May 26, 2020
Rule Changes from the May 2020 Board Meeting
A new version of the Rules of the Law Society of Alberta is now available on our website following changes from the May 2020 Board meeting.

Rule amendments include:

  • Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Rule Suspension;
  • Amendments to ALIA Rules; and
  • CPLED appeals process.
Law Society, ALIA and CPLED offices to remain closed until Stage 3
We continue to follow the guidance from Alberta Health Services and other government agencies as we make important decisions about our short and long-term operations during the pandemic. The government of Alberta recently announced its economic relaunch strategy , noting that Calgary and Brooks will reopen more gradually due to the higher case numbers. 

In light of this announcement, the Law Society of Alberta, Alberta Lawyers Indemnity Association (ALIA) and Canadian Centre for Professional Legal Education (CPLED) have decided to  keep offices closed until Stage 3 of the relaunch plan . Getting to Stage 3 will be determined by the success of Stages 1 and 2 as determined by Alberta Health Services and the government, so we cannot provide a fixed date for reopening at this time.

While offices will remain closed, our staff will continue to work at full capacity remotely to address any urgent needs and deliver essential services. We will  post any further updates  to our website as needed.
Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta announcements

Effective immediately, in cases where each party is represented by Counsel, with notice applications that would otherwise be heard in Justice Chambers (including Special Chambers) may be submitted to the Court by desk application with written argument.

Effective immediately, where the accused is represented by Counsel and where Crown and Defence Counsel agree, Summary Conviction Appeals involving Criminal Code offences may be submitted to the Court with written argument to be considered by way of desk application.

Commencing June, July and August, 2020, the Court will be hearing some short, judge-alone Criminal trials in-person in COVID-safe courtrooms. The Court will also be hearing some short, judge-alone Criminal trials via Webex video, where the accused is represented by Counsel and both Crown and Defence Counsel agree to proceed in this manner.

Effective immediately, all desk applications that are signed by a Justice or a Master will first be filed by the Court and the Applicant will be required to pay any outstanding fees pertaining to the processing of the Order, prior to the Order being returned to the Applicant for service upon the Respondent(s).
Email service of Court documents on the Alberta Government
As part of their response to COVID-19, the Legal Services Division of the Alberta Ministry of Justice and Solicitor General has developed a new procedure that will allow civil litigants to serve certain court documents on the Alberta Crown and Ministers via email. The details of this procedure are as follows:

  • Email address: jsg.servicehmq@gov.ab.ca
  • What may be served: only commencement documents, as defined in the Alberta Rules of Court.
  • Who may be served: only Her Majesty the Queen in right of Alberta, the Premier of Alberta and/or any Provincial Minister.
  • When is service effective: only once a lawyer responds in writing to your email and admits service of the commencement document

For any other service issues, please consult the Alberta Rules of Court or applicable legislation. Communications related to Administrative Tribunal proceedings will still be handled in accordance with established procedures.

There is also a new distinct email address for service of constitutional matters. Notices of Constitutional Questions to the Minister of Justice and Solicitor General of Alberta should be served on:

Constitutional and Aboriginal Law
Justice and Solicitor General
10 th Floor Oxford Tower
10025 – 102A Avenue
Edmonton, AB, T5J 2Z2
(ph) 780.422.9703
(fx) 780.643.0852