Join the Conversation: Proposed Amendments to the Legal Profession Act
We want to hear from Alberta lawyers on proposed amendments to the Legal Profession Act ( key features and FAQ ) and how we can help support innovation in the delivery of legal services. Visit our engagement website at www.lawsocietylistens.ca to review materials, watch videos and join in the conversation.

There are many ways to participate:
  • Complete a three minute online survey about potential Legal Profession Act amendments
  • Attend a Law Society Open House in your community
  • Register for our November 10 (noon - 2 p.m.) webinar
  • Share your story of how you are innovating, or would like to innovate, the delivery of legal services
  • Participate in the discussion forum

We are also speaking with Albertans about their experiences finding and using legal services. We invite you to spread the word to your clients. There is a brief survey for Albertans to complete available at www.lawsocietylistens.ca/public.
New Approach to Practice Assessments Being Piloted
We routinely encourage lawyers to focus on what they do best - practicing law - and to engage experts with the skills and experience to address other aspects of their practice. For example, hiring a bookkeeper rather than attempting to do bookkeeping themselves.

Until now, the model that the Law Society has used for practice assessments was to send two lawyers – a staff lawyer and someone recruited from the bar - to spend a full-day with a lawyer referred to us from the disciplinary stream or by other means. 

In addition to talking about the lawyer’s files, clients and practice area, these assessment teams also address non-legal issues like the lawyer’s computer network and security, human resources, marketing and financial planning.

We are enhancing our approach to practice assessments to focus our lawyer-assessors on legal issues while adding subject-matter experts (SMEs) to assist with other practice-related issues. 

Practice Advisors Availability
Our Practice Advisors are available as a free and confidential service to help Alberta lawyers, legal support staff and articling students with legal, ethical and practice inquiries. They mediate and arbitrate inter-lawyer disputes as well as assist lawyers in accessing resources for practice-related stress issues.

The Practice Advisors can be reached Monday - Friday during office hours for lawyers across the province. Their central phone line is:

Toll free: 1.866.440.4640

Beginning the week of November 20, Practice Advisor Ross McLeod, QC, will only be available on a part-time basis Wednesdays - Fridays.
Notice - Court of Queen&aposs Bench
Distinguished Service Award Nomination Period Now Open
Jointly presented by the Canadian Bar Association Alberta Branch and the Law Society of Alberta, these prestigious awards shine a light on the outstanding contribution Alberta lawyers make to the community, the legal profession, pro bono service, and to legal scholarship.

Alberta Law Foundation 2017 Annual Report
The Alberta Law Foundation 2017 Annual Report is now available. In the 2016-17 fiscal year, ALF-funded programs supported over 290,000 Albertans with legal advice, representation, education, information and referral. In total, 61 grants with an aggregate value of $14.3 million were allocated to organizations across the province, in addition to the $2.9 million allocated to Legal Aid Alberta. 

?For over 40 years, the Alberta Law Foundation has been the recipient of interest which banks, credit unions, trust companies, and treasury branches pay on clients&apos funds held in lawyers&apos pooled trust accounts. These funds are made available to organizations that provide services in keeping with the Foundation’s objects of legal research and law reform, law libraries, public legal education, and direct legal services to vulnerable populations.
Master in Chambers Court of Queen&aposs Bench Full Time Position Available
Recruitment is underway for a Master in Chambers position in Edmonton (Job ID 1045472). View the position notice.