Resources
National Mobility
Canada’s law societies have broken down interprovincial barriers so that members of the profession are able to easily transfer from one jurisdiction to another. Currently in Effect:
- National Mobility Agreement
- Territorial Mobility Agreement
- Quebec Mobility Agreement
- Addendum to Quebec Mobility Agreement to include Chambre des Notaires
Pending Implementation:
Rules of Professional Conduct
The Federation has approved a Model Code of Professional Conduct that has been has been implemented in whole or in part by all law societies except the Chambre des notaires in Quebec.
- Interactive Model Code
- Model Code of Professional Conduct (as amended October 2019) (PDF – Printable Version)
- Implementation Map
- Report from the Standing Committee re: Conflicts of Interest
- Reports from Advisory Committees
- Law Society Codes of Conduct
- 2017 Consultation Report on Proposed Changes to the Model Code
- 2016 Consultation Report on Proposed Changes to the Model Code
National Discipline Standards
The Council of the Federation has approved National Discipline Standards that were adopted by all law societies and implemented effective January 1, 2015.
- Discipline Standards (revised June 2021)
National Admission Standards
Mobility of the legal profession has led the Federation to work on a national initiative to ensure admission standards are consistent across the country.
Canadian Common Law Program Approval
Canada’s law societies have agreed on a uniform National Requirement that graduates of Canadian common law programs must meet effective 2015 to enter law society admission programs.
Access to Legal Services
The Federation and Canada’s law societies recognize they have a role in helping make the legal system more accessible to more Canadians.
Model Rules to Fight Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing
To ensure that legal professionals are not unwittingly used by their clients to help launder money or finance terrorist activities, all of Canada’s law societies enforce rules of conduct based on model rules developed by the Federation.
- FAQ on the Client Identification and Verification Rules (October 2020)
- Guidance on Monitoring Obligations (July 2020)
- Guidance on Using an Agent (July 2020)
- Risk Assessment Case Studies for the Legal Profession (February 2020)
- Anti-money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Risk Advisories for the Legal Profession (December 2019)
- Guidance for the Legal Profession – Your Professional Responsibility to Avoid Facilitating or Participating in Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing (February 2019)
- Anti-Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Working Group Final Report on amending Model Rules (October 2018)
- Model Rule on Client Identification and Verification Requirements
- Model Rule on Cash Transactions
- Model Trust Accounting Rule
Advocacy
With the consent of Canada’s law societies, the Federation is their voice on specific issues of national and international importance involving justice and regulatory matters.
Statistics
The Federation aggregates statistical information provided by the provincial and territorial law societies about Canada’s legal profession.
Federation News
As the voice of Canada’s law societies, the Federation publishes reports and issues news releases on a range of issues of national importance.
National Committee on Accreditation (NCA)
The NCA assesses legal education credentials obtained outside of Canada, or in a civil law degree program in Canada, for individuals intending to apply for admission to a law society in a Canadian common law jurisdiction.
Reports and Publications
These are report and publications published by the Federation.
- Guiding Principles for Fostering Reconciliation
- Final Report of the TRC Calls to Action Advisory Committee
- The Practice of Well-being: Exploring the Legal Regulator’s Role (Report from the 2019 Annual Conference)
- Robots and Rule Makers: New Frontiers for Legal Regulation (Report from the 2018 Annual Conference)
- Crossing the Border with Electronic Devices: What Canadian Legal Professionals Should Know (December 2018)
- Common Law and Civil Law A Comparative Primer (July 2017)
- Legal Education: Building a Better Continuum Together (Report from the 2016 Annual Conference)
- Federation Statement in Support of Afghan Women Judges August 26, 2021