justice by lowering costs for British Columbians in need of legal assistance, yet Bill 21 does nothing to improve access to justice. In fact, the BC Government underfunds legal aid by approximately $100 million annually, and Bill 21 does nothing to improve funding for legal aid. While Bill 21 increases government control over legal regulation in BC, it fails to achieve its primary aim of improving access to justice in BC.
Political Party Positions on Legal Professions Act 2024:
BC Green Party - 11 June 2026
BC Green Party - 31 July 2024
Conservative Party of British Columbia - 15 April 2024
TLABC's Notice of Appeal - filed 5 May 2026
Statement: TLABC files Notice of Appeal on Legal Professions Act legislation - 5 May 2026
SUMMARY: Reasons to Oppose the Legal Professions Act 2024 - 29 April 2024
TLABC President Greg Phillips provides an update on the Legal Professions Act- 11 August 2025 (video)
TLABC President Greg Phillips provides an Advocacy Update - 14 April 2025 (video)
More lawyers join constitutional fight for right to self-regulation - 16 December 2024
TLABC 2nd Vice President Rebecca McConchie on Bill 21 & Independence of the Bar - 26 September 2024 (video)
Justice Gropper's Reasons for Judgement - Injunctive Relief Application Hearing - 17 July 2024
Written Submission of TLABC for Injunctive Application - 17 June 2024
Written Submission of Law Society of BC for Injunctive Application - 17 June 2024
Written Submission of the Province against Injunctive Application - 17 June 2024
TLABC 2nd Vice President Rebecca McConchie on Bill 21 & Independence of the Bar - 6 June 2024 (video)
TLABC's Notice of Civil Claim - filed 21 May 2024
TLABC 1st Vice President Greg Phillips on Bill 21 & Independence of the Bar - 3 May 2024 (video)
TLABC's issues media release opposing Bill 21 - 10 April 2024
Bill 21: Legal Professions Act (2024) - tabled by BC Government 10 April 2024, second reading 6 May, third reading May 15, Royal Assent 16 May 2024
Read a summary of reasons why to oppose Bill 21 - Legal Professions Act (2024) - 29 April 2024 - TLABC e-newsletter update
Opinion: Bill 21 will exert undue influence, undermine independence of legal system - 12 April 2024
TLABC President Michael Elliott on Bill 21 & Independence of the Bar - 8 March 2024 (video)
Legal Professions Regulatory Modernization - Public Update - March 2024
TLABC's reponse to the "What We Heard" Report - 21 June 2023
BC Government's "What We Heard" Report - May 2023
Ministry of Attorney General Intentions Paper - September 2022
Since TLABC was founded in 1980, its membership has worked to protect the rights of individuals and enhance the practice of law in British Columbia. Hand in hand with those goals is the pursuit of positive changes in legislation and the rules of court proceedings. In addition to participating and assisting the courts in public-interest cases and appeals, TLABC devotes time and other resources to important public-minded campaigns. If you have questions about TLABC's advocacy activities, please contact us. If you would like to support TLABC's advocacy efforts by contributing to the PAC fund, click here with our thanks.
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