Acting “in the Public Interest” – What does that mean?

Law Society of Alberta — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 12:00:39 +0000

The Law Society of Alberta declares at every turn that it acts “In the Public Interest”. What do we mean when we say that? And what is the Law Society doing to give effect to that bold commitment?

The principled basis for acting “in the public interest” was explored during the Law Society of Alberta’s plenary session at the Alberta Law Conference on Thursday, January 28, 2010. Panel members debated how the Law Society should advance this vision through core regulatory functions, and through principled governance of the LSA’s policy work. Specific. Law Society initiatives – the Safety of Trust Property and Alternate Delivery of Legal Services — were analyzed from this ‘Public Interest’ perspective.

Law Society of Alberta President Peter Michalshyn, QC and President-Elect Rod Jerke, QC were joined by panellists Gordon Turriff, QC, outgoing President of the Law Society of B.C.; Yvonne Stanford, former Law Society of Alberta non-lawyer public representative to the LSA Benchers; and Professor Alice Woolley, Faculty of Law, University of Calgary.

Panel Discussion Summary by Rod Jerke, QC, President Elect

Panelist Biographies

Do you think the Law Society acts “in the public interest”?
How should it give effect to this bold commitment?

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Acting “in the Public Interest” – What does that mean?