The Canadian Bar Association BC Branch (CBABC) has received three year funding from the Law Foundation of British Columbia to implement the Rural Education and Access to Lawyers Initiative (REAL). REAL is a coordinated set of programs that address the current and projected shortage of lawyers practicing in small communities and rural areas of British Columbia in order to ensure that these communities continue to enjoy access to legal services.

The initiative has a number of key components including:

1. Funding for second year summer student placements in rural and small communities throughout British Columbia;
2. Financial and promotional support to assist with the marketing of regions to law students and new lawyers;
3. Professional support from the CBABC Regional Legal Careers Officer for students who are interested in practicing in rural and small communities;
4. Professional support from the CBABC Regional Legal Careers Officer to assist law firms and practitioners with the recruitment, hiring and retention of students and new lawyers in rural and small communities; and

For information on regional job opportunities and to find out how the REAL initiative can benefit you, please click on one of the links below:

• Law Firms and Practitioners
• Law Students
• Articled Students and New Lawyers
• Media

The REAL Initiative is pleased to announce that all summer 2010 job opportunities have now been filled. Click here to see a list of communities.

The Rural Education and Access to Lawyers Initiative Celebrates One Year Anniversary
On March 15, 2010 the CBABC celebrated the one year anniversary of the highly successful REAL Initiative. Read the full article here.

For further information regarding the REAL Initiative contact Michael Litchfield, CBABC Regional Legal Careers Officer at mlitchfield@bccba.org.