BC's lawyers' association asks new government for consultation on Legal Professions Act repeal
CBABC president Connor Bildfell says lawyers must keep self-regulation with a lawyer majority on the regulator board. The BC Conservatives committed in September to repealing the 2024 act, which has not yet taken effect.
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The Canadian Bar Association BC branch is asking the new BC Conservative government for consultation before it acts on the Legal Professions Act, the organization's president said in a letter reported by Canadian Lawyer on November 9, 2026.
The Legal Professions Act, passed in 2024, would create a single regulator governing lawyers, notaries and paralegals in BC. It has not yet taken effect because of unresolved constitutional litigation with the Law Society of BC, according to Canadian Lawyer. The BC Court of Appeal delayed the constitutional appeal hearing until early 2027, Canadian Lawyer reported.
The BC Conservatives committed in a September 29, 2026 letter to repealing the act, according to Canadian Lawyer. That letter acknowledged the importance of an independent bar and judiciary for maintaining the rule of law.
Connor Bildfell, who became CBABC president on September 1, 2026, told Canadian Lawyer: "lawyers must continue to be self-regulated, with a substantial lawyer majority on the board of any legal regulator." He added: "That independence is not a professional privilege; it is a public right that serves the public interest."
CBABC is also asking for the creation of an Indigenous Council made up mostly of Indigenous lawyers, separate from government, to contribute to rules affecting Indigenous legal professionals, Canadian Lawyer reported. On paralegals, Bildfell told Canadian Lawyer: "We support a role for properly qualified and regulated paralegals. However, expanding the role of paralegals alone will not meaningfully address the barriers."
Canadian Lawyer reported that the act received Royal Assent with only 30 of 317 clauses debated in the legislature.
The BC Conservative government has not yet said when or how it will act on the Legal Professions Act, nor what it will replace it with. Residents who work in or use legal services in BC can follow the government's decisions at /bc/provincial-2026/news on this site.
Questions this story answers
What is the Legal Professions Act and why does it matter?
The Legal Professions Act is a 2024 BC law that would create a single regulator governing lawyers, notaries and paralegals in the province. Canadian Lawyer reported that it received Royal Assent with only 30 of 317 clauses debated. As of November 2026, the act has not taken effect because of unresolved constitutional litigation with the Law Society of BC. The BC Court of Appeal delayed the constitutional appeal hearing until early 2027, according to Canadian Lawyer.
What did the BC Conservatives promise about the Legal Professions Act?
According to Canadian Lawyer, the BC Conservatives committed in a September 29, 2026 letter to repealing the Legal Professions Act. The letter acknowledged the importance of an independent bar and judiciary for maintaining the rule of law. The commitment to repeal is not in the Conservative Party of BC's published platform as tracked on this site.
What is CBABC asking for?
Canadian Lawyer reported that CBABC, the BC branch of the Canadian Bar Association, is asking for meaningful consultation with the legal profession before the government acts on the Legal Professions Act. CBABC president Connor Bildfell said in the article: 'lawyers must continue to be self-regulated, with a substantial lawyer majority on the board of any legal regulator'. CBABC also supports an Indigenous Council made up mostly of Indigenous lawyers, separate from government, to contribute to rules affecting Indigenous legal professionals.
What does CBABC say about paralegals?
Canadian Lawyer reported that CBABC supports a role for properly qualified and regulated paralegals. Bildfell said in the article: 'We support a role for properly qualified and regulated paralegals. However, expanding the role of paralegals alone will not meaningfully address the barriers.' CBABC is asking the new government to move carefully on expanding paralegal roles rather than doing so quickly.
Who is Connor Bildfell?
Canadian Lawyer reported that Connor Bildfell became president of CBABC, the BC branch of the Canadian Bar Association, on September 1, 2026. He is quoted in the article on what CBABC is asking the new BC government to do about the Legal Professions Act.
What is the status of the constitutional challenge to the Legal Professions Act?
Canadian Lawyer reported that as of November 2026, the Legal Professions Act has not taken effect because of unresolved constitutional litigation with the Law Society of BC. The BC Court of Appeal delayed the constitutional appeal hearing until early 2027.
What is CBABC asking about legal aid?
Canadian Lawyer reported that CBABC is asking the new BC government for greater investment in legal aid. The article does not give a specific dollar figure for what CBABC is requesting. Greater legal aid investment was part of the list of changes CBABC asked the new government to consider alongside the consultation on the Legal Professions Act and the question of self-regulation.
What can BC residents take from this?
If you work in law or use legal services in BC, the government's decision on the Legal Professions Act will affect how lawyers, notaries and paralegals are regulated in the province. The government has not yet said what it will do or when. Residents can follow updates on the BC government's decisions at this site: /bc/provincial-2026/news.
Sources
The pages this story draws on. Open one to check a claim yourself.
- Canadian Lawyer: CBABC invites dialogue with new BC government on Legal Professions Actcanadianlawyermag.com
- BC Laws: Bill 21, Legal Professions Act, 2024bclaws.gov.bc.ca
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