LAWYER GUIDEBOOK
WELCOME MESSAGE Welcome to the Rural Education and Access to Lawyers Initiative (REAL) Lawyer Guidebook. The REAL Initiative was established in 2009 and since then has worked with its partners to highlight the many fantastic career opportunities that exist in small communities and rural areas of the province. The REAL Initiative would not have been possible without the financial support of the Law Foundation of BC, the Law Society of BC and the Canadian Bar Association BC Branch. Support has also been provided by our many other informal partners including the University of British Columbia, the University of Victoria, Thompson Rivers University, local and county bar associations from around the province and individual lawyers, law firms and students who have volunteered their time and resources to make the success of the initiative possible. If you are a rural firm or rural lawyer be prepared for the challenge. This guidebook provides helpful hints for you to harness the energy of young lawyers and ensure the strength of our profession grows into the future. In addition to this guidebook you can connect with the Regional Legal Career Officer at realbc@cbabc.org or 604.687.3404 or 1.888.687.3404.
TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction 1 Quick Facts 2 The REAL Initiative Current Program 3 Steps to Participate 3 Hiring a Student or New Lawyer Frequently Asked Questions 4 Tips for Success 5 Resources The REAL Initiative 7 Website 7 Facebook 7 Regional Legal Careers Officer 7 Online Resources 7 Acknowledgement The Founding Organizations 8
INTRODUCTION In March of 2009 the Canadian Bar Association BC Branch (CBABC) launched the REAL Initiative to address the current and projected shortage of lawyers practicing in small communities and rural areas of British Columbia. The REAL Initiative has resulted in a considerable shift in the dialogue surrounding legal practice outside of urban areas. The stereotype of practice in a rural setting as a second rate career has been seriously challenged in law schools across western Canada while a noticeable increase in student interest in these positions has occurred. Since the commencement of the project the REAL Initiative has worked hard to promote the many opportunities that exist for career development in rural British Columbia. These benefits include excellent mentorship, early opportunities for client contact and courtroom experience, a lower cost of living and a favourable work life balance. Current programs established to highlight these opportunities include the summer student program and the Regional Legal Careers Officer position who is available as a resource to lawyers who have an interest in hiring a summer student, articling student or new lawyer. The REAL Initiative understands that the decision to hire a student or new lawyer is a significant one for lawyers who practice in small communities and rural areas. Fortunately, a significant amount of resources exist to assist with this process and we hope that you find this guidebook useful as you consider this decision. 1
QUICK FACTS There are approximately 11,000 lawyers currently practicing in British Columbia. Of those, approximately 80 percent practice in the urban counties of Victoria, Vancouver and Westminster. The average age of lawyers in British Columbia is approximately 50 years. In small communities and rural areas the average age is slightly higher at 52 years. In many communities the average age is in the 60 s with some as high as 70 years old. On average there is 1 lawyer for every 450 people in BC. REAL targets high-need communities that have fewer than 1 lawyer per 1000 people. The REAL Initiative has created approximately 100 summer student positions around the province since 2009. Approximately 50% of the summer positions resulted in an offer of articles. The REAL Initiative has a popular Facebook site located at www.facebook.com/realcbabc with more than 500 subscribers. 2
THE REAL INITIATIVE Current Program The REAL Initiative currently offers the following assistance to lawyers who practice in a small community or rural area of British Columbia and have an interest in hiring a summer student, articling student or new lawyer: 1. Funding Funding to assist lawyers in eligible communities to hire a second year summer student; 2. Assistance Professional assistance from the Regional Legal Careers Officer for lawyers who are interested in hiring a summer student, articling student or new lawyer. The Regional Legal Careers Officer can provide advice on job ads, marketing, hiring and orientation; and 3. Networking Events Every year the REAL Initiative holds a Regional Networking Event where students from all universities in British Columbia attend to meet with lawyers from around the province. Steps to Participate The REAL Initiative summer student program is one of the most popular aspects of the initiative. Each year the REAL Initiative provides funding to lawyers and law firms from around the province so that they can hire a summer student to join them for three