Law Society of British Columbia now mandates B.C. lawyers to take Indigenous intercultural course

The Law Society of British Columbia has begun requiring all practising lawyers to take an Indigenous intercultural course.

The LSBC developed the course to fulfill its commitment to implement the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Call to Action 27, asking law societies to require Indigenous intercultural competency of their members.

The mandatory course, organized into six online education modules, provides information on the colonization of British Columbia and Canada and its impacts on First Nations and individuals.

“Understanding the role of law throughout Canada’s history and the continuing implications of the colonial legal system for Indigenous people will help increase lawyers’ empathy and awareness in relation to the disparities between Indigenous peoples and the broader Canadian society,” the LSBC wrote.

The mandatory course includes the following topics:

• The meaning and purpose of reconciliation;
• The history and legacy of residential schools;
• The disproportionate victimization of Indigenous people, including murdered and missing Indigenous women and girls;
• The United Nations Declaration on Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP);
• Treaties and Aboriginal rights;
• The history of Aboriginal-Crown relations;
• Specific legislation regarding Indigenous peoples;
• Skills-based training in intercultural competency, conflict resolution, human rights and anti-racism.

The LSBC noted that all practising lawyers across the province must complete the modules in two years to have a baseline understanding of these topics. They may claim up to six hours of continuing professional development credits following completion.