Discover how lawyers' associations in Canada empower lawyers from different locations and practice areas with networking, education, and advocacy
We’ve always heard that “it takes a village to raise a lawyer.” While we tend to equate this saying to supporting law students and those articling, the same is true even after they’ve already reached the bar. As such, after getting licensed, that village would be these lawyers’ associations, which can help and support lawyers in many ways.
In this article, we’ll discuss some associations of lawyers that may be of interest to you. This article is not just for practising lawyers looking for a village to belong to, but also for law students and articling students for future reference.
Lawyers’ associations are bodies made up of and governed by lawyers, whose main goal is to look out for the welfare of its members, as well as the rule of law in the country.
They are usually not-for-profit organizations, which run only from membership fees, sponsorships, and other income-generating programs. However, this doesn’t mean that they run short of the various benefits and services that they offer, both for their members and even for the wider community.
Some examples of the benefits and services lawyers’ associations provide are:
networking opportunities: these associations are spaces for connections and linkages between lawyers, either of similar or different practice areas and locations
legal education: one great advantage of lawyers’ associations is that they offer a lot of resources, especially updates on case law or new and pending statutes, which may also count as part of continuing professional development (CPD) programs
protection of legal practice: lawyers’ associations promote the ethical standards within the legal profession, by establishing and improving the existing codes, and providing other resources; associations may even receive complaints
initiatives and advocacies: each lawyers’ association has its own advocacies, depending on its vision of a strong Canadian legal justice system, for which they organize activities and engagements with the public and the government
court interventions: when a case is deemed by the association as important, or involves greater public welfare or of national importance, associations do intervene and submit their positions on such case, whenever allowed by the court
There are different lawyers’ associations in Canada, which may function differently (or similarly), but whose scope are still national. These associations of lawyers can be categorized into two: those that require membership so that lawyers can acquire the benefits they promise, and those that regulate the profession of lawyering.
In no particular order, here are some of the lawyers’ associations for your consideration:
This list does not include provincial and territorial law societies that one is legally required to be a part of in the process of becoming a lawyer. We’ll also highlight the regional, provincial, and territorial associations of lawyers in a different article.
The CBA is national organization that welcomes and represents the different Canadian legal professionals, such as lawyers, judges, notaries, law teachers and law students. As the “voice of Canada’s legal profession,” the CBA passionately advocates for its members in the different areas of the justice system.
Aside from representing lawyers, nationally and internationally, its other goals include:
Each province and territory have their own CBA branch (e.g., Ontario Bar Association). When lawyers become members of the CBA, they can avail themselves of the different services and benefits offered by CBA’s provincial or territorial branch. In other words, while the membership is national in character, membership benefits can also be acquired through the branch where one belongs to.
Aside from several opportunities for networking, fellowship, and advocacy work, here are just some of the benefits when you’re joining the CBA:
access to legal resources: there are many publications (e.g., journals, magazines, podcasts, practice toolkits, online articles) and other resources that are offered by CBA that you can join in and/or access to
continuing legal education: aside from the specialized CPD programs for your practice area in your CBA branch, the CBA offers a lot of opportunities for growth through in-person and online webinars, conferences, etc.
discounts on products: with its partnership with many legal and support providers, you can get members-only savings, both from personal and professional services and products
lawyer directories: you can be featured in CBA’s directory of lawyers, as found on their website and accessed by the public
Here’s an episode of CL Talk, our very own podcast, which featured Lynne Vicars, the 2024-2025 President of the CBA:
Head over to our CL Talk page for more podcasts on interesting topics concerning the legal profession today.
