2024–2025 Continuing Professional Development Planning Cycle Now Open 

Alberta lawyers can now start creating their 2024–2025 Continuing Professional Development (CPD) plans. Access to the CPD Tool is through the Lawyer Portal. All lawyers who have an active status as of Aug. 1 are required to submit an annual plan by Oct. 1, 2024. The only exception are lawyers who have the status of active – non-practising. 

This year, the CPD Tool includes a new Learning Resource section that features suggested resources based on the information you include in your CPD Plan. You can access resources from the Law Society website that may be of interest directly from the CPD Tool. This is the first iteration of the resources feature and your feedback on this and other features is important to us as we continue to make enhancements in the coming years. 

The Saved Competencies feature is also new for this planning cycle. You can now save competencies in the CPD Tool that you are interested in developing in the future but choosing not to focus on in your current CPD plan. 

As you start to think about your new CPD plans, you may find it helpful to use the Track Progress and Year-End Reflection features to reflect on the effectiveness of your 2023–2024 CPD plans and learning activities. These features will remain open until Sept. 30, when the 2023–2024 CPD cycle ends. 

Read more about all of these features in the CPD Plan User Guide. For more information, read the FAQs or visit the CPD webpage.  

All lawyers, regardless of practising status, have access to the CPD Tool through the Lawyer Portal. Lawyers who are required to submit a plan are encouraged to complete their plans in advance of the Oct. 1 deadline. 

If you have additional questions about completing your annual CPD plan or have feedback on the new features, please contact Education. 

2024 Viscount Bennett Scholarship Recipients

The Law Society of Alberta is pleased to congratulate Naba Shirazi, Case Littlewood and Hero Laird, this year’s recipients of the Viscount Bennett Scholarship.

The Viscount Bennett Scholarship is funded through a trust established by the late Right Honourable Viscount Bennett. It was put in place to encourage a higher standard in legal education, offered to support those interested in pursuing post-graduate studies in law. This prestigious accolade is awarded to individuals with an exceptional academic record and a clear dedication to contribute to their community through the practice of law.

Reminder: Perform Monthly Trust Bank Reconciliations

Monthly bank reconciliations are a key internal control for anyone managing a trust account. A reconciliation is proof that there are sufficient funds in trust; it compares what should be in trust based on the books versus what is actually in the bank account. 

Performing monthly reconciliations allows firms to: 

• locate mistakes in their books or bank statements early; 
• track problematic transactions (e.g., outstanding transactions, automated pre-authorized debits, bank fees incorrectly incurred on the law firm’s trust accounts and any other bank errors); and 
• identify fraud or accounting errors. 

Review the full resource for more information on what to include in a trust bank reconciliation package and how to review one. 

Alberta Court of Justice Announcements

Jasper Courthouse Closure

The Alberta Court of Justice in Jasper will be closed until further notice.

Court matters previously scheduled to be heard at the Jasper Courthouse will now be heard at the Hinton Courthouse.

Hinton Court of Justice

237 Jasper Street W. and Pembina Avenue

Hinton, AB T7V 1X7

Remote appearances will also be available for counsel and self-represented individuals.

View the full announcement for more information.

Airdrie Court Relocation

Please be advised that effective Aug. 26, 2024, all court matters scheduled to be heard at the Airdrie Courthouse will be relocated to Courtroom 1407 in the Calgary Courts Centre. This relocation is expected to last approximately six weeks and further updates will be provided as they become available.

During this relocation period, Airdrie court matters will be held at:

Calgary Courts Centre - Courtroom 1407

601 5 Street SW

Calgary, AB T2P 5P7

Telephone: 403-297-4396 Ext. 5

View the full announcement for more information.

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