Over 80 percent of Alberta lawyers rate their substantive law competence highly: survey

Most legal professionals feel well-versed in the substantive law of their practice areas, according to the Law Society of Alberta’s survey of the legal profession focusing on substantive law competence and continuing professional development (CPD). 

For its short online survey, the law society collectively defined substantive law as both: 

• what specific knowledge and skills, including relevant legislation and case law, a lawyer required to practise in a certain area 
• how the lawyer applied knowledge and skills in a practical setting, including through procedural law such as rules, practice notes, directives, and unwritten rules and norms for conducting proceedings in specific practice areas and jurisdictions 

In an update, the law society noted that its survey asked the respondents to rate their substantive law competence on a 5-point scale. Among the survey respondents: 

• 87 percent rated themselves as a 4 or 5 for the “what” aspect 
• 83 percent rated themselves as a 4 or 5 for the “how” aspect 

When considering a cross-section of the survey respondents, the law society noted that confidence was lower among newer lawyers and those who received an international education. The law society noted that introducing support targeting these legal professionals could be valuable. 

The survey revealed the following primary barriers to participating in substantive law CPD: cost, time, relevance, and travel. Based on the findings, the law society did not perceive a lack of interest as an obstacle. 

The survey found that respondents tended to prefer flexible and self-directed learning formats over in-person or live opportunities. 

The survey revealed a low awareness of the law society’s existing substantive law resources. In its update, the law society highlighted some of these resources, which included: 

• AdvisorLink, which aims to link up legal professionals with counsel experienced in various practice areas who can answer their one-off substantive law questions 
• the Practice Fundamentals Program, an online program developed by the law society and the Legal Education Society of Alberta (LESA) to offer substantive law materials and other content to help new lawyers develop the skills they need for legal practice 

Survey background

In November 2025, the law society encouraged all Alberta lawyers and articling students to answer the survey to share their insights regarding their substantive law CPD experience. Of 265 survey respondents, 262 were lawyers and three were students-at-law in the province. 

The law society explained that the survey sought to hear from Alberta lawyers who were willing to share their experiences relating to substantive law competence and CPD.