It’s an exciting time to be a paralegal and the BCPA ensures that paralegals get the most out of their profession!
The Board of Directors, comprised of working paralegals, represent paralegals working across the Province. Regional directors are active in the Lower Mainland, Interior, Okanagan, and Vancouver Island. BCPA members are paralegals who work at law firms, in-house legal departments, and government ministries. As the BCPA grows, contractors working for lawyers, and students enrolled in paralegal programs as well as educational administrators have joined and more fields are on their way in.
The Legal Profession Act (LPA) is almost certainly going to be amended to permit the licensing of paralegals. This initiative, carried forward by the Benchers of the Law Society of BC’s unanimous resolution, will bring into law, Bill 57, as the Attorney General Statutes Amendment Act of 2018. It’s been a long time coming and a process that involved participation and lobbying on behalf of the profession. The BCPA has been and will remain front and centre on behalf of the profession.
The BC Government will work, with the professional consultation of the BCPA, to create a new class of legal service providers with a carefully thought-out system of regulations and processes put in place to give certainty and improve access to justice for the public.
Given the educational level (high) and abilities (varied) relished by paralegals, this new licensing opportunity will give our profession and our Association the ability to inform the public of our role, both traditional and emerging.
Inquiries regarding licensing of Paralegals can be directed to either the BC Paralegal Association or The Law Society of BC.
As soon as more information is released, the BC Paralegal Association will share this via our social media accounts and website.