Anti-money laundering
Visit the Anti-Money Laundering page to see guidance for lawyers and to learn more about the Law Society's integral role in helping prevent money laundering.
Capacity, undue influence and mistreatment (abuse and neglect)
A Guide for Assisting Persons in Vulnerable Situations (STEP Canada, 2023), generously shared with permission as part of STEP Canada’s commitment to fostering knowledge exchange on this critical topic
Acting for a client with dementia (Benchers' Bulletin, Spring 2015)
Report on Common-Law Tests of Capacity (BCLI, 2013)
Undue Influence Recognition and Prevention: A Reference Aid (BCLI, 2022)
Undue Influence Recognition and Prevention: A Guide for Legal Practitioners (BCLI, 2022)
Civility
Lack of civility can lead to discipline (June 2011 Discipline Advisory)
Groia v. Law Society of Upper Canada, 2018 SCC 27, [2018] 1 S.C.R. 772
Client files
Closed Files: Retention and Disposition
Closing a file: What documents to keep and for how long (Winter 2017 Benchers' Bulletin)
Ownership of Documents in a Client’s File
Reporting Letter to Client – Closing a File
Non-Engagement Letters (revised 2020)
Client file opening and closing checklist Word | pdf
Client ID & verification and anti-money laundering risk management
Closing a law practice
Winding Up a Practice: A Checklist
Withdrawal from the Practice of Law: sample newspaper notice and letter to clients
Communications
Guidance for Lawyers on Using Inclusive Language (updated June 2024)
Confidentiality / Conflict of interest
Crossing the Border with Electronic Devices: What Canadian Legal Professionals Should Know (December 14, 2018, Federation of Law Societies of Canada)
Lawyers sharing space
Law Office Search Warrants
Supreme Court of Canada releases decisions concerning CRA notices of requirements (Summer 2016 Benchers' Bulletin)
Model conflicts of interest checklist
Financial / Accounting / Tax
Did you know that banks can place holds on trust cheques, certified cheques and bank drafts? (May 2024)
Highlights of Changes to Trust Account and Cash Rules (July 2019)
Are you or any of your employees US citizens? (Fall 2015 Benchers' Bulletin, p. 13)
Garnishment of Lawyers' Trust Accounts
Ministry of Finance announces additional property transfer tax effective August 2, 2016
CRA notices of requirement (Fall 2016 Benchers' Bulletin)
Supreme Court of Canada releases decisions concerning CRA notices of requirements (Summer 2016 Benchers' Bulletin)
Lost and Stolen Cheques, Bank Drafts and Trust Cheques: some modest but partial solutions, The Advocate
Cheques, Bank Drafts and Trust Cheques: New Problems with an Old System, The Advocate
See also: Trust Accounting and Trust Assurance Program
Independent legal advice
Independent legal advice checklist (February 2022) Word | pdf
Independent legal advice checklist, annotated with LIF's risk management tips (March 2014)
Law corporations
Lawyer leaving law firm
Precedent letters when lawyer leaves a firm
Ethical considerations when a lawyer leaves a firm* (Practice, Summer 2017 Benchers' Bulletin)
*This article is an update to "Ethical considerations when a lawyer moves on" (Practice Watch, Summer 2014 Benchers’ Bulletin)
The departing lawyer in the age of Covid-19 - Ethical, legal and practical guidance (Practice, Summer 2020 Bencher's Bulletin)
Locums
Model policies
Model policies are for you to consider and use when you draft your own policies. They are NOT meant to be standard policies. Their suitability will depend upon a number of factors, such as the current state of the law and practice in each area of law, your writing style and your needs. Some may need to be modified to correspond to current law and practice.
Social Media and Social Networking Policies and Procedures
Guidelines – Recruiting, Interviewing and Hiring Practices
Internet and E-Mail Use
Privacy Policy
Privacy Policy for Employees of a Law Firm
Respectful Workplace Word | PDF
Workplace Accommodation
Workplace Equality
Materials developed for the Justicia project:
Organizing your law office
Top Ten Tips for Lawyers Supervising Staff (2024)
Opening Your Law Office (July 2018)
Loss prevention planning checklist
Twelve-month law practice cash flow budget worksheet
Sample associate agreement
Lawyers sharing space
Model Client Survey: Word | pdf
Paralegals, designated paralegals
Practice Checklists Manual
Protocols
Protocol between the Provincial Court and the Law Society (2022)
Protocol between the Law Society and the Office of the Registrar respecting the protection of solicitor-client privilege in connection with investigations under the Security Services Act (2008)
Western Law Societies Conveyancing Protocol (British Columbia) Version 3.0
Full text of the Protocol – Version 3
Solicitor's Opinion – Version 9
List of Protocol Lenders
- Wording for use when acting for the borrower and lender
- Wording for use when acting for the lender only
- File checklist
- Statutory declaration regarding existing survey certificate
- Letter from law firm confirming the participation of a financial institution
Resources by area of practice
- Corporate/commercial
- Family law
- Litigation
- Real estate and Juricert
- Wills and undue influence
Retainer agreements, limited scope retainers, joint retainer letters
For background information on limited scope retainers, see Limited scope retainer FAQs in the Fall 2017 Benchers' Bulletin and the free, one-hour CLE seminar CLE-TV: Limited Scope Retainers on YouTube.
