The Law Society initiated a part-time practising fees pilot program, which commenced April 1, 2022, and will end March 31, 2027. The initiative recognized that not all lawyers fit the traditional model of full time practice, and had the goal of helping promote greater equity, diversity and inclusion in Manitoba’s legal profession.
This 10 minute survey will help the Law Society evaluate the program’s success in helping reduce the rates of attrition of lawyers from private practice, by providing flexibility to lawyers with care-giving responsibilities for children or other family members or those with their own illness or disability.

The survey will also explore and gauge interest in the possibility of altering the program’s participation criteria.
THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING IN THIS SURVEY
Your thoughtful responses will help inform decisions surrounding the future of the program and will be greatly appreciated. The survey will remain open until Monday, June 15, 2026.
All responses will be analyzed in aggregate form only. Nothing shared by you will be linked to you directly. As a token of our appreciation, after completing the survey you can enter a prize draw for registration in a Law Society CPD course of your choice.

Please read the background information below before taking the survey. More information can be found on our website and in the FAQ.

For questions about the part-time practising fees pilot program and the survey, please contact Sharon Kravetsky at skravetsky@lawsociety.mb.ca.

Why did the Law Society initiate the Part-time Fees Pilot Project?
The Part-time Fees Pilot Project was initiated in response to a request from the Manitoba Bar Association’s Women Lawyers’ Forum, in recognition that lawyers who practice part-time are disproportionately young mothers. These lawyers paid a full-time fee while working part-time hours and earning at lower levels. Recognizing that there are a variety of reasons a lawyer may not engage in full-time practice, including childcare or eldercare duties, or the lawyer’s own health issues, the Part-Time Fees Pilot Program was implemented.

A summary of the key features of the Part-time Fees Pilot Program:

1. Lawyers must work in private practice and:

2. a) have care giving responsibilities for
i. a child 12 years of age or under; or
ii. a child over the age of 12 who has a significant medical condition or disability; or
iii. other family members with a chronic illness or disability; or

2. b) have their own serious, chronic illness or disability; and

3. Work a maximum of 750 billable hours (excluding pro bono work) annually; and

4. Have maximum gross billings of $80,000 annually.

Practising fees are reduced by 50% (a reduction of $1322.50 in fiscal 2025/2026). The insurance levy is not reduced.
The number of participants increased in each pilot year, with 30 lawyers in the first year and 38 by year 4.

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* 1. Does your firm or organization permit part-time work?

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* 2. What is your current status with the Law Society?

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* 3. Have you ever practised part-time (less than 750 hours annually)?

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