Regulatory Navigation Tool - Law Society of Alberta

If you are looking for new ways to innovate in legal service delivery in a specific area of law, it is important to know if there are any overlapping regulatory requirements for your service delivery model.

The following chart details common areas of law that may have other regulatory bodies that may need to be accounted for to assist in your research. Click the “+” sign on each row for additional details on how the regulatory bodies interact.

Practice Area/Profession	Organization(s)	Details
Legal Services	Law Society of Alberta	The Law Society of Alberta regulates lawyers and the practice of law in Alberta. Only lawyers are permitted to practice law; conduct litigation on behalf of another person; or (with limited exceptions) represent another person in court. Law Society of Alberta Rules deal with how law firms may be structured, ownership of the law firms, sharing of fees for legal services and the handling and protection of client funds, among others. Lawyers are subject to a Code of Conduct.
Paralegals	Law Society of Alberta	The Law Society of Alberta regulates lawyers and the practice of law in Alberta. At present, paralegals are not regulated in Alberta. Only lawyers are permitted to practice law; conduct litigation on behalf of another person; or (with limited exceptions) represent another person in court.
Real Estate	Law Society of Alberta Service Alberta Land Titles Office Real Estate Council of Alberta	Law Society of Alberta Rules contain various requirements regarding verification of client identity, the execution of legal documents and the handling of funds held in trust for clients. This affects all lawyers and particularly those with real estate practices. Service Alberta operates the Land Titles Office which oversees the registration and transfer of interests in real estate in Alberta. Their Rules also contain requirements concerning the execution of documents affecting interests in land. The Real Estate Council of Alberta licenses & regulates real estate agents, mortgage brokers, property managers and condominium managers. Lawyers and members of these other professions seeking to establish a multi-disciplinary practice should consult their respective regulators to ensure compliance with relevant legislation and Codes of Conduct.
Tax	Law Society of Alberta CPA Alberta	Accountants provide advice about tax from a financial perspective. Lawyers provide legal advice respecting tax. Because these practices often overlap, lawyers and accountants seeking to practice in this area or establish a multi-disciplinary practice should consult their respective regulators to ensure compliance with relevant legislation and Codes of Conduct.
Corporate Law & Commercial Transactions	Law Society of Alberta CPA Alberta	Accountants provide advice about corporate operations and business transactions from a financial perspective. Lawyers provide legal advice respecting these areas. Because these practices often overlap, lawyers and accountants seeking to practice in this area or establish a multi-disciplinary practice should consult their respective regulators to ensure compliance with relevant legislation and Codes of Conduct.
Arbitration & Mediation	Law Society of Alberta ADR Institute of Canada ADR Institute of Alberta	Many lawyers’ practices include arbitration and mediation, either as legal counsel or as arbitrator or mediator. The ADR Institute of Canada is a self-regulatory professional dispute resolution organization that certifies qualified arbitrators and mediators; maintains arbitration and mediation rules and a Code of Conduct; and operates a disciplinary process for complaints against its members. Lawyers seeking to practice in this area or establish a multi-disciplinary practice with arbitrators or mediators should consult their respective regulators to ensure compliance with relevant legislation and Codes of Conduct. The ADR Institute of Alberta offers training for mediators and arbitrators, and certifies mediators in the field of separation and divorce. It operates a Complaints Resolution mechanism to address all concerns, disputes and complaints that may arise regarding ADRIA functions, its governance, or the professional conduct of its members. Matters that cannot be resolved by the ADRIA complaint resolution process may be handled by the ADR Institute of Canada’s Discipline procedure. Anyone seeking to establish a multi-disciplinary practice should consult their respective regulators to ensure compliance with relevant legislation and Codes of Conduct.
Notaries	Law Society of Alberta	In Alberta, all lawyers and students-at-law in Alberta are notaries. Others may apply to become a notary. There is no independent regulatory authority overseeing notaries in Alberta but there is a Code of Conduct governing their actions. The Minister of Justice and Solicitor General may take disciplinary action against a Notary Public who notarizes legally ineffective or obviously irregular documents. The role of notaries is to administer oaths; take affidavits; and witness or certify and attest the execution of a document. Lay Notaries are not authorized to do types of work usually done by lawyers, such as conveyancing.
Construction, Engineering	Law Society of Alberta Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta	Lawyers and engineers seeking to establish a multi-disciplinary practice should consult their respective regulators to ensure compliance with relevant legislation and Codes of Conduct.
Non-Lawyer Representation in Court	Law Society of Alberta Alberta Court of Justice Court of King’s Bench of Alberta Alberta Court of Appeal Federal Court of Canada	The Law Society of Alberta regulates lawyers and is responsible for responding to non-lawyers practicing law. Subject to limited statutory restrictions, courts determine their own procedure and regulate who may appear in court on behalf of others. The Provincial Court Act authorizes limited categories of agents to represent others. The Federal Courts Rules require corporations to be represented by lawyers but the Court may modify this requirement in certain circumstances. The rules of Court may permit a person to assist a party before the Court in any manner and on any terms and conditions the Court considers appropriate. Assistance may take the form of quiet suggestions, note-taking, support, or addressing the particular needs of a party. Assistance will not be permitted if it contravenes section 106(1) of the Legal Profession Act, is disruptive, or does not meet the purpose and intention of the rules. The rules do not affect the discretion of the Court, subject to any limits imposed under the Legal Profession Act, to grant a right of audience to any agent, other than a lawyer, to speak on behalf of an individual or corporation.
