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Mobility Information & Agreements

Introduction

‘Mobility’ may be temporary or permanent. A lawyer who is a member of a governing body in one Canadian jurisdiction enters the realm of mobility by:

  • providing legal services temporarily in another jurisdiction, or with respect to the law of another jurisdiction, or
  • becoming a member of the governing body in another jurisdiction.

History

The interjurisdictional practice of law in Canada is governed by a system founded upon (i) the legislation and rules/by-laws that govern the legal profession in each jurisdiction and (ii) two interjurisdictional agreements. Read more… 

Summary Chart

This chart provides a general overview of the system currently in place in Alberta.

 

Member of NMA

Member of IJP

Neither

No Permit Required

Up to 100 days a calendar year

10 legal matters for no more than 20 days in 12-months (10-20-12)

Always required

With Executive Director's Permission

Over 100 days or pending transfer

Over 10-20-12

Always required

Permit Required

Where conditions for practising without a permit are not met

Where conditions for practising without a permit are not met

Always required

Transfer Required

Economic nexus

Economic nexus

Economic nexus

NMA = National Mobility Agreement
IJP= Interjurisdictional Practice Protocol
Economic Nexus is defined in the rules

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Agreements & Jurisdictions

National Mobility Agreement (NMA)

Agreements:

To view PDF documents you must use the Adobe Acrobat Reader software (version 6 or higher). If you don't already have Acrobat Reader you can download it for free from Adobe at http://get.adobe.com/reader. National Mobility Agreement (August 16, 2002)
To view PDF documents you must use the Adobe Acrobat Reader software (version 6 or higher). If you don't already have Acrobat Reader you can download it for free from Adobe at http://get.adobe.com/reader. Accord de libre circulation national (August 16, 2002)

Participating NMA Jurisdictions:

  • British Columbia
  • Alberta
  • Saskatchewan
  • Manitoba
  • Ontario
  • Nova Scotia
  • New Brunswick
  • Newfoundland & Labrador
  • Prince Edward Island

Interjurisdictional Practice Protocol (IJP)

Participating IJP Jurisdictions:

  • Quebec

Territorial Mobility Agreement

The Territorial Mobility Agreement was formed in 2006 by the Federation of Law Societies of Canada to address the unique characteristics of the three territorial law societies.

It allows them to participate in national mobility as reciprocating governing bodies with respect to permanent mobility, or transfer of lawyers from one jurisdiction to another, without a requirement that they participate in temporary mobility provisions. Alberta lawyers seeking to practice in any of the three territories would still be required to pay a single appearance fee but would have, under full mobility, the option of joining a territorial law society without having to write the exams.

To view PDF documents you must use the Adobe Acrobat Reader software (version 6 or higher). If you don't already have Acrobat Reader you can download it for free from Adobe at http://get.adobe.com/reader. Territorial Mobility Agreement (May 26, 2006)
To view PDF documents you must use the Adobe Acrobat Reader software (version 6 or higher). If you don't already have Acrobat Reader you can download it for free from Adobe at http://get.adobe.com/reader. Accord de libre circulation Territoriale (May 26, 2006)

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