We are accountable to more than 10,000 lawyers in Alberta to ensure we are operating efficiently and in a fiscally responsible manner. In 2019, we completed a cost-benefit analysis of holding hearings and Bencher meetings in two locations: Edmonton and Calgary. Our findings show it is not financially sustainable to continue this practice when all Law Society operations are based in Calgary.

Hearings

The cost-benefit analysis looked at hearing costs over a five-year period. We can estimate a per day cost for a hearing, in both Edmonton and Calgary, by looking at hard costs. This includes travel costs and expenses for adjudicators, counsel, external counsel, Tribunal Office and administrative support staff. These costs do not include embedded costs such as salaries or the cost of leased space.

For example, in 2019, there were 23 hearing days in each city. By comparing the per day costs, we learned that it cost 10 times more to hold a hearing in Edmonton ($9,269 / day) than in Calgary ($850 / day).

To learn more, see the chart below.

*Note: In 2018, all Edmonton files were done by Law Society Counsel who managed to negotiate agreed statements of fact and joint submissions. Of 13 hearings, 12 were one day hearings.

Bencher Meetings

For the same reasons set out above regarding hearings, the Benchers decided it was prudent to centralize Bencher meetings in Calgary for a cost savings of approximately $15,000 per meeting.

Our historical data shows that less than 50 lawyers require hearings each year. Roughly one third of these lawyers practise north of Red Deer.

As we continue to develop our proactive tools (Early Intervention, Practice Management and hearing alternatives through Conduct) we have created off-ramps to avoid hearings. Only serious matters that meet the threshold test are being directed to hearings and we are increasing the use of written submissions to decrease hearing days.

We are continuously looking for ways to improve the hearing process for complainants, witnesses, the public and the lawyers involved.

In 2019, the Law Society moved to new office space purposefully designed and built for our operations. With additional meeting space, conference rooms and a state-of-the-art hearing room, we are now fully resourced to handle this work in-house.

Our intention is to facilitate participation by videoconference wherever possible to minimize cost and inconvenience to all parties, wherever they reside in the province.

We decided to streamline our operations in 2015 because there were many challenges associated with operating two offices in different cities. The decision to move all operations to Calgary was not just about additional costs and resources, but it was about creating efficiencies and improving the way we work.

We were able to redesign our Trust Safety department and restructure our Conduct and Counsel departments. This fundamentally changed how we operate, allowing us to create our leading-edge Early Intervention Program and Customer Service department.

We also made significant enhancements to our Tribunal Office, resulting in the successful commercialization of the program across Canada to other law societies and professional regulators.

We have maintained and will continue to ensure our presence in Edmonton, as well as in other Alberta cities and communities, through our proactive regulatory work and education programs.

We frequently feature upcoming educational opportunities, programs and resources in our eBulletins to the profession. Historical content can be found in our Resource Centre.

Since 2015, the way we engage with the profession has changed for the better. To reach the greatest number of lawyers, we hold in-person and online education session. Examples of these programs include, but are not limited to:

• Trust Safety 101
• Practice Management 101
• Early Intervention
• Indigenous Law and Internationally Trained Lawyer Conferences
• Anti-Money Laundering rule change information sessions
• Respectful Workplace Model Policy roll out

Our presence in cities and communities across the province is ongoing through practice management support, responsible lawyer visits, conduct investigations, information sessions such as Trust Safety and Practice Management 101, and so much more.

When we conduct our engagement work, we travel to other cities and communities across the province to seek feedback. For example, during our work on the Legal Profession Act amendments in 2018, we met with lawyers in Edmonton, Red Deer, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, Grande Prairie, Fort McMurray, Lloydminster and Calgary.

When we cannot travel, we offer online education sessions such as webinars, podcasts and online engagement opportunities (e.g. surveys); responsible lawyer and practice management office visits; and Mentor Connect / Mentor Express programs just to name a few.

We have also created several advisory committees comprised of lawyers from across the province to increase engagement with underrepresented segments of the profession. These include the Indigenous; Equity, Diversity and Inclusion; and Lawyer Competence Advisory Committees.

From our research, we concluded that most Canadian law societies hold their hearings in one location. They do not accommodate the lawyer in their preferred location. Alberta, Saskatchewan and New Brunswick are the only exceptions.

Some regulators (Ontario and Quebec) will travel to other locations in exceptional circumstances but that is a rare occurrence.

Much like other law societies, our research concluded that other professional regulators in Alberta (College of Physicians & Surgeons, Dental Association and College, College of Psychologists, etc.) hold their hearings in one location. They do not accommodate the member in their preferred location.

In our last election, we had the largest number of Edmonton Benchers elected in recent memory. The Benchers approved the decision to move all hearings and Bencher meetings to Calgary in 2021 knowing that it means more travel for Edmonton Benchers.