Bencher Voter Guide

Topic 2 of 5

Rural

Rural and Remote Practice

Perspectives from 3 of 38 candidates

What this topic covers: Both client access in rural or geographically remote communities and the practical challenges of lawyers serving those communities. More on this topic

Summaries interpret each candidate's statements. They aren't the candidates' own words and haven't been endorsed by them. How perspectives are summarized

Candidate perspectives on Rural and Remote Practice

  1. JC Rees

    Calgary · Alberta Crown Prosecution Service, Calgary

    Cares particularly about improving access to justice and identifies overwork and low pay among lawyers as barriers to adequate service, particularly in remote communities, with consequences for children in care and people in custody.

    Addressed
    • Rural and remote client access
    • Rural practice sustainability
    Evidence and limits

    Addressed · Stated priority, Issue recognition. A relevant principle, priority, issue recognition or reported practice is directly expressed. This does not necessarily mean a specific policy change is proposed.

    I particularly care about improving Access to Justice. Overworked and underpaid lawyers are unable to adequately serve communities, especially remote areas. This leads to increased risk of children staying in foster care, or criminally charged individuals staying in custody, longer than they should.

    Both the client-access problem and the lawyer workload and compensation problems are expressly connected to remote communities.

    What this doesn't show

    • No specific compensation, staffing or service-delivery remedy is proposed.
    Full profile for JC Rees

  2. Saqib Javaid

    Edmonton · SJS Law, Edmonton

    Identifies distance, fewer colleagues nearby and the difficulty of finding someone to take over a practice as affecting how legal services reach rural and remote communities, and says regulation works best when it takes those realities into account, informed by listening to members and clients across the province.

    Addressed
    • Rural and remote client access
    • Rural practice sustainability
    • Rural lawyer support
    Evidence and limits

    Addressed · Issue recognition, Policy principle. A relevant principle, priority, issue recognition or reported practice is directly expressed. This does not necessarily mean a specific policy change is proposed.

    Distance, fewer colleagues nearby and the difficulty of finding someone to take over a practice all affect how legal services reach rural and remote communities.

    From the supplemental statement of October 23, 2026

    Regulation works best when it takes those realities into account, and a Bencher can learn about them by listening to members and clients in every part of the province.

    From the supplemental statement of October 23, 2026

    The election statement didn't address this topic. The supplemental statement of October 23, 2026 addresses it directly, naming client access, professional isolation and practice succession in rural and remote communities, with a principle for how regulation should take them into account.

    What this doesn't show

    • No specific rural program, recruitment or succession measure, or change to a particular rule, is proposed.
    • The candidate presents the supplemental statement as a perspective, not a list of commitments.
    Read the election statement Read the supplemental statement
    Full profile for Saqib Javaid

  3. Stephanie L. Dobson, KC

    Northern Alberta · Stephanie L. Dobson Professional Corporation o/a Henka Divorce Law & Mediation, Lloydminster

    Emphasizes competent representation in communities with limited legal-service access and the value of Law Society education, training and practice support, drawing on practice in Lloydminster and its surrounding region.

    Addressed
    • Rural and remote client access
    • Rural lawyer support
    Evidence and limits

    Addressed · Policy principle. A relevant principle, priority, issue recognition or reported practice is directly expressed. This does not necessarily mean a specific policy change is proposed.

    Practising in Lloydminster has reinforced for me the importance of competent legal representation, particularly in communities where access to legal services may be limited. This experience has strengthened my belief that the Law Society must continue to promote high standards of education, training, and practice support to maintain public confidence in the profession.

    The statement connects regional practice and limited local service access to an expressed need for education, training and practice support.

    What this doesn't show

    • No recruitment, retention, funding or rural service-delivery program is specified.
    Full profile for Stephanie L. Dobson, KC

Not addressed in their statements

Candidates wrote their statements for the Law Society's election site, not in answer to these topics. A statement that doesn't address a topic says nothing about the candidate's views or experience on it.

Other topics

AI AI and the Practice of Law See perspectives Regulatory Burden Regulatory Burden on Solo and Small Firm See perspectives Pathways Pathways to the Profession See perspectives A2J Access to Justice through Allied Professionals See perspectives

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