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regional wrap-up the West ALBERTANS HAPPY WITH LAWYERS M ore than 80 per cent of Albertans say they are satisfied with the services lawyers in the province provide, according to a study conducted by the Law Society of Alberta. The LSA commissioned the Legal Services Usage & Attitudes survey to gather important information that will support the ongoing policy and regula- tory work of the LSA. "There is a relation- ship between the delivery of legal services and the regulation and governance of the profession by the Law Society of Alberta," says Rod Jerke, president of the LSA. Therefore, it is important to learn what the opinions of legal clients are. Conducted by Ipsos Reid, the survey was held between Dec. 11 and 21, 2009, and surveyed 1,577 Albertans. "The LSA was guided by Ipsos Reid on the mode, design, and questions of the survey to elicit the most reliable statistics that the LSA could use in its policy and regula- tory work," says Jerke. Highlights of the survey showed: • 50 per cent of Albertans were "very satisfied" and 30 per cent were "somewhat satisfied" with the services of their lawyer at their most recent legal proceeding. • The most important factors in choosing a lawyer were: good reputation, 43 per cent; referral, 41 per cent; and legal training, 30 per cent. • 34 per cent of Albertans believed they received "very good value" and 37 per cent believed they received "good value" for their lawyer's costs. • The top three areas where Albertans hired a lawyer in the past three years were: real estate, 84 per cent; wills & estates, 78 per cent; and family law, 59 per cent. Jerke says the survey also highlighted Visit www.lawsocietyalberta. com/files/whatsnew/Ipsos_Reid_ Table_18May2010.pdf to read the table of results from the Ipsos Reid poll. concerns about access to justice for all Albertans as well as the perception of the cost of legal services. "The LSA recognizes that some Albertans have some concerns with regard to access to justice and cost of services. Learnings such as these will help the LSA explore policy options so all Albertans will have access to legal ser- vices." The Edmonton Bar Association is pleased with the survey results, however, it feels that as a self-regulated profession, lawyers should always strive to improve the delivery of legal services to Albertans in every way possible. The EBA fosters fellowship and sense of community among lawyers in Edmonton, says association president Chad J. Brown. "By doing so, we play an important role in improving the quality of life for lawyers practising in Edmonton, which we feel has a trickle-down effect improv- ing the quality of legal servi- ces to consumers." Another possible reason for the public's satisfaction with the legal profession could be the many pro bono and charitable acts undertaken by the legal profession each year. "We feel the recent survey results are a positive reflection of our members' commitment to the legal profession and Albertans," says Brown. Jerke says a survey of Alberta lawyers is next. "Surveying the general public and Alberta lawyers are just some of the tools that the LSA is using to gath- er information to support the ongoing policy and regulatory work of the LSA." — DIANE L.M. COOK dianecook@shaw.ca stang joins the Field A fter 66 years of provid- ing legal services in Yellowknife, Peterson Stang will close its doors at the end of August. Two major changes at Peterson Stang — partner Garth Malakoe was appointed to the Territorial Court of the Northwest Territories and partner Kathy Peterson retired — precipitated third and sole surviving partner Gerald Stang to close shop and join Field Law. Stang says there were two main rea- port staff in Edmonton and Calgary, in addition to their Yellowknife personnel." James Casey, manag- Gerald Stang ing partner at Field Law's Edmonton office, says Stang's merger with Field Law is a good synergy and the firm is anxious to have him on board. sons for joining Field Law. "First, it was getting harder to recruit lawyers to Yellowknife and even harder to find lawyers who were willing to make the long-term commitment to join the part- nership. Second, Field Law gave us an opportunity to access their resources, which includes their lawyers and sup- "Gerald is a very talented corporate lawyer with deep roots in the North. He managed Peterson Stang's corporate records department and will continue to manage the department at Field Law in our Yellowknife office." Field Law, a regional firm with offices in Edmonton, Calgary, and Yellowknife, was founded in 1915 and has 100 law- yers. Field Law has 10 lawyers licensed to practise in the Northwest Territories. Not only does the firm's Yellowknife office carry on a general legal practice, www. C ANADIAN Law ye rmag.com JULY 2010 11