Joining the CBA is as easy as creating an account with their website and paying the required membership fee. The fee, including the benefits, will depend on membership category that is appropriate for you:
New Lawyers: for lawyers who have just been recently called to bar, specifically around three years at the time of the application
Regular: for lawyers, Québec notaries, judges, and law professors with recognized Canadian law degrees who are working in Canadian law schools
Associate: for lawyers who are in good standing with their regulatory body outside Canada, with proof of international designation, but are not eligible to become a CBA member under any other category
Retired: those who are aged 60 years or more, or have been members of the bar or law society in good standing for 20 years or more, and who have retired
Scholar: while they’re eligible under another membership category, those who are currently studying full-time graduate legal studies for admission to another Canadian law society
Non-Practicing: when accorded as such status by their own provincial or territorial Canadian law society
Part-Time: only when recognized by the following law societies: Alberta Law Society, Law Society of British Columbia, and Law Society of Ontario
Students: those enrolled in legal studies in recognized Canadian and foreign law schools
Articling and Bar Admission Students: those who are articling with a Canadian law firm or enrolled in a law society’s bar admissions course
Regular members need to pay the standard CBA membership fees. However, for all other categories, their rates are discounted accordingly.
The CCCA is the in-house counsel division of the CBA; lawyers across Canada who work as in-house counsels are welcome to join the CCCA. At no additional fee, your CBA membership entitles you to CCCA regular membership.
There are two categories of CCCA membership that you can choose from:
Regular: if you’re a regular member of the CBA and are employed as an in-house counsel of a corporation (private, Crown, or municipal), business enterprise, association, institution, not-for-profit organization, or government body
Associate: although you’re a Regular, Associate, or Affiliate member of the CBA, you work in a private law firm, rather than as an in-house counsel
In addition to your benefits as a CBA member, your CCCA membership can also allow you to join the Business Leadership Program for In-House Counsel. Done in conjunction with Rotman School of Management, this program helps you become a Certified In-House Counsel – Canada (CIC.C).
Know more about the CCCA with this video:
Looking for other counsels for networking and support? Check out our Rankings page, which lists our Special Reports on the best lawyers in Canada according to practice area and/or province.
If you’re a criminal defence lawyer practising in Canada, then you may also want to join the CLA. This association of lawyers primarily accepts lawyers from Ontario (as regular members). However, the CLA also accepts lawyers from the other provinces and territories (as associate members).
As a specific association for criminal defence lawyers, its services and benefits are highly tailored to lawyers in this practice area. The services they render, among others, include:
Check out our article on the different criminal lawyers’ associations, where we’ve also discussed extensively what the CLA is about and how to become a member.
If you’re an Indigenous lawyer or other related legal professional, then joining the IBA is another opportunity you may want to pursue. It’s a not-for-profit organization whose goals are to:
To become a member of the IBA, you’ll just have to fill out their membership form and pay the fees. Practising lawyers can either register under its Regular IBA Membership or the Regular IBA Membership (Exempt) category.
Federation of Law Societies of Canada (FLSC)
As lawyers are members of the provincial and territorial law societies, they can also benefit from the several services of the FLSC. This is the national body in which these law societies collaborate for different purposes, including:
development and harmonization of the rules of conduct and standards for lawyers, such as the Model Code of Professional Conduct, which is the basis for the codes of conduct of the different law societies
undertaking certain initiatives as identified by the different law societies, which are better carried out at the national level
sharing of information to ensure law societies are up to date, not just on the new laws, but also on important legal trends and issues
serves as the law societies’ voice, nationally and internationally, on important issues related to the regulation and core values of the legal profession
offering continuing legal education for lawyers’ CPD requirements (e.g., National Criminal Law Program and National Family Law Program)
facilitating the cross-border movements of lawyers, such as the mobility of lawyers among provinces and territories under the National Mobility Agreement
certifying internationally educated lawyers and law graduates to practise law in Canada through the National Committee on Accreditation (NCA)
Not really a law association where one must be a member of through active application, the FLSC still provides several educational and advocacy benefits for Canadian lawyers.
An association of lawyers specific to a particular practice area is the SLA. Those who can register with the SLA are either American or Canadian sports lawyers. As members, sports lawyers can access SLA’s legal resources, both through its in-person or online events, including their publications and newsletters.
Our article on sports lawyers’ association explains more about the SLA, and other bodies that sports lawyers can be a member of.
In a profession which seems to be hostile and aggravating, a lawyers’ association can be a haven for those who are seeking legal support and professional growth. Lawyers don’t have to be alone in their journey in the profession, which is why these associations of lawyers are there for. These villages are always open; one just needs to find them, reach out, and see where they belong to.
Bookmark our Professional Regulation page for regular resources about these lawyers’ associations, and more.
