Bud Melnyk also shared an amendment to the Alberta Law Foundation’s grant cycle
Law Society of Alberta president Bud Melnyk has published a letter summing up Legal Professions Act amendments set to take effect on September 1.
Melnyk highlighted the following significant reforms:
- The Law Society’s new purpose statement that codifies current common law stipulating that the organization regulates the profession in the public interest and must ensure lawyers’ independence, integrity, competence, and ethical conduct
- A boost to the Law Society’s ability to address vexatious complaints expeditiously
- Restrictions on the Law Society’s prescription of mandatory education
He noted that the appeals process is also set to be amended: the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta will hear appeals from Law Society disciplinary decisions.
Regulated Professions Neutrality Act
Melnyk also touched on the RPNA, which is also coming into force on September 1. The Law Society is among the first regulators impacted by the new legislation.
The RPNA is characterized by three core components tightening the Law Society’s regulation of lawyers on competence and ethics issues:
- Profession members’ expressive off-duty conduct cannot be sanctioned except in specific cases
- Cultural competence education or training cannot be required
- Certain principles may not be championed or affirmed, and certain principles of neutrality must be considered in instruments, bylaws and decisions
In preparation for the RPNA, the Law Society will implement the following changes:
- Updates to the commentary for the Code of Conduct’s Rule 6.3-1 to comply with neutrality principles
- New lawyers joining the organization or lawyers transitioning from other jurisdictions need not go through “The Path: Your Journey Through Indigenous Canada” effective September 1
- Removal of the “Cultural Competence, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion” and the “Truth and Reconciliation” domains from the Professional Development Profile
- The de-establishment of the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee for the 2026-27 committee years and the renaming of the Lawyer Competence Committee to the Lawyer Competence and Ethics Committee
- The end of the Indigenous Mentorship Program and the Indigenous Summer Student Program after their current program cycles this summer
The Alberta government passed the RPNA and LPA reforms in December 2025.
Alberta Law Foundation grant cycle
Moreover, Melnyk shared that the Alberta Law Foundation would shift to a single annual grant cycle that starts with an open call on September 1.
Melnyk first stepped into the Law Society of Alberta presidency on February 26. In March, he confirmed the organization’s commitment to helping the foundation through a rebuilding process.
