The benchers approved these rules in response to complaints received from practitioners, law students and the law schools. The recent history of articling recruitment in Calgary and Edmonton has given rise to problems which, law firm employers and law students cannot effectively solve on their own. The benchers were advised by a sub-committee of practitioners, law school administrators and Law Society representatives that these problems justify involvement of the Law Society. Before debating and passing the following rules, and commencing in 1998, the Law Society sought input from the Alberta law schools, from the profession by a call for submissions published in the Benchers Advisory , from a Town Hall meeting of practitioners and law students and from a consultative sub-committee.
Employers hire articling students as and when they desired without protocol.
Employers begin series of annual agreements to ensure hiring takes place after June. Calgary and Edmonton firms co-operate. Some major firms have never participated. A formal matching program is undertaken with participating firms. Mid 1990's Edmonton and Calgary firms stop co-ordinating hiring and each city develops own protocol.