UBC Law Faculty Begins Exchange With Hebrew University

Starting this September, UBC Law will embark on a two-year long faculty exchange program with the Hebrew University of Jerusalem Faculty of Law. The program begins with Dr. Tomer Broude, Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Law and Department of International Relations, Hebrew University teaching an intensive course at UBC this semester entitled Topics in International Law & Transactions Dispute Settlement in the WTO: Law, Policy and Procedure. Other on and off-campus speaking engagements with Dr. Broude are also scheduled.

More information about Hebrew University, the faculty exchange program, and the scheduled lectures is available in the UBC Law news item.

Provincial Court Fax Filing Pilot Project Extended

The Honourable Chief Judge Tom Crabtree recently issued a Notice to the Profession and Amended Practice Direction indicating that the Provincial Court‘s Fax Filing Pilot Project currently underway in fourteen B.C. communities will be extended in those communities to July 1, 2012. The Notice to the Profession provides the background for the extension:

The Fax Filing Pilot Project was originally scheduled to end on July 31, 2003, but had been extended since then and is now extended to July 1, 2012. This allows time for further evaluation of the service. Following the completed evaluation, a decision will be made as to whether to expand the service to all registries throughout the Province.

With thanks to CBABC.

CBABC, UBC Law, and UVic Law Seek Mentor Lawyers

CBABC is partnering with UBC Law and UVic Law to recruit volunteer lawyers interested in mentoring law students in either faculty. The goal is that mentors will play a pivotal role in helping students build essential networks within the legal community while providing them with insightful counsel on the realities of practicing law. Each mentor will be matched with a law student who is particularly interested in the mentor’s area of practice. Once matched, the student will contact the mentor to arrange a meeting over lunch, coffee or at a scheduled mentorship reception.

The UBC Mentorship Form is to be submitted by Friday, September 3, 2010, and the UVic Mentorship Form is to be submitted by Wednesday, September 22, 2010.

Further contact information is available at on the CBABC Mentoring page.

BC Superior Courts Adds RSS, Site Search to Website

The BC Superior Courts this week added two key website features: a site search and an RSS feed of judgments and announcements. Both the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court posted the following announcement on their websites:

The B.C. Superior Courts is pleased to unveil two enhancements to our website:

• Site Search
• RSS feed for Reasons for Judgment and Announcements

Since the launch of the redesigned website in January 2009, requests for a site search and an RSS feed for Reasons for Judgment have topped the list of requests from visitors to our website.

With the Site Search, you will be to search all of the non-judgment content on our website. You also have the option of searching the Practice and Procedure sections for either the Court of Appeal or the Supreme Court. The process for searching judgments is not affected in any way by the site search.

The RSS feed allows those who subscribe to see what Reasons for Judgment and Announcements have been added to the website using your feed reader rather than having to visit our site. To subscribe to the RSS feed simply click on the orange RSS button on your screen.

The following is a screen shot of the site search box:

BCSC Announces Dates for Welcoming Ceremonies

Recently we directed readers to news of the appointments this of two new BC Supreme Court justices, Madam Justice Shelley C. Fitzpatrick and Madam Justice Jennifer Power. The BCSC has now scheduled dates and locations for the public welcoming ceremonies for

• Madam Justice Shelley C. Fitzpatrick at the Vancouver Law Courts on Monday, September 13, 2010 at 9:15 a.m. and
• Madam Justice Jennifer Power at the Nanaimo Court House on Friday, October 8, 2010 at 9:15 a.m. in Courtroom 232.

Members of the public are invited to attend the Welcoming Ceremonies.

Justice Gaul Transfers to Victoria

Last week the BC Supreme Court announced the following judicial transfer:

The Supreme Court of British Columbia announces that the Honourable Mr. Justice Geoffrey R. J. Gaul has transferred from New Westminster to Victoria effective August 5, 2010.

Justice Gaul sat in New Westminster since his appointment to the bench in 2008.

BC Law Society and LSS Seek Aboriginal Lawyers and Students to Join List

This week the Law Society of BC announced its assistance to the BC Legal Services Society in recruiting Aboriginal lawyers and articling students to add their names to a list with the objective of improving access to justice for Aboriginal people:

In support of the Benchers’ strategic objective to retain more Aboriginal lawyers in the legal profession, the Law Society is assisting a Legal Services Society initiative. LSS is creating a list of Aboriginal lawyers and articled students who are interested in supporting each other and improving access to legal services for Aboriginal people in BC.

