DR Updates
February 6, 2023
Updates to the Online Practice Management Assessment Tool
The Law Firm Practice Management Assessment Tool (the “Assessment Tool”) is a central mandatory feature of the Law Society’s proactive approach to regulating law firms. There are two versions of the Assessment Tool accessible – one for sole practitioner firms and one for multi-lawyer firms. Implementation of the Assessment Tool began in April 2021, and is gradual in nature rolling...
Read More +
February 3, 2023
Prohibition on the Purchase of Residential Property by Non-Canadians Act
On January 1, 2023, the Prohibition on the Purchase of Residential Property by Non-Canadians Act, S.C. 2022, c. 10, s. 235 came into force. Subsection 4(1) prohibits non-Canadians from purchasing, directly or indirectly, any residential property situated in Canada. Further, and importantly for lawyers and other professionals involved in real estate transactions, the Act makes it an offence for any person or entity to...
Read More +
January 18, 2023
Your Firm’s Access to DivorceMate Is Changing Soon
In 2020, as part of our ongoing efforts to diversify our legal resources, we negotiated free online access for all members to DivorceMate, a cloud-based software for calculating child and spousal support. Unavoidably, a recent business decision made by DivorceMate is ending your firm’s free access to this product. To support firms, DivorceMate has offered a fifty-percent discount to all members. The reduced price...
Read More +
November 16, 2022
Member Renewal Is Open
We have sent emails to the membership about the renewal process. Please ensure that lawyers in your organization have followed the necessary steps by December 9, 2022, to avoid late payment penalties. If your organization plans to issue one cheque covering renewal fees for multiple lawyers, each lawyer in your organization must complete the online renewal process before we process the...
Read More +
November 10, 2022
Amendments to the Rules Regarding the Requirement to Complete an Accountant’s Report
At October 2022 Convocation, the Benchers approved amendments to the Rules resulting in changes to the annual reporting requirements for firms with trust accounts. These Rule amendments to Part 16 and Part 9 facilitate a shift in the approach to trust safety procedures and reflect changes that have already been successfully implemented in other Canadian jurisdictions and are aimed at: modernization and...
Read More +
September 2, 2022
Review of Accounting Rules of the Law Society
As the Law Society continues to engage in a proactive approach to regulating law firms, the input of the Designated Representatives continues to be a valuable resource to aid and guide the Law Society as it works towards the three main goals of law firm regulation: Enhancing competency and accountability by helping firms identify and manage risk, while reducing the likelihood...
Read More +