The law foundations first came into existence in 1968 when the first law foundation was established in New South Wales, Australia. Lawyers visiting New South Wales from British Columbia at that time learned about how the interest on lawyers’ trust accounts was being used for the public good, and upon their return to Canada, recommended to the B.C. government that a similar foundation be formed. The Law Foundation of British Columbia, the first in Canada, was established in April 1969. From 1971 to 1986, similar law foundations were formed across Canada, and now exist in every province and territory.
There are also similar foundations across the United States, where they are called “IOLTA” (for “interest on lawyers’ trust accounts”) programs.
Law Foundations are not-for-profit and receive and distribute the interest on funds held in lawyers’ mixed trust accounts maintained in financial institutions to fund projects and programs according to their mandates that benefit the public in legal education, legal research, legal aid, law reform, and law libraries.
The first in Canada, The Law Foundation of British Columbia was established in 1969.
The Notary Foundation of British Columbia was established in 1985.
The Alberta Law Foundation was established in 1973.
The Manitoba Law Foundation was created in 1986.
The Law Foundation of Ontario was established in 1974.
La Chambre des notaires du Québec est l'ordre professionnel dont la mission consiste à protéger le public en tant qu’utilisateur des services de notaires.
The Chamber of Notaries of Quebec is the professional association whose mission is to protect the public as users of services of notaries.
La Fondation du Barreau initie, soutient et récompense des activités qui font mieux connaître la place du droit et le rôle de la profession juridique dans la société, notamment celles qui mettent l'accent sur les contributions doctrinales à l'étude du droit, et celles qui contribuent à l'intérêt public de la communauté québécoise, et ce, dans la poursuite de l'intérêt supérieur de la justice.
The Foundation initiates, supports and rewards activities that clarifying the role of law and the role of the legal profession in society, including those that focus on doctrinal contributions to the study of law, and those that contribute to the public interest of the Quebec community in pursuit of the best interest of justice.
The Foundation was established in 1975.
The Law Foundation of Nova Scotia was created in 1976.
The Law Foundation of PEI was established in 1973.
The Law Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador was established in 1980.
The Yukon Law Foundation was established in 1979.
The Northwest Territories Law Foundation was established in 1982.
The Nunavut Law Foundation was established in 2001.