Call to Action # 27

Why “In Progress”?

April 30, 2024: 8 Law Societies – or 57% – have addressed 100% of the 5 specific items identified as mandatory content in Call to Action # 27. 

Of the 8 Law Societies at 100%:

• 1 requires 31 hours across two distinct programs
• 1 gives three options: a 21 hour option; an 8-hour option and an 6-hour option
• 4 require 5 or 6 hours to complete
• 1 requires 3 hours

Of the 6 Law Societies that offer less than 100% of the mandatory content:

• 2 address 3 out to 5 – 60% of the course content (including 1 in Bar Admission course)
• 1 has added Indigenous content to the Bar Admission course and has a Cultural Competency course under development
• In Ontario, only lawyers who engage with Indigenous people as a condition of employment are required to take the Indigenous Framework course
• 2 have CPD modules available and both have a mandatory course under development

See Law Societies for full details of what each Law Society is doing.

Jan. 30, 2023: CBC – After receiving a petition signed by 50 of the province’s 11,100 lawyers, the Law Society of Alberta has issued notice of a special meeting to vote on LSA Rule 67.4 regarding mandatory education. Currently, all Alberta lawyers are required to take a free, five-hour online course called The Path, which teaches Indigenous cultural competency. Those who don’t face suspension.

The vote is to get rid of LSA Rule 67.4 and specifically targets The Path.

Feb. 6 2023: Lawyers in Alberta voted in favour of retaining LSA Rule 67.4 by a vote of 2,609 to 864, of the 3,473 votes cast.