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December 05, 2018

The Law Society’s annual general meeting concluded on December 4, with over 1,700 members of the legal profession participating online and in person at locations around the province. In addition to approving PricewaterhouseCoopers as the auditor for the 2018 financial statements, members considered three resolutions.

A resolution calling for the Benchers to continue to advocate for legal aid funding and encourage lawyers to undertake legal aid and pro bono cases within their field of expertise was adopted. 

Also adopted was a resolution directing the Benchers to request that the provincial government not bring into force changes to the Legal Profession Act that would enable a new category of licensed paralegals until the Benchers have more time to complete consultations, and that the Benchers not authorize licensed paralegals to practice in the area of family law.

A resolution calling for lawyers to perform a minimum of 10 pro bono hours a year as a condition of their licensing was defeated.

BACKGROUNDER

Resolutions and vote tallies

1) Be it resolved that PricewaterhouseCoopers be appointed as the Law Society auditors for the year ending December 31, 2018.

The resolution passed, with 1,342 in favour, 21 against and 74 abstentions.

2) Be it resolved that:

  1. the Benchers be directed to continue to advocate for the adequate funding of legal aid, to be administered by an organization independent from government; and
  2. the Benchers be directed to take steps to encourage and reduce barriers to members to undertake legal aid and pro-bono cases, within their field of expertise.

The resolution passed with 1,302 in favour, 368 against and 59 abstentions.

3) Be it resolved that membership directs the Benchers:

  1. to request that the provincial government not pass regulations to bring the licensed paralegal amendments into force until the Benchers have had more time to complete their consultations regarding licensed paralegals; and
  2. not to authorize licensed paralegals to practice family law under the authority provided in the amendments to the Legal Profession Act.

The resolution passed, with 861 in favour, 297 against and 62 abstentions.

4) Be it resolved that, lawyers practising in British Columbia be required to perform a minimum of 10 pro bono hours per calendar year in order to maintain their practice status.

The resolution was defeated, with 116 in favour, 937 against and 19 abstentions.