Environmental Assessments	Law Society of Alberta Federal Court of Canada Alberta Energy Regulator	The Law Society of Alberta regulates lawyers and is responsible for responding to non-lawyers practicing law. Courts determine their own procedure and regulate who may appear in court on behalf of others. Most government decisions at the federal level, including environmental assessments, may be challenged in the Federal Court. Every practicing lawyer may appear in the Federal Court of Canada and the Federal Court of Appeals. The Federal Courts Rules require corporations to be represented by lawyers but the Court may modify this requirement in certain circumstances.
Aboriginal Law & First Nations Governance	Law Society of Alberta Federal Court of Canada	The Law Society of Alberta regulates lawyers and is responsible for responding to non-lawyers practicing law. Courts determine their own procedure and regulate who may appear in court on behalf of others. The Federal Court of Canada hears and decides legal disputes arising in the federal domain, including Aboriginal Law and First Nations governance. Every practicing lawyer may appear in the Federal Court of Canada and the Federal Court of Appeals. The Federal Courts Rules require corporations to be represented by lawyers but the Court may modify this requirement in certain circumstances.
Insurance	Law Society of Alberta Alberta Insurance Council	Lawyers and insurance agents, brokers, and adjusters seeking to establish a multi-disciplinary practice should consult their respective regulators to ensure compliance with relevant legislation and Codes of Conduct.
Licensing Internationally-Trained Lawyers	Law Society of Alberta Federation of Law Societies of Canada	Every lawyer in Canada is required by law to be a member of a law society and to be governed by its rules. The Law Society of Alberta oversees the qualification and admission of all lawyers into the legal profession in Alberta. Individuals applying for admission to a Canadian law society must hold a law degree earned in an approved Canadian common law program or a Certificate of Qualification issued by the Federation’s National Committee on Accreditation.
Medical	Law Society of Alberta College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta College of Alberta Psychologists Regulated health professions and colleges	In Alberta, the Law Society of Alberta regulates lawyers, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta regulates physicians, and the College of Alberta Psychologists regulates psychologists. In addition, there are over 30 health professions governed under the Health Professions Act. These include acupuncturists, dentists, dieticians, naturopaths, optometrists, and others. Lawyers and medical practitioners seeking to establish a multi-disciplinary practice should consult their respective regulators to ensure compliance with relevant legislation and Codes of Conduct.
Intellectual Property, Patents & Trademarks	Law Society of Alberta College of Patent Agents & Trademark Agents Federal Court of Canada	The Law Society of Alberta regulates lawyers practicing intellectual property law. The College of Patent Agents & Trademark Agents regulates patent and trademark agents. Many lawyers are also registered patent and trademark agents. The Federal Court of Canada hears and decides legal disputes arising in the federal domain, including patents, trademarks and other intellectual property disputes. Lawyers and others in this field seeking to establish a multi-disciplinary practice should consult their respective regulators to ensure compliance with relevant legislation and Codes of Conduct.
Immigration & Citizenship	Law Society of Alberta College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants Federal Court of Canada	Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCICs) and Regulated International Student Immigration Advisors (RISIAs) must be licensed by the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC). Lawyers practicing immigration law are regulated by the Law Society of Alberta. Their work often intersects. Lawyers and immigration consultants seeking to establish a multi-disciplinary practice should consult their respective regulators to ensure compliance with relevant legislation and Codes of Conduct. The Federal Court of Canada hears and decides legal disputes arising in the federal domain, including Citizenship, Immigration & Refugee Law.
Military/Veterans	Law Society of Alberta Judge Advocate General	The Office of the Judge Advocate General (JAG) oversees the administration of military justice, offers legal advice to the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), and provides the military justice system with prosecution and defence counsel.. All legal Officers serving in the Office of the JAG are fully qualified lawyers and are commissioned officers in the CAF. Legal Officers deliver legal services in the fields of operational law, international law, training, and military personnel law, and may also work in such areas as legislative drafting, pensions, claims and administrative law.. All Legal Officers must be admitted to the Bar of a Canadian province or territory and be a member in good standing of a provincial or territorial law society. In Alberta, the Law Society of Alberta regulates lawyers.
Social Workers	Law Society of Alberta Alberta College of Social Workers	In Alberta, the Law Society of Alberta regulates lawyers. The Alberta College of Social Workers serves as the regulatory body for the profession of social work in Alberta. Its regulatory obligations are legislated under the Health Professions Act which has requirements for mandatory registration, continuing competency activities, the practice of restricted activities and a specialty register for clinical social workers. It provides control of title and a broadly defined scope of practice. Lawyers and social workers seeking to establish a multi-disciplinary practice should consult their respective regulators to ensure compliance with relevant legislation and Codes of Conduct.
Inter-Provincial Projects	Law Society of Alberta The Law Society of British Columbia Innovation Sandbox Law Society of Ontario Access to Innovation Law Society of Saskatchewan Limited Licencing Pilot The Law Society of Manitoba Regulatory Sandbox Pilot Program	In addition to the Law Society of Alberta, the Law Societies of British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario have also launched innovation sandboxes. If you are seeking to pilot a project beyond Alberta, please consult the respective Law Societies in those provinces. Note that the Law Societies are independent of each other and approval in one province does not automatically mean this company will similarly be approved in other jurisdictions.

This tool is intended as a signposting tool and a general starting point to support your own research and should not be taken as legal advice.