On March 12, 2011, the British Columbia Branch of the Canadian Bar Association (CBABC) held a Rural Education and Access to Lawyers (REAL) Regional Networking Event for all law students in British Columbia. This well-attended event at the River Rock Casino and Resort in Richmond offered law students with an opportunity to meet more than 100 members of the Bench and Bar. CBABC President Stephen McPhee welcomed guests to the event and spoke of the current and projected shortage of lawyers practicing in small communities and rural areas of British Columbia. CBABC Secretary-Treasurer Kerry Simmons spoke of the success of the REAL Initiative and that 28 students have experienced the practice of law in smaller communities throughout British Columbia. SCBA President Angela Ammann spoke about the experience of Vanderburgh and Company in 2010 REAL Summer Program. The event was emceed by CBABC Regional Legal Careers Officer Michael Litchfield. Special guests included:

• The Honourable Chief Justice Lance Finch, Court of Appeal of British Columbia
• The Honourable Chief Justice Robert Bauman, Supreme Court of British Columbia
• The Honourable Chief Judge Thomas Crabtree, Provincial Court of British Columbia
• President Rod Snow, The Canadian Bar Association
• Second Vice President Robert Brun, QC, The Canadian Bar Association
• President Gavin Hume, QC, The Law Society of British Columbia
• President Angela Ammann, South Cariboo Bar Association
• Dean Donna Greschner, Faculty of Law, University of Victoria
• Dean Christopher Axworthy, QC, Faculty of Law, Thompson Rivers University

L-R: Dean Christopher Axworthy, QC, The Honourable Chief Judge Thomas Crabtree, LSBC President Gavin Hume, QC, The Honourable Chief Justice Robert Bauman, CBA Second Vice President Robert Brun, QC, CBABC President Stephen McPhee, CBA President Rod Snow, Dean Donna Greschner and The Honourable Chief Justice Lance Finch





























































[posted March 16, 2011]