The Rural Education and Access to Lawyers Initiative (REAL) is committed to engaging with local, regional and national media in order to educate the public regarding issues surrounding access to legal services in non-urban centres of British Columbia.

Just as small communities and rural areas in British Columbia are facing a shortage of doctors and the resultant issues of access to medical services, these same communities are increasingly facing a shortage of lawyers and issues of access to legal services. Access to legal services and access to justice are important issues for British Columbians and research indicates that these issues are more likely to be faced by those living outside of urban areas in the province. The Law Society of British Columbia Small Firm Task Force released a report in 2007 that summarized their concern as follows:

“Outside of the urban areas, where there are fewer medium size and larger firms, the absence of younger lawyers is more prevalent. These numbers raise concerns about whether the sole and small firm bar is renewing itself, particularly in less populated parts of the province, and whether pressures and challenges make it more difficult to attract lawyers to sole and small firm practice.“

The Rural Education and Access to Lawyers Initiative is working to address these concerns and we welcome inquiries from media who are interested in covering this important issue. Please contact the CBABC Regional Legal Careers Officer at realbc@bccba.org.

Media Interviews
Looking for Lawyers
July 8, 2009
CBC Radio One, Daybreak North

CBABC Regional Legal Careers Officer Michael Litchfield spoke with Chris Walker of CBC Radio One about the loss of lawyers in rural areas because of retirement.

Press Releases
New CBA Program to Attract Lawyers to Smaller Communities
March 13, 2009

Published Articles
Bye-bye Bay Street
Kate Lunau, McCleans

The growth potential of small-town law
Jordan Furlong, The Lawyers Weekly

Greener Pastures
Robert Todd, Canadian Lawyer

Attracting lawyers to rural areas
Keely Covo, Penticton Herald

REAL Initiative
Michael Litchfield, BC Chamber of Commerce Express

Law: Where are you, Atticus Finch?
There's lots of work, but small towns are having trouble attracting legal talent.
Dean Jobb, CB Online

Programs aim to draw lawyers away from cities
Dean Jobb, The Lawyers Weekly

Rural areas losing lawyers, reducing access to justice
Dean Jobb, The Lawyers Weekly

Get REAL: New initiative connects students and established lawyers in rural areas
Joe Wiebe, UBC Law Alumni Magazine

Think Small
Bev Cline, National, The Canadian Bar Association

Opportunities Abound for Lawyers in Small Communities
Michael Litchfield, Canadian Lawyer Magazine

Renewing the Small Firm Bar
Small communities face a severe shortage of lawyers
Michael Litchfield, The Lawyers Weekly

Head North Young Lawyers
Jean Sorensen, Canadian Lawyer Magazine

Encouraging Young Lawyers to Come to Rural British Columbia
George T Baker, The Daily News (Prince Rupert)