According to research commissioned by LSS, First Nations people prefer to speak with an Aboriginal person and, if they are unable to do so, may not seek the legal help they need. Pamela Shields, the Aboriginal Services Program Manager for LSS, says, “one of the tools we need to improve legal services for First Nations people is a list of Aboriginal lawyers. We’re looking for people with either practising or non-practising status who are willing to, now or in the future, work with Aboriginal communities or individuals and consider being part of a network to support each other and possibly mentor other Aboriginal lawyers, articled students and law students.” The list is voluntary and there is no obligation to take on legal aid clients or articled students if you choose to sign up.

To join or get more information, contact Pamela Shields at pamela.shields@lss.bc.ca or 604-601-6298.

Positions Available on CBABC Volunteer Registry

The CBABC announced several volunteer opportunities available for members and other lawyers. The Justice Education Society of British Columbia, Immigrant PLEI Consortium Family Law and Domestic Violence Media Campaign, S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Family Law Workshop in Mandarin or Cantonese, and “Contact with the Justice System” for the People’s Law School are all seeking assistance from volunteer lawyers.

• Justice Education Society of British Columbia

There are currently volunteer positions available on the board of the Justice Education Society of BC (www.justiceeducation.ca).
The CBABC appoints one representative to the Board of the Society. The Society provides education programs and services about the justice system in Canada and British Columbia. The appointment is for a two-year term.

• Immigrant PLEI Consortium Family Law and Domestic Violence Media Campaign – Lower Mainland

The People’s Law School currently is seeking qualified volunteer speakers who specialize in the area of Family Law and Domestic Violence to speak about issues over the radio at community radio stations across the Lower Mainland. The interview range from 30 minutes to 1 hour with time to answer calls from the public. Qualified speakers who do not speak the radio-broadcasted language will have an interpreter.
As part of the Immigrant PLEI Consortium pilot project the media campaign delivers information about Family law to immigrant communities via radio and newsprint.

• S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Family Law Workshop in Mandarin or Cantonese – Burnaby/Vancouver

S.U.C.C.E.S.S. currently seeks one Mandarin or Cantonese speaking volunteer lawyer to speak about Family Law at an upcoming workshop in Burnaby or Vancouver. The workshop is flexible to meet your time and schedule.

• “Contact with the Justice System” Volunteer Speaker – Langley

The People’s Law School seeks one lawyer to present criminal justice information to youth who have criminal records at a Community Skills Centre in Langley.
Youth with criminal records face barriers to employment and the Centre is focused on developing their employability skills and work experience. The Centre is under agreement with Service Canada to deliver a 15 week Customer Service Employability Skills Training program and the Centre identifies knowledge about the Justice System imperative for youth to learn and how it applies to their work experience.

For more information on these opportunities, including contact information, see the CBABC notice.

New BCSC Justice Appointed to Nanaimo Court

The federal Department of Justice announced last week that the Honourable Madam Justice Jennifer Power , formerly Regional Crown Counsel with the Ministry of the Attorney General (Victoria), is now a member of The Supreme Court of British Columbia in Nanaimo.  She replaces Mr. Justice D.L. Halfyard, who elected to become a supernumerary judge as of July 14, 2009. The Minister of Justice gives some background on Justice Power in the press release announcing the appointment:

Madam Justice Power received a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) (Political Science and Economics)in 1983 as well as a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) in 1986 from the University of Victoria. She received a Master of Law (LL.M.) from the University of Cambridge, London, England in 1990. She was admitted to the British Columbia Bar in 1987 and was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 2006.

Madam Justice Power has been Regional Crown Counsel in Victoria since 2001; Deputy Crown Counsel (North Island 1997-2001); Administrative Crown Counsel (1995-1997) and Crown Counsel (1990-1995). She was also legal counsel for the Family Maintenance Enforcement Program (1988-1989). Her main areas of practice were supervision of all prosecutions on Vancouver Island and providing legal advice to Crown Counsel, the police and other justice partners. She was also responsible for legal, operational and policy decisions regarding most complex cases.

Madam Justice Power has been an organizer and panellist for the Annual Crown Counsel Conference (2005-2008). She is a member of Métis Nation of Greater Victoria.

And according to the BCSC news item, a public Welcoming Ceremony for Madam Justice Power will be held on a date to be scheduled.

TLABC Joins LinkedIn

Last fall Trial Lawyers Association of BC joined Twitter, and last month we informed you that they set up a Facebook page. The organization has now completed its social media presence on the major networks by joining LinkedIn.

