Recognizing Aboriginal Leadership in the Legal Profession

On June 16 at the First Nations House of Learning (Longhouse) at UBC, the Law Society of BC will hold Inspiring Stories Connecting Future Leaders, an event to recognize and honour Aboriginal leaders in the legal profession.

Attendance is free with registration, and a limited number of grants are available for Aboriginal lawyers traveling to Vancouver. Lunch and refreshments will be provided.

The event is held in conjunction with National Aboriginal Day.

Law Foundation of BC Honoured by BC Library Association

The Law Foundation of BC was recently honoured as a “library champion” by the BC Library Association.

The Keith Sacré Library Champion Award is given to “to an individual, organization or business that has a record of support of libraries, literacy, public access to information and the overall aims and objectives of libraries.”

The BC Courthouse Libraries project LawMatters, which helps the public access legal information via their local public libraries, was given special recognition. LawMatters is supported by the Law Foundation.

The award was presented at the 2010 BC Library Association Conference.

Colin Cameron to Speak to BCLMA

The BC Legal Management Association welcomes Colin Cameron on Wednesday May 26th.  His presentation titled Strategic Planning: a step-by-step guide for how to move your firm forward now is open to all BCLMA members and will cover a range of topics, including:

• The major components of the strategic planning process.
• The major planning issues facing law firms today.
• Helpful planning techniques to move the process along.
• The role you play in the planning process.
• The planning resources that are available to help

For more information, visit the BCLMA web page for this event.

Access Justice & Pro Bono Law of BC Merge

As of April 1, 2010, the Western Canada Society to Access Justice and Pro Bono Law of British Columbia have merged, and will now be known as the Access Pro Bono Law Society of British Columbia (Access Pro Bono).

“Access Pro Bono’s mission is to promote access to justice in British Columbia by providing and fostering quality pro bono legal services for people and non-profit organizations of limited means.”

The two merging organizations have a long history of  helping people and organizations with limited means in BC. Access Justice was formed in 1990, and Pro Bono Law in 2002 (under the name Public Legal Access Society). Access Pro Bono’s new website is currently under construction, but will exist at www.accessprobono.ca.

New Civil & Family Rules Website

The Ministry of the Attorney General has launched a section of its website devoted to the new BC Supreme Court civil and family rules, at http://www.ag.gov.bc.ca/new-rules/index.htm.

The website includes copies of the new rules as well as details on how they were developed, costs, fees, and other general information. Also provided are email contacts for those with questions about the new rules.

New Issue of The Scrivener Focuses on Fraud

The Society of Notaries Public of BC has just published a special 96-page issue of The Scrivener devoted to fraud. With more than two dozen articles, the issue touch on topics such as:

• identify theft
• Ponzi schemes
• scams
• money laundering
• real estate and land fraud
• predatory cycles and behavioural cues of fraudsters
• security

The issue also contains a “Canadian Rogues Gallery of Financial Fraudsters”.

Dye & Durham provides title monitoring service which notifies home owner of any activity on their title. For more information click on www.bctitlefraud.com

New BC Civil Rules – Frequently Asked Questions

Dye & Durham has published an extensive list of FAQs related to the new BC civil rules, effective July 1, 2010.  The questions cover a wide range of topics, including amending a notice of civil claim, the mediation process, appearances & responses, and service deadlines for expert evidence.

The FAQs were developed in response to questions from participants in a recent Dye & Durham webinar on the new civil rules. A second batch of FAQs will follow.

UVic to Grant JD Degrees

The University of Victoria Faculty of Law will abandon the Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) in favour of the Juris Doctor (JD) degree. The UVic Senate passed a motion to this effect on April 9, 2010.

Potentially starting with those entering law school in fall of 2010, students will graduate with a JD; alumni will also be eligible to receive a replacement degree certificate with the new designation.

The majority of students and alumni supported the move to the JD. According to UVic, “Most Canadian common law schools have already changed the name of their Bachelor of Laws degree to a Juris Doctor degree.”

The news follows UVic Law Faculty Council’s February 24 recommendation.

VBA Devil’s Advocate Social to Support Earthquake Relief

On Friday, May 14, the Vancouver Bar Association will host its 4th annual “Devil’s Advocate” spring social at the Vancouver Art Gallery.

This year, a new feature will be a dessert tasting by donation featuring some of Vancouver’s best restaurants, with proceeds benefiting the Canadian Red Cross‘s Earthquake Relief efforts.

For further information about this event or other Vancouver Bar Association activities, please see the VBA website.

Richard Susskind to Speak at UVic

Renowned author and speaker Richard Susskind will give a lecture at the University of Victoria on April 22nd. The presentation is entitled “What Storms are Brewing for Lawyers — and What Happens if Lawyers Don’t Anticipate and Respond?”

Susskind, who will be in Vancouver the following day for the Judges’ and Lawyers’ Centenary Conference, is known for his expertise in the future of legal services and its intersection with information technology.

The event is registered as a Law Society of BC CPD program.

UBC Faculty of Law Update

The April edition of UBC Law‘s e-newsletter is now available.  Topics covered in this issue include:

• An update on the new law building’s progress
• Faculty awards and and research grants
• A “Faculty in the news” roundup
• UBC winners at the Gale Moot, Canadian Corporate/Securities Moot, and Laskin Moot
• Upcoming events including conferences, colloquia, lectures and alumni events
• A call for papers for the upcoming legal studies graduate students’ conference

(via @UBCLaw)

West Coast LEAF Releases “Mapping the Gap” Report

The West Coast Legal Education and Action Fund (LEAF) recently published “Minding the Gap: A Summary of Legal Resources for Women in British Columbia“, written by Shahnaz Rahman and funded by the Notary Foundation of BC.  The project surveyed community-based organizations, transition houses, academics, legal organizations, and counseling and anti-violence programs  across the province to create a “snapshot of the existing legal resources”.

“We have found that a patchwork of legal resources exist throughout the province, created by various advocacy groups and women serving community based organizations. In the absence of a coordinating body, and in the context of diminishing legal aid service in the province, West Coast LEAF felt these tremendously useful resources needed to be discovered and shared more broadly.”

The report is available on the West Coast LEAF website.

Rural Education and Access to Lawyers (REAL) Initiative

The Rural Education and Access to Lawyers (REAL) Initiative has successfully completed its first year, reports the CBA BC Branch.

This program, funded by the Law Foundation of BC, creates summer opportunities for law students outside the Metro Vancouver and Victoria areas, and raises the profile of “rural practice issues in British Columbia and across the country.” In 2009 the program placed 11 students in rural areas; in 2010 that number will almost double to 21 summer student positions.

The REAL Initiative was featured in the October 2009 issue of CBA’s National magazine.