FAQs

The Canadian Bar Association (CBA) is a professional organization that provides educational and networking opportunities for lawyers. The CBA represents more than 37,000 lawyers, judges, notaries, law teachers, and law students from across Canada. The CBA is committed to enhancing the professional and commercial interests of a diverse membership and to protecting the independence of the judiciary and the Bar.

In Canada, there are Law Societies in each province and territory that are the governing bodies of the legal profession in that jurisdiction. In Quebec there are two professional bodies, the Barreau du Québec and the Chambre des notaires. In each province/territory, a lawyer must be a member of a Canadian Law Society in order to offer his or her services as a lawyer to the public. The Law Societies make sure that their members meet professional standards. The Federation of Law Societies of Canada is an umbrella organization for the provincial/territorial law societies. The Law Society of British Columbia regulates the more than 10,000 lawyers in the province, setting and enforcing standards to ensure the public is well served by a competent, honourable legal profession.

If you need assistance in obtaining a lawyer to represent you in British Columbia, you can call the Lawyer Referral Service at 604.687.3221 or toll free 1.800.663.1919 for the name of a lawyer in your area who practises in the area of law relating to your issue.

If you cannot afford to retain a lawyer, there may be options including legal aid, pro bono services and legal clinics. Legal aid services are government-funded or subsidized legal services for people having difficulty affording legal services. Pro bono services are legal services provided by lawyers, free of charge, out of their commitment to the public interest and access to justice. To find out more about qualifying for legal aid, contact the legal aid plan for your province. There are also numerous clinics in the province including the Law Students' Legal Advice Program run by law students at the University of British Columbia. For additional information regarding pro bono services in BC visit accessprobono.ca.

The Canadian Bar Association (CBA) does not discipline lawyers or mediate lawyer-client disputes. The Law Societies in each province/territory are responsible for making sure that lawyers practise law competently and ethically. They can discipline lawyers who do not meet these standards.

You might be able to resolve your concern if you get in touch with your lawyer right away. It might be a simple misunderstanding that can be cleared up with a conversation. If a resolution between you and your lawyer cannot be reached, contact the Law Society of British Columbia with the details of your concern.

Training and qualification requirements for lawyers from outside Canada can be obtained from the National Committee on Accreditation of the Federation of Law Societies of Canada.

The Department of Justice website provides detailed information on Canada's Justice and Court systems. The Department also produces an online booklet called "Canada's System of Justice," which provides a good overview of the Canadian legal system.

The BC Branch of the Canadian Bar Association operates Dial-A-Law, a free service available by phone and online, which provides a library of practical information about BC law in the form of scripts prepared by lawyers.

In every province in Canada, there are also public legal information organizations that educate and inform Canadians about the law and the legal system.

First, ensure that you've entered your last name and membership number correctly. Be sure to enter your last name only and include all accents.

Login problems are usually due to unpaid or overdue membership fees. Check with your firm to ensure that your dues are up to date. Then, contact the CBA Membership Department at 1.800.267.8860; memberservice@cba.org, so that we can confirm your status in our database.

If your membership is found to be up-to-date, you will then be forwarded to one of our technical staff who will help you troubleshoot your access problems.

Yes, we do accept post-dated cheques; however please contact our office prior to mailing them in order to discuss your account with us. Cheques should be mailed to the address indicated on your invoice.

There are a number of reasons that you would receive an overdue notice after you have sent in your payment. The most common reason is your payment was late and your account was subject to interest. Please call our office so we can confirm that your payment was received, and discuss payment of the remaining balance.

It is very important that you contact us so we can discuss payment arrangements; otherwise collection steps will continue. 

Cash, Cheque, Visa and MasterCard only.

Email accounting@cbabc.org or call 604-646-7852 for assistance.

No refund after payment has been processed. Credits can be applied towards a different PD course. Contact PD Department for more information.

Renewal can be made online or by contacting us by phone at 1.888.687.3404.