At CBABC, advocacy is not just something we do—it is why we exist. We are, at our core, an organization that advocates for advocates: for the lawyers who serve their clients, uphold the rule of law, and sustain our justice system. As I begin my term as president, I have been thinking about what that really means—both for CBABC, and for each of us as members of this profession.
So let me start with a simple question: What does it actually mean to be an advocate?
The word comes from the Latin advocatus, “to call to one’s aid.” So at root, an advocate is someone summoned to speak in aid of someone else. It is a word that carries both an invitation and an obligation. And, if we take it seriously, it may be one of the most demanding words we use.
Because being an advocate—a true advocate—is not simply a matter of a bar admission or a facility for thinking on your feet. It is the acceptance of a set of responsibilities that reach far beyond any single client, any single file, and any single courtroom.
The advocate for the client
The most familiar face of advocacy is the one we grew up watching in movies and TV shows (when TV was a thing): the captivating closing argument, the blistering cross-examination, the impassioned plea to the jury. That work matters. But it is only a small fraction of the work we do.
Whether you are appearing in court, negotiating a settlement, drafting a contract that spares a client from years of litigation, or guiding someone through one of the most difficult moments of their life, you are advancing someone else’s interests with skill, integrity, and judgment. You are lending your voice to people who cannot speak the language of the law on their own.
Every one of us, in every practice area, is doing that work every day.
The advocate for the rule of law
Every time a lawyer stands up for a client, they are also standing up for something much larger: the idea that in a free society, individuals can hold power to account through law rather than through force.
That is why the independence of the bar matters—not as a professional privilege, but as a public good. When people retain us, they need to trust that our advice answers to them, to our professional obligations, and to the courts—not to the state.
This is where CBABC’s role as an advocate for advocates becomes especially important. On issues like the Legal Professions Act, the CBABC has taken a clear and principled position to defend the independence of the bar. Through submissions, engagement with government, and participation in constitutional litigation, CBABC has worked to ensure that lawyers in British Columbia can continue to fulfill their role without interference. That work is not abstract. It goes directly to our ability—and our obligation—to advocate effectively for our clients.
The advocate for access to justice
There is another dimension of advocacy that is just as important: access to justice.
A justice system that only some people can access is not truly just. As lawyers, we see that reality every day, in delayed proceedings and unmet legal needs. One of the most important ways we respond is by coming together, through organizations like CBABC, to advocate for systemic change.
CBABC’s Agenda for Justice, our budget submissions, and our ongoing work on court modernization, Indigenous Courts, and early resolution processes are all examples of advocacy on behalf of the profession and the public. These efforts are grounded in the real experiences of lawyers across the province. CBABC takes what we see on the front lines and translates it into concrete proposals to improve our legal and justice systems.
That work matters. It helps shape the environment in which we practise. It strengthens public confidence in the justice system. And it ensures that the ability to access legal help does not depend solely on means or geography.
The advocate for the profession
CBABC advocates for advocates, and we also advocate for the profession itself.
That includes supporting lawyers in day-to-day work, through professional development, mentorship, and community. It includes advancing inclusion in our profession. It includes engaging meaningfully in the work of Reconciliation. And it includes creating space for lawyers to connect, share ideas, and support one another.
This kind of advocacy is quieter, but no less important. A strong, healthy, and inclusive profession is essential to delivering on all the other forms of advocacy we take on. When we support lawyers, we strengthen their ability to support their clients and their communities.
A shared responsibility, and an opportunity
So what does it mean to be an advocate?
It means understanding that the word holds all of these things at once. The advocate for the client. The advocate for the rule of law. The advocate for access to justice. And the advocate for the profession itself.
It also means recognizing that we do not do this work alone.
One of the great strengths of the CBABC is allowing us to act collectively—to bring together the voices and experiences of thousands of lawyers across British Columbia, and to advocate with credibility and impact on their behalf. Whether through sections, committees, working groups, consultations, or submissions, our members play a direct role in shaping that advocacy.
That is something I find deeply motivating.
Looking ahead
As I take on the role of president, I am excited by the opportunity to build on this work—to continue strengthening CBABC’s voice as an advocate for advocates, and to support our members in the vital work they do every day.
Advocacy will be my central focus this year, not because it is new, but because it is foundational. It is the thread that connects everything we do as a profession, and everything CBABC does on behalf of its members.
Every lawyer in this province is already an advocate. Through CBABC, we have the opportunity to amplify that role—to support one another, to improve our justice system, and to ensure that our profession continues to meet the moment.
I look forward to doing that work with you.
