Law Corporation Permit

The Legal Profession Act (LPA) permits lawyers to practice law or provide legal services through a professional corporation known as “law corporation”. LPA defines a law corporation as a corporation that holds a valid permit under Part 9 of the Act.  LPA, together with Part 9 of the Law Society Rules, outline the requirements for law corporation permits.

Lawyers must not practise law or provide legal services through a law corporation until a permit is issued by the Law Society of BC. It is important to note that there are two phases for the application process, and a valid law corporation permit is only issued at the end of Phase 2 when all requirements are met.

Expedited services are not available. Please refer to our processing times outlined below and ensure you submit your application well in advance to allow sufficient time for processing.  

How to form a law corporation

Incorporation of a Law Practice requires several steps and must be done through both the Registrar of Companies and the Law Society of British Columbia.

The Incorporation of a Law Practice Information Sheet contains detailed information on the application process. Before you begin, ensure you review the information provided on this page and in the information sheet.

PHASE 1: LAW CORPORATION NAME

STEP 1.1 – Reserve a corporate name 

Apply to the Registrar of Companies through BC Registries and Online Services to reserve the intended name, which must meet the following requirements:

1. include the words “law corporation”, “law ULC”, or “law unlimited liability company” (LPA s.82(1)(b) and Law Society Rule 9-1(d));
2. not be identical with that under which another corporation holds a valid permit (Law Society Rule 9-1(a));
3. not so nearly resemble the name of another corporation holding a valid permit that it is likely to confuse or mislead the public (Law Society Rule 9-1(b));
4. not be contrary to the best interests of the public or to the maintenance of a high standard of professionalism (Law Society Rule 9-1(c); Chapter 4 s.4.2 [Marketing] of the Code of Professional Conduct for BC).

Once you have reserved a corporation name with BC Registries and received a Results of Name Request document from them, complete Step 1.2 below.

STEP 1.2 – Name approval

Apply online to the Law Society for a Certificate Respecting Corporate Name:

1. Click this link: Incorporation of a law practice 
2. Select “New Incorporation”
3. Follow the prompts including uploading a copy of the Results of Name Request document

Allow up to 5 business days for processing.

Once your proposed corporation name is reviewed and approved, you will receive a notification email with instructions to download the Certificate Respecting Corporate Name. This certificate indicates that the Law Society does not object to the intended name for the law corporation. The certificate does not reserve the name, and it does not imply that the Registrar of Companies has approved the name.  It also is not a law corporation permit so you must not start rendering legal services through the law corporation at this stage.

PHASE 2: LAW CORPORATION PERMIT

STEP 2.1 – Register the law corporation 

Complete the incorporation process through the Registrar of Companies.

Ensure your law corporation structure meets all the requirements in section 82 of LPA:

1. All directors and the president must be practising lawyers.
2. All voting shares must be owned by: 

i. practising lawyer(s); and/or

ii. law corporation(s) with a valid permit.

3. Non-voting shares may be owned legally or beneficially by

i.Practising lawyer(s)

ii. Law corporation(s) that is a voting shareholder

iii. a person who is a relative of or resides with a practising lawyer who is a shareholder or who is a shareholder in a law corporation that is a shareholder;

iv. a corporation, all the shares of which are beneficially owned by one or more of the individuals noted in (i) or (iii) above; and/or

v. a trust, all the beneficiaries of which are individuals referred to in (i) or (iii) above.

Law Society staff are not qualified to advise you on how to structure your law corporation(s), or on the corporate or commercial issues, income tax or other related considerations which arise from incorporation.  Please consult other professionals regarding your needs.

Once the Law Corporation has been registered under the Business Corporations Act and received a Certificate of Incorporation from the Registrar of Companies, you must complete Step 2.2 below to obtain your law corporation permit.

STEP 2.2 – Apply for Law Corporation Permit 

Apply online to the Law Society for a Law Corporation Permit:

1. Click this link: Incorporation of a law practice 
2. Select “Retrieve Your Application”
3. Enter the email address used in Step 1.2 of the application and your Confirmation Code (which was sent to you via email).
4. Click the "Apply for Permit" button, then "Start".
5. Complete/submit the following information:

i. contact information for the corporation;

ii. names of all shareholders and directors;

iii. a copy of the Articles of Incorporation*

iv. a copy of the Certificate of Incorporation* from the Registrar of Companies.

*Alternate documents may be required in the event you are requesting a permit for an extra-provincial corporation, an amalgamated corporation, or a restored corporation. If this applies to you, please see the corresponding FAQ.

In addition, submit the permit application fee of $420 (GST included) using one of the payment methods outlined here: Law Society Payment Option Sheet.  Your application will be reviewed upon receipt of payment.

Allow up to 10 business days for processing.

A law corporation permit will be issued when all requirements are met.  Subject to Law Society Rule 9-5(2), a permit is valid from the effective date shown on it for the life of the law corporation.

A law corporation permit recognizes the law corporation as a legal entity (as if it is a “lawyer”).  Under the LPA, a law firm is defined as a legal entity or combination of legal entities carrying out the practice of law.  If you are carrying out the business of practice of law through the law corporation, you must register your law firm with the Law Society, as required under Law Society Rule 2-12, within 30 days of engaging in the practice of law through that firm. Late fees may be applied under Rule 2-12(4) for non-compliance. For more information, please visit: Law Firm Registration.

Law corporation name change

To change the name of a law corporation holding a valid permit, the procedure set out in Law Society Rule 9-6 must be followed. It should be noted that the fee for this is $105.00 ($100 plus GST).

Law corporation name change applications can be submitted to the Law Society online here: Incorporation application - name change approval

NOTE: If the only part changing in the law corporation name is the title from QC to KC, please DO NOT submit a Name Change application, instead email to registration@lsbc.org the scanned copy of the Certificate of Name Change from BC Registries and we will update the law corporation name. There is no fee for this type of change.

Law Corporation FAQs