Development of a Western Canada Competency Profile Underway
The Law Societies of Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba and Saskatchewan are jointly engaged in an initiative to identify and validate the competencies needed upon entry to legal practice. This initiative will result in the publication of a Western Canada Competency Profile (WCCP) that will help inform lawyer training and education, including bar admission program development efforts and experiential learning opportunities. This work aligns with our Strategic Plan and ongoing efforts towards enhancing lawyer competence in Alberta.
An Advisory Committee comprised of senior staff from each Law Society is overseeing the initiative alongside an appointed WCCP Task Force that is responsible for drafting and refining all elements of the profile. The Task Force is a diverse group made up of practitioners, educators, Benchers, articling supervisors and other key stakeholders from across the four provinces. Facilitated by a third-party consultant, ACT Inc., consultation in the form of focus groups is now underway with key stakeholder groups to collect initial feedback on the first draft of the WCCP.
The finalized profile is expected to be published in the spring of 2024.
For more information about the WCCP and the process for its development, contact Education.