Pilot program to take effect on April 1
The Law Society of Manitoba has announced the approval of a two-year part-time practising fees pilot program to assist lawyers working on a part-time basis.
The pilot program, which will take effect on Apr. 1, seeks to help reduce the rates of attrition of young female lawyers from private practice and provide flexibility to lawyers with significant, ongoing care-giving responsibilities for other family members.
Under the pilot program, lawyers will be entitled to pay part-time practising fees if they are in private practice and work on a part-time basis. Part-time is defined as “no more than 750 billable hours annually in total and having maximum gross billings of no more than $80,000 annually.”
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In addition, they must be a parent or legal guardian who works part-time to provide care for a child below 12 years of age or a child over 12 years of age and experiencing physical, cognitive or behavioural barriers to performing independent activities for an indefinite duration due to a significant medical condition or disability.
The pilot program will be also offered to part-time lawyers who provide care for other family members requiring regular, ongoing care and supervision for a period of more than 90 days due to chronic illness, disability or other cause.
Lawyers who meet the eligibility criteria will only pay 50 per cent of the full-time practising fees. However, this does not include the insurance levy portion of the fees, which they must still pay in full.
The pilot program also provides that the Law Society has the right to audit members and subject those who fail to meet the criteria to disciplinary action.
Starting Mar. 1, lawyers expecting to meet the criteria can choose to pay part-time practising fees for the 2022−2023 year by completing and submitting a part-time practising certification and status management form through the Law Society member portal.