An Alberta lawyer who experienced political indoctrination in Maoist China is taking his fight against the Law Society of Alberta’s mandatory training requirements to the province’s highest court.

The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms announced October 5 that lawyers it funds have submitted written arguments on behalf of Roger Song, appealing the dismissal of his constitutional challenge.

Song wants a new hearing before a different judge. His appeal argues the lower court failed to adequately address his constitutional arguments or properly consider the evidence.

Called to the Alberta bar in 2014 after working as a law professor in Beijing, Song says the regulator’s mandatory “cultural competence” training raised concerns about ideological conformity in his adopted country.

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His challenge reaches beyond one course. He disputes what he describes as the Law Society’s promotion of political objectives through professional competence programs and ethical requirements, including its Code of Conduct.

Song argues that lawyers should not face censorship on political or ideological matters as a condition of practising law. He contends such requirements threaten lawyers’ independence and their obligations to clients and the Constitution.

According to the Justice Centre, his lower court materials included approximately 1,400 pages of affidavit evidence, an expert report and 285 pages of written argument. The organization says much of that material was excluded or ignored, and that the judgment barely addressed his central arguments.

Song also unsuccessfully sought permission to file his lower court written argument with the Court of Appeal.

Constitutional lawyer Glenn Blackett said the lower court effectively concluded it could offer no remedy even if Song’s concerns about the regulator undermining constitutional freedoms were correct.

“We are asking the Court of Appeal to reject that conclusion,” Blackett said.