Attorney General Niki Sharma introduced Bill 21, the Legal Professions Act, in the legislature on April 10, nearly two years after B.C.’s NDP government said it was looking at how legal service providers were regulated in the province. Bill 21 will create a single regulatory body for lawyers, paralegals and notaries while establishing a new category of regulated paralegals to handle certain legal matters independently. The scope of notaries public will also be expanded to cover more day-to-day legal matters, such as helping clients with the probate process or preparing wills that have a life estate component.
Sharma said the legislation will bring more choice to people when they seek legal assistance, saying a person shouldn’t have to choose between straining their finances and navigating a complicated legal matter on their own.
“We’re giving more people more options and helping level the playing field for people trying to resolve their legal issues,” she said.
A working group has been established to provide recommendations about what legal services the new profession should provide. Lisa Trabucco, an assistant professor at the University of Windsor’s Faculty of Law whose research focuses on legal paraprofessionals, has been appointed chair of the working group.
“Paralegals already perform a variety of legal work, and my research reveals that regulated paralegals are capable providers of legal services,” said Trabucco, who is also assistant dean for professional programs and community services at Windsor Law. “This new legislation will give regulated paralegals independence, so
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