December 5, 2024

The Distinguished Service Awards celebrate excellence in the legal profession. Jointly presented by the Canadian Bar Association – Alberta Branch and the Law Society of Alberta, these prestigious awards shine a light on the outstanding contributions Alberta lawyers provide.

We are pleased to announce the 2025 Distinguished Service Award winners:

• Carsten Jensen, KC for Service to the Profession,
• David Benjestorf for Service to the Community,
• Eric M. Adams for Service to Legal Scholarship,
• Anna Jane Samis Lund for Pro Bono Legal Service, and
• Lillian Y. Pan, KC for Service in Promoting Equity, Diversity & Inclusion in the Legal Profession. 

The event will take place in Calgary on Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025 at 11:30 a.m. MT.

Visit the CBA website for event details.

At the Nov. 28 Board Meeting, the Benchers approved amendments to Rule 88 of the Rules of the Law Society of Alberta, allowing a new option for Conduct Committee Panels (CCP) when considering conduct that does not require a discipline hearing. 

Previously, the only alternative to a hearing available to a CCP to address a complaint where a matter had met the Threshold Test was to direct the matter to a Mandatory Conduct Advisory. The Letter of Caution offers another option when the Threshold Test is met.

Letters of Caution would not form part of a lawyer’s public disciplinary record. Adding a Letter of Caution option allows for greater flexibility and efficiency in our regulatory processes and is consistent with the processes of other law societies across Canada.  

Information about the Law Society’s complaint process and related guidelines and protocols can be found on our website. 

At the Nov. 28 Board meeting, the Benchers approved amendments to Rule 115(2)(d) of the Rules of the Law Society of Alberta. With this change, lawyers seeking to reinstate from an administrative suspension are no longer required to pay the annual inactive status fee for each year of non-payment during their suspension.  

Opportunity for Feedback: Alberta Land Titles Online 

The Government of Alberta is building a new website, Alberta Registry for Land Online (ARLO), that will ultimately replace SPIN2. This new site will eventually be used to submit, search, and buy titles, registered documents, and more. 

As the government builds out ARLO, the development team is looking to connect with people who currently use SPIN2 to make sure that ARLO is useful and user-friendly. It is an opportunity for people who will use ARLO regularly to influence how it is designed so it meets their needs. 

There are two ways lawyers can get involved: 

• Complete a self-directed interactive research activity about the parcel map. It should take 10–15 minutes to complete. 
• Sign up to preview new features in ARLO and provide feedback in future research opportunities. 

Lawyers are welcome to sign up for both research activities. The government is not collecting any personal data from these studies unless people choose to provide their contact details. 

Court of King's Bench of Alberta Announcements

Joint Announcement: Family Justice Strategy Desk Consent Order Process

In conjunction with the Alberta Justice Family Justice Strategy, the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta and the Alberta Court of Justice have approved a new process for submitting desk consent orders for matters under the Family Law Act and the Divorce Act.

Counsel and parties are encouraged to use this new process effective immediately. It will be mandatory commencing Jan. 1, 2025.

Instructions for how to submit desk consent orders have been posted to the Courts’ websites.

View the full notice.

Expansion of the King's Bench Filing Digital Service to Support Digital Orders for Select Matters

Effective Dec. 4, 2024, the Court of King’s Bench Filing Digital Service (Civil & Chambers) will expand to include digital orders.  

What orders are accepted? 

For this initial expansion, digital orders can be created for Orders for Substitutional Service and submitted with file requests that meet the following criteria: 

• Civil matters 
• Subsequent filings (action number already on file) 
• Desk applications 
• To Applications Judges  

More order types will be available soon.  

View the full notice.

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