The BCLMA was formed
about a year after the Association of Legal Administrators (ALA) was founded,
but it wasn’t until 1982 that the BCLMA became an official chapter of ALA.
These pioneers of the profession had to pay their own dues in the early years
as the benefits of the association weren’t well recognized by the lawyers, and
the need to pay dues to both BCLMA and ALA proved onerous for some. With
benefits soon proven, the issue of paying dues to both the local and
international organization became less of an issue and BCLMA joined the ALA family,
eventually sending two of its own on to the international board.
The first meetings
were held on a monthly basis at the old Lawyers’ Inn on Dunsmuir Street. Most
of the speakers were from the chapters and the meetings featured broad
sharing of information. Topics included the latest in typewriters, photocopiers
and the newest invention of the time - the computer.
When the new
courthouse was completed, monthly meetings moved to the new Law Courts Inn.
When it was suggested that dinner costs be included in membership
fees, the BCLMA’s treasury grew to being capable of providing world
class programming for its members. When the annual retreat was established,
ALA’s President and President-Elect travelled to B.C. to participate and enjoy
the good work done at our annual retreat. Recent retreats have been hosted
in historic Victoria and the world-renowned resort community
of Whistler.
The subsections are a
vital part the association. The Finance Section was the first, created in 1984.
Human Resources and Technology soon followed. In the late 1980’s, the Marketing
and Office Services (now known as Facilities and Services Management)
subsections were formed. Small Firms was created in the early 1990’s. Newest
subsections are Knowledge Management and Trainers. Today’s subsections
represent the core strength of the association as the management positions in
law firms become more specialized.
BCLMA and Vancouver
have hosted three “Northwest “ regional ALA conferences (1986, 1991, 1995). At
these conferences, BCLMA members welcomed their colleagues from the Pacific
Northwest, western Canada and Alaska and Hawaii and participated in a number of
excellent programs featuring the best known speakers in the field. The ALA
Region 5 conference was hosted in Vancouver in October 2003.
The BCLMA has
attracted members from all across British Columbia - Prince George, Kamloops,
Kelowna, Nanaimo and Victoria. In addition to these outposts, we have a
thriving membership in the suburbs of Vancouver, and many of these members
contribute to the Small Firms section today.
The newsletter was
launched in 1985. In this day of email and instant communication, it is
sometimes difficult to remember that the newsletter was the first and
most important source of information for the membership. In the late 1980’s and
early 1990’s, the editorial board reintroduced the newsletter as TOPICS.
TOPICS set the standard for ALA chapter newsletters and was an award
winner in the early 1990’s for design and writing and best all around
newsletter for chapters of our size.
Our association moved
into the internet age in 1998 with the establishment of its own robust website.
Our
chapter initiated the sharing of information in order to further the
knowledge of our members and the advancement of our firms. Members developed
information bases and reports for the association. Our own Law Firm Economics
Survey became a model for similar such surveys across Canada. Additionally, the
association has long enjoyed a collaborative relationship with the Canadian Bar
Association’s BC Branch on collecting various pieces of law firm management
information.
The BCLMA and its
members have always enjoyed a cooperative relationship with its vendors, from
the early days when vendors were speakers at various education meetings and
advertisers in the newsletter. In the mid-1990’s, the relationship with vendors
matured, and vendors became much more active in their support of
the BCLMA, particularly with financial support of various educational and
social functions. Those relationships continue today.
Our association is a
truly vibrant chapter thanks to the numerous volunteers and legal managers who
continue to give their time and effort to enriching the professional lives of
their colleagues.
