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Ontario|Legal Organizations & Law SchoolsLegal Organizations & Law Schools 914 The Federation of Law Societies of Canada The Federation of Law Societies of Canada is the umbrella organization of thirteen governing bodies of the legal profession in Canada, each of which is completely independent. In Ontario, it is the Law Society of Upper Canada. Historically, the Federation was a vehicle through which the governing bodies exchanged information. More recently, the Federation has taken a leading role in matters that have both national and international importance.
The Federation's affairs are conducted by a Board of Directors comprised of seven Directors who receive no remuneration. The Directors represent all regions in Canada and are appointed to the Board for a maximum of seven years.
The Federation meets in general meeting twice a year. Law Societies each appoint two voting delegates to these two meetings. In addition, the Board of Directors meets four times a year to review and carry out the policies and programs decided upon by the delegates from the various governing bodies.
The 4 objects of the Federation are:
1. To study matters of essential concern to the legal profession in Canada and to further co-operation among the Governing Bodies of the legal profession in Canada with a view to achieving uniformity in such matters;
2. To operate as a forum for the exchange of views and information of common interest to the Governing Bodies of the legal profession in Canada;
3. To improve the understanding of the public respecting the work of the legal profession in Canada; and
4. In appropriate cases, to express the views of the Governing Bodies of the legal profession in Canada in accordance with directions of the members of the proposed corporation given from time to time.
The Federation continually addresses a number of issues associated with the legal profession in Canada, including:
- multi-disciplinary partnerships;
- matters relating to Multi-Disciplinary Practices (MDPs), General Agreements on Trade in Services, or GATs, and the World Trade Organization, or WTO as it is more commonly known;
- copyright of legal materials;
- national continuing legal education programs;
- legal aid; and
- the mobility and regulation of lawyers in Canada and internationally.
The Federation carries on its activities through a number of committees. It is also the Government of Canada's designated representative for the legal profession with respect to implementation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) provisions relating to legal services.
The head office of the Federation is located in the City of Montreal, and is staffed by an Executive Director and a Secretary-Treasurer. For more information about the Federation of Law Societies of Canada, call (514) 875-6351, or visit their website at www.flsc.ca.
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