JuNE 2004
VOLUME 16, NUMBER 3
2005 Practice Fee Referendum Voting on the future of the CBA supportive legal decision in Gibbs v. Law Society of or the first time in 55 years, the Law Society of B.C. practice fee will be put to a referenB.C. A Membership Protocol was introduced, allowdum rather than decided at an Annual ing lawyers to resign their CBA membership for General Meeting. There will be no forum principled reasons. Only 16 members have chosen to for debate or participation from members other than do so. a single "X" mark on a ballot. For that reason, we ask Despite the constant majority support, a small all members to take time to read about the CBA and group of vocal opponents has continued to make this carefully consider what your vote will mean. an issue for the Law Society; thus the Benchers There will be three options on the ballot: decided this year to forego the AGM as the venue for Resolution A, which is the status quo position, deciding the matter, and instead to put the question includes fees payable to the Law Society, B.C . to referendum. The Benchers debated whether or Courthouse Library Society, Lawyers Assistance not to take a position on the matter, and in th~ end Program, the Advocate and the Canadian Bar chose not to make any recommendation as to how Association, B.C. Branch (CBABC). Resolution B members should vote. includes all fees except the CBABC fee. And the In recognition that there are diverse views on third option is "To not set the practice fee at this this issue, and to assist in the promotion of debate, the time," thus returnBarTalk Editorial ing the decision to Board invited Mr. "We ask all members to take time to the Law Society John McAlpine, QC Annual General and Mr. Cameron read about the CBA and carefully Meeting in the Fall. Ward to provide consider what your vote will mean ." The referentheir opposing perdum ballot package spectives on the matwill be mailed in late May, for return by June 22nd. ter. Members are encouraged to read both, and to The ballots will be counted on June 23rd . A simple read the other articles in this edition of Bar Talk that majority of the returned ballots will decide the fee to highlight the ongoing work of the Association. be paid for 2005. Whether or not to continue to provide a univerTo date, through 55 annual meetings and a sal levy to support the CBA is a critical decision, with handful oflegal cases, the inclusion of a CBA fee has consequences for the entire profession. In the interalways been upheld. As recently as last year, there ests of ensuring an informed vote, take the time to was a 2:1 majority vote at the AGM, and a strongly consider it well. BT
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