months. The process is as follows: 1. Law firms contact the Regional Legal Careers Officer for information and an application for summer student funding; 2. The law firm applies to the REAL Initiative for funding; 3. Applications are considered and approvals granted to select law firms; 4. Job ads are developed in coordination with the Regional Legal Careers Officer; 5. Job ads are posted on the REAL Initiative website and are distributed through various channels including the REAL Initiative Facebook site and law school career offices; 6. Students apply to the postings directly to the law firms using the contact information provided on the posting; and 7. The interview and hiring process is dictated by the law firm and the Regional Legal Careers Officer is available to lawyers throughout the process to provide assistance and answer any questions. 3
HIRING A STUDENT OR NEW LAWYER Hiring a student or new lawyer can be a daunting task for lawyers practicing in small communities or rural areas in British Columbia. The following section outlines a series of frequently asked questions and tips for success that can assist as you consider this important decision. Frequently Asked Questions How do I interest a student or new lawyer to my firm? Students from across the country are highly marketed to by large national law firms and therefore there is often an expectation that all available positions are posted or advertised somewhere. While the Regional Legal Careers Officer works hard one-to-one advising students on the ways to connect with law firms in small communities and rural areas, it is important that you are able to increase your visibility. The following is a short list of items that rural law firms can employ: Establish a website; Lolita Rudovica School: University of British Columbia Placement: Vanderhoof Get information on you, your firm and your philosophy in your practice out there so future students as well as clients can have an easy way to understand you; Get involved in the local legal community or with the students directly. This could include CBA membership, or more directly offering to assist the local legal career offices at each of the three universities here in BC; and Become a positive promoter of your community and your lifestyle, in addition to the legal services your firm provides. Items to highlight include: community engagement, recreational opportunities and work/life balance. Julian Tryczynski School: University of British Columbia Placement: Williams Lake What is the salary range in small communities? Unfortunately this is not an easy question to answer, as salary data in small communities and rural areas in British Columbia is not readily available. A recommended approach is to establish the salary equivalent in the Vancouver market and then calculate the percentage reduction in your area. The steps for doing this are as follows: Establish the salary equivalent in Vancouver by researching data online. Sources of salary data include the Association for Legal Career Professionals at www.nalpcanada.com and various legal recruitment service providers. In order to calculate the percentage reduction you should take into consideration a variety of factors including most importantly, what other firms are paying in your area and the cost of living in the area in regards to rent, food, transportation and any other significant costs. Further assistance with the calculation of salary ranges can also be provided by the Regional Legal Careers Officer. Erin Crocker School: University of Alberta Placement: Smithers 4
Tips for Success Through the years, the REAL Initiative has observed a number of strategies that may assist in the hiring and retention of students or new lawyers. Tip #1 Take advantage of resources There are many resources available to lawyers that are interested in hiring students or new lawyers in small communities or rural areas of British Columbia. In addition to the Regional Legal Careers Officer, the career offices at the law schools are a great resource. Each career office is run by a careers officer whose job it is to assist students to locate and secure summer and article positions. Lawyers and law firms in small communities and rural areas should establish a relationship with these individuals and learn about the various services they provide including the distribution of job information to students and alumni. Below you will find a list of contact information for the career offices in British Columbia: University of British Columbia, Peter A. Allard School of Law careers@allard.ubc.ca University of Victoria, Faculty of Law lco@uvic.ca Thompson Rivers University, Faculty of Law lawcdo@tru.ca Tip #2 Find the right fit Law students are often told that they must find the right fit in a law firm that they are considering. It is equally important for the lawyers to ensure that the student they are hiring is a fit for them. Relevant considerations include personality, work ethic and commitment to the community. Finding the right fit is a matter of conducting a thorough hiring