- Here is a sample general-retainer agreement, including information how it can be tailored to apply to a limited scope retainer (sometimes referred to as “unbundling”): Word | PDF [updated December 2016]
- Here is a sample joint retainer letter (Appendix 6 of the former Professional Conduct Handbook).
These sample documents will be revised, if and when required, in response to amendments to the BC Code.
These resources are intended to help lawyers carry out their duties and manage their practices. The sample documents are intended as a starting point; they can be amended to suit the styles, needs and circumstances of the lawyers involved. Lawyers must exercise professional judgment respecting the correctness and applicability of the material. The Law Society expressly disclaims responsibility for any errors or omissions.
Safety and security
What to do Before and After a Disaster Strikes
Lost or stolen briefcase? Cyber attack? What to do if your practice records have been compromised (2021)
Suspicious packages (Government of Canada)
CBA Manitoba Personal Safety Handbook
CBA Alberta Personal Safety Handbook
Solicitors' Liens
Solicitors’ Liens and Charging Orders – Your Fees and Your Clients
Succession Planning & Practice Coverage
Technology
Using video-conferencing technology: guidance and professional obligations
Cryptolocker Ransomware alert
Cloud computing due diligence guidelines (2012)
Cloud computing checklist v. 4.0 (updated January 2023)
Internet / e-mail use policy
ABA Legal Technology Resource Center website
Guidance on professional responsibility and generative AI (2023)
-
- Act, Rules & Code
- Legal Profession Act
-
- Law Society Rules
- Highlights of Amendments to the Law Society Rules
- Definitions
- Part 1 – Organization
- Part 2 – Membership and Authority to Practise Law
- Part 3 – Protection of the Public
- Part 4 – Discipline
- Part 5 – Tribunal, Hearings and Appeals
- Part 6 – Custodianships
- Part 8 – Lawyers’ Fees
- Part 9 – Incorporation and Limited Liability Partnerships
- Part 10 – General
- Schedule 1 – Law Society Fees and Assessments
- Schedule 2 – Prorated Fees and Assessments for Practising Lawyers
- Schedule 3 – Prorated Fees for Non-Practising and Retired Members
- Schedule 4 – Tariff for Hearing and Review Costs
- Schedule 5 – Form of Summons
-
- Code of Professional Conduct for British Columbia (the BC Code) – annotated
- About the Code of Professional Conduct for BC
- Highlights of Amendments to the BC Code
- Introduction to the BC Code
- Chapter 1 – Interpretation and Definitions – annotated
- Chapter 2 – Standards of the Legal Profession – annotated
- Chapter 3 – Relationship to Clients – annotated
- Chapter 4 – Marketing of Legal Services – annotated
- Chapter 5 – Relationship to the Administration of Justice – annotated
- Chapter 6 – Relationship to Students, Employees, and Others – annotated
- Chapter 7 – Relationship to the Society and Other Lawyers
- Appendix A – Affidavits, Solemn Declarations and Officer Certifications – annotated
- Appendix B – Family Law Mediation, Arbitration and Parenting Coordination
- Appendix C – Real Property Transactions – annotated
- Appendix D – Supervision of Paralegals
- Member's Manual
- Lawyers Indemnity Fund Website
-
- Discipline Advisories
- August 6, 2024
- June 2, 2022
- August 31, 2021
- June 29, 2021
- February 10, 2021
- August 13, 2020
- June 1, 2020
- April 2, 2019
- April 10, 2018
- February 8, 2018
- July 13, 2017
- March 31, 2016
- October 2, 2015
- August 20, 2015
- September 25, 2014
- November 8, 2013
- May 1, 2013
- February 18, 2013
- January 11, 2013
- November 22, 2012
- August 10, 2012
- June 12, 2012
- February 1, 2012
- December 7, 2011
- October 19, 2011
- August 19, 2011
- July 18, 2011
- June 10, 2011
- Discipline and Suspension Resources for Lawyers