Due to the Government of Alberta’s recently passed Regulated Professions Neutrality Act, the Law Society of Alberta will no longer require lawyers to complete a mandatory Indigenous education program. Previously, the Law Society of Alberta had required new and transferring-in lawyers to complete The Path: Your Journey Through Indigenous Canada, an online course that covered topics such as residential schools, Indigenous law, and Indigenous rights. “Over 10,500 Alberta lawyers completed The Path over the past five years. As a result, the Law Society is confident that we have responded to [the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Call to Action 27] in a meaningful way,” said Law Society President Bud Melnyk. CTV News reports that lawyers will continue to have access to education on the topic of Indigenous legal issues through organizations such as the Canadian Bar Association and at Canadian law schools. However, critics such as First Nations advocate Nicole Johnston and former Law Society of Alberta Indigenous initiatives liaison Koren Lightning have spoken out about the change and its potential impact on lawyers’ ability to serve their clients.