If you are on LinkedIn, you can find TLABC’s group profile here.

UBC Faculty of Law to Host Meeting on Strategic Plan

UBC Faculty of Law invites all alumni to attend a meeting for those interested in learning more about UBC Law’s strategic plan and in providing feedback on it. This meeting follows upon an earlier discussion this summer on the strategic plan. From the news release available on the Faculty’s website:

The meeting will be hosted by UBC Law professor and Associate Dean, Academic Affairs, David Duff.

When: Thursday, September 9th (5pm to 6:30pm)

Where: UBC Robson Square, Room 1050 (Plaza Level)

As space is limited, please contact Simmi Puri at 604 822 4172 or email at puri@law.ubc.ca to confirm your attendance.

If you are unable to attend, we encourage you to view the draft plan and provide feedback online on the Faculty website.

We’ll be collecting feedback over the next few months. The final plan will be released in late 2010.

eXpd8 at CBA Canadian Legal Conference & Expo 2010

International experts in Client Management Software solutions, eXpd8 will be featuring their legal practice solution at this year’s CBA Canadian Legal Conference & Expo being held in Niagara, Ontario on August  15 – 17^th.  eXpd8 invites BC lawyers to drop by and get to know more about their solution or go to www.expd8.ca.

Strengthened Impaired Driving Penalties to Take Effect in September

On September 20, B.C. will have what the government describes as “Canada’s toughest impaired driving penalties.” A news release from the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General outlines some of the highlights of the new penalties:

Drivers who provide a failing breath sample above 0.08 per cent blood-alcohol content (BAC) or refuse to provide a breath sample at the roadside will face an immediate, 90-day driving ban and a $500 fine. As well, they will have their vehicle impounded for 30 days. Criminal charges may also be laid.

…

Drivers caught once in the “warn” range (between 0.05 and 0.08 per cent BAC) in a five-year period will face an immediate, three-day driving ban and a $200 fine; a second time, a seven-day ban and a $300 fine; and a third time, a 30-day ban and a $400 fine. Research shows a BAC in that range means a driver is seven times more likely to be in a fatal crash than if they have no alcohol in their body.

In addition, drivers who blow once in the “fail” range, or three times within five years in the “warn” range, will be required to participate in the rehabilitative Responsible Driver Program. They must also use an ignition interlock device, which tests a driver’s breath for alcohol every time they operate their vehicle, for one year.

For more information on the new impaired driving penalties, see the impaired driving information page on the Office of the Superintendent of Motor Vehicles website.

UVic Law Announces Dates for Law Firm Events for Students

University of Victoria Law announced a list of dates for several articling-related events coming up this fall. Events with firms from Vancouver, Calgary, and Toronto are scheduled to take place in Victoria and include

• Calgary-Toronto Wine & Cheese Reception
  Monday September 20, 2010
• Calgary-Toronto Law Firm Reception
  Tuesday September 21, 2010
• Calgary-Toronto On-Campus Interviews
  Wednesday September 22, 2010
• Interview Week in Vancouver
  Monday October 18, 2010
• Interview Week in Vancouver
  Tuesday October 19, 2010

More information about locations and dates for each event is available by clicking on the UVic Law calendar entry for each link above.

Public Commission on Legal Aid Announces Hearing Locations and Dates

In follow up to an earlier item about the establishment of a Public Commission on Legal Aid: This week the Public Commission announced a confirmed list of 11 communities it will visit for its upcoming hearings to gather input from the public and stakeholder groups regarding their views on the future of legal aid. The communities, along with dates, are

• September 20 – Williams Lake
• October 4 – Nanaimo
• September 21 – Prince George
• October 5 – Victoria
• September 23 – Terrace
• October 7 – Vancouver
• September 27 – Kamloops
• October 8 – Surrey
• September 28 – Kelowna
• October 12 – Chilliwack
• September 30 – Cranbrook

The Public Commission also announced that it is now accepting

both written submissions and expressions of interest to make in-person presentations. Submissions can be made by organizations or individuals who have had dealings with, thoughts on, or innovative ideas about the provision of legal aid in British Columbia. In-person presentations of selected submissions will be made directly to Commissioner Doust in each of the 11 communities the Commission visits. Hearings are open to the general public, though scheduling considerations mean that a limited number of submissions will be selected for presentation.

Further information, including a submissions guide and times and exact locations of the hearings in each community, is available on the Public Commission website.