process that includes interviews, reference checks, and inquiry into other relevant factors such as transcripts, writing samples and online presence. The Canadian Bar Association has a variety of practical resources available in the Practice Link section of its website located at: www.cba.org/cba/practicelink/home A great starting point is an article by Pascale Daigneault entitled Hiring 102, which can be found at: www.cba.org/cba/practicelink/solosmall_people/hiring102.aspx Tip #3 Establish an orientation program A common complaint from students who experience practice in a smaller community or rural area is the lack of an orientation program. Orientation programs are important to provide the student with a sense of comfort and familiarity with you, your practice, your office and the community at large. At a minimum an orientation program should include an introduction to key individuals in your firm, the legal community as well as the community in which you practice. In addition, a good orientation program will address practice and expectations around firm culture, practice management, business development, continuing education and mentorship. The Canadian Bar Association has a variety of practical resources available in the Practice Link section of its website located at: www.cba.org/cba/practicelink/home A great starting point is an article by Julie Stauffer entitled Ready, Set, Bill?, which can be found at: www.cba.org/cba/practicelink/wwp/orientation.aspx Further assistance with establishing an orientation program is also available from the Regional Legal Careers Officer. 5
Tip #4 Establish a formal mentorship program In addition to an orientation program it is important to establish a structured mentorship program for a student or new lawyer. This allows the student to feel that they are a valued part of the future of the law firm and ensures that they are learning valuable lessons that will form the foundation of their career. It is important to provide some structure to your mentorship program as mentorship is increasingly valued by new lawyers but is often ignored in place of higher priority items. Structured mentorship consists of the establishment of set learning objectives between a principal and their mentee as well as a schedule of tasks and a regular interval for structured feedback. The Canadian Bar Association has a variety of practical resources available in the Practice Link section of its website located at: www.cba.org/cba/practicelink/home A great starting point is a series of articles by Ginger Grant entitled The Importance of Mentoring, which can be found at: www.cba.org/cba/practicelink/bsky/mentoring.aspx www.cba.org/cba/practicelink/bsky/mentoring2.aspx 6
RESOURCES The REAL Initiative The REAL Initiative has a variety of resources to assist you if you are considering hiring a summer student, articling student or new lawyer. First and foremost is direct assistance available from the Regional Legal Careers Officer. Connect with all of the resources available by the following means: Website www.realbc.org Facebook www.facebook.com/realcbabc Regional Legal Careers Officer E: realbc@cbabc.org T: 604.687.3404 Online Resources The Canadian Bar Association BC Branch www.cbabc.org The Law Society of British Columbia www.lawsociety.bc.ca University of British Columbia Law Career Services www.law.ubc.ca/careerservices University of Victoria Law Career Services www.law.uvic.ca/lco Thompson Rivers University Law www.tru.ca/law 7
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT This initiative is made possible by funding from the following sponsors: The Founding Organizations Canadian Bar Association The Canadian Bar Association is a professional, voluntary organization which was formed in 1896, and incorporated by a Special Act of Parliament on April 15, 1921. Today, the Association represents 38,000 lawyers, judges, notaries, law teachers, and law students from across Canada, of which more than 6,700 are members of the BC Branch. The association serves a number of important purposes including to provide personal and professional development and support to its members and to promote fair justice and facilitate effective law reform in Canada. Law Society of BC The Law Society of British Columbia regulates the legal profession in BC, protecting the public interest in the administration of justice by setting and enforcing standards of professional conduct for lawyers. The Law Society ensures the public is well served by legal professionals who are honourable and competent and brings a voice to issues affecting the justice system and the delivery of legal services. The Law Foundation of BC The Law Foundation of British Columbia is a non-profit foundation that receives and distributes the interest on funds held in lawyers pooled trust accounts maintained in financial institutions. The Law Foundation funds projects and programs throughout BC that benefit the public in a number of areas including legal education, legal research, legal aid, law reform, and law libraries. 8
WWW.REALBC.ORG 2015