Alberta law society retains decision for members to take Indigenous course

The Law Society of Alberta has voted in favour of keeping a requirement for its members to complete a course on Indigenous history and culture.

Almost 3,500 lawyers voted on the motion, which would have struck down the society's right to require such courses.

Last week, 51 lawyers signed a petition calling that right into question, with some of the signatories calling the required course political indoctrination.

In the end, their petition was defeated by a roughly three-to-one margin.

That means lawyers will continue to have to take the course as a condition of practising law in Alberta.

British Columbia's law society has a similar requirement and the Ontario society requires its members to take mandatory courses on sexual harassment and abuse.