The Law Society of Alberta has set the 2022 practice fee at $2,340 per active lawyer, the same as in 2021. This number represents a 10 per cent reduction from the 2020 practice fee. This means that the part-time membership fee is $1,170.

In 2021, with the pandemic ongoing, the Law Society continued its focus on recapturing costs. Based on those cost savings and reduced operational costs in 2021, the Law Society’s contingency reserves balance increased, positioning the organization to maintain this reduced annual practice fee in 2022.

Invoices for 2022 practice fees will become available February 2022. Last year, the Law Society introduced the option of an instalment plan for payment of the practice fee to give lawyers more flexibility around fee payment. By moving fee payment to two equal, annual instalments, lawyers now have the option of spreading their financial obligations through the year rather than paying one lump sum.

If lawyers opt to make instalment payments, the first payment is due on or before March 15, 2022, with the second payment due by Sept. 15, 2022. There will be an additional $50 administrative charge on the March 15 deadline for lawyers who opt to pay their fees in instalments. Lawyers are also welcome to continue paying the entire fee in one lump sum payment by March 15, 2022.

More information regarding practice fees and payment can be found on our website.

Bill Hendsbee, QC, has been elected by the Benchers as the incoming President-Elect. He will join Ken Warren, QC, who will take over as President from Darlene W. Scott, QC in February for the 2022–23 term.

Mr. Hendsbee earned his Honours Bachelor of Arts (History) from Western University and Bachelor of Laws from the University of Alberta.

He is currently a partner at Cummings Andrews Mackay LLP, where he has practised exclusively in plaintiff personal injury law for more than two decades. Mr. Hendsbee joined the Law Society of Alberta Board in 2018.

"I am honoured to be elected by my fellow Benchers as President-Elect," says Hendsbee. "I fully support all four pillars of the strategic plan. We have charted an ambitious path and have taken strong steps toward each of these goals. For example, it was a bold decision to suspend the CPD filing requirement and to embark upon a new vision for lawyer competence which, crucially, includes a wellness component. But there is much more work to be done and I look forward to helping move that work forward.”

"We are at a unique point in time. The transition back from the pandemic will require strong and thoughtful leadership. The Law Society of Alberta will need to ensure that we constantly evaluate how we do our work to ensure that we meet the evolving needs of Alberta lawyers and the public interest we serve.”

The 2022–23 Executive Committee will be Ken Warren, QC (President), Bill Hendsbee, QC (President-Elect), Bud Melnyk, QC, Stacy Petriuk, QC, Deanna Steblyk, QC, Margaret Unsworth, QC, Louise Wasylenko, CPA, CMA, and Darlene W. Scott, QC (Past-President).

We congratulate the incoming Executive Committee. For more information on the Committee members, visit our website.