The body pointed to a youth outreach project and its health recovery program
In its “2026 – Annual Report and Financial Statements,” the Law Society of Manitoba has highlighted its work in access to justice and wellbeing over the past year.
The body outlined the advancement of a number of priorities as it closed out the first year of its 2025-2025 strategic plan, including in the areas of competence, stakeholder confidence, and equity, diversity, and inclusion. CEO Leah Kosokowsky spotlighted its leadership of the Ours to Protect campaign, which aims to raise awareness of the rule of law and its role in democracy.
“The campaign reached millions of Canadians, with over 26 million completed views of the anthem video and with 135 million digital and tv ad impressions. The importance of the campaign’s success cannot be overstated, given the ongoing threats to the rule of law locally, nationally and internationally,” Kosokowsky wrote in the report.
The Law Society is initiating the second phase of the campaign, which will cater to the youth and concentrate on civics and the importance of the rule of law.
The Law Society also fostered the connections of lawyers in the province with the practice, ethics and equity advisor and with the Manitoba Law Library director to improve access to supportive online resources and materials. The body also adopted a competency profile for entry to the profession that will facilitate consistent, quality competent practice training for articling students.
The Law Society has been continuing its work in a multi-year initiative focused on access to pro bono services for Manitobans. The initiative was co-designed with the community and involves launching a network of service providers for provide holistic support. The Law Society also debuted a French legal services provider role to assist all departments.
The body rolled out a dedicated youth outreach initiative that aims to drive interest in law as a career among Indigenous and racialized youth in rural and northern communities. This is part of the Law Society’s efforts to cultivate inclusivity and geographical diversity in the bar.
The Law Society’s equity committee is reviewing systemic changes to enhance accessibility and representation. It is concentrating on examining the feasibility of making the part-time practising fee pilot project permanent, as well as on expanding the eligibility criteria in running for a bencher role or voting in bencher elections.
Law Society benchers noted that a percentage of articling students – trained overseas and persons of colour – are underpaid or not paid for their work. Thus, the body is championing the implementation of mandatory minimum compensation for all articling students.
Over 2025-2026, awareness of the Law Society’s health recovery program increased. The program examines the underlying health issues at the core of professional conduct issues.
“Competence in this profession is rarely loud or performative. It is preparation, judgment, reliability, and using your skills to help others through stressful or uncertain moments. In a time and profession where cynicism can come easily, there is something genuinely reassuring about being surrounded by people who take their responsibilities seriously and consistently try to do their best,” wrote Kyle Dear, Manitoba Law Society president, in the report.
