Project aims to expand access to legal services by non-lawyers
The Law Society of British Columbia has announced that it is accepting proposals from non-lawyers for its pilot project to expand access to legal services.
Launched in Oct. 2021, the LSBC describes the Innovation Sandbox as a “safe space” with relaxed legal services regulations to encourage innovation. In particular, the project provides a structured environment allowing non-lawyers to pilot their proposals to address the “unmet legal needs” in the province.
The LSBC said that individuals, businesses, and organizations interested in providing legal services can submit a proposal for free. The proposal should summarize the services that a participant wishes to pilot, who the expected clients might be, and how the services will advance access to justice.
Once an advisory group has reviewed all proposals, it will recommend some to an executive committee to decide whether to approve a proposal. Participants with approved proposals will demonstrate that their services effectively meet the legal needs in the province. Moreover, they will be required to submit monthly reports to the LSBC.
Most recently, the LSBC approved six proposals submitted by individuals, including three who made joint proposals with law firms to deliver their services:
“The scope of limited legal services that these providers may offer to the public is set out in ‘no-action’ letters that outline conditions under which they must operate,” the LSBC said.