Section Enrolment CLE Prizes
The CBABC and the Continuing Legal Education Society (CLE) are happy to announce the winners of the annual CBA Section enrolment draws. Members who enrolled in three or more Sections were eligible to win one of four prizes. Special thanks to CLE for providing the prizes, and congratulations to our winners:

1. A gift certificate for $700 to be used towards any CLE product(s) of the winner’s choice. Winner: John McNamee, Burnaby
2. Complimentary registration to a regular, one day CLE Course (value $375). Winner: Dennis Fitzpatrick, Vancouver
3. Complimentary registration to a regular, one day CLE course (value $375). Winner: Mailyne Ouellet, Victoria
4. Gift certificate for $300 to be used toward any CLE product(s) of the winner’s choice. Winner: Stephen H. Tick, Vancouver

BarTalk Turns 15 in 2003
BarTalk was introduced in February 1989, when Jim Vilvang, QC was the CBABC President. The newsletter was, in fact, the sixth reincarnation of a Branch newsletter. In 1986 a member survey was conducted which indicated one high priority of CBABC members was to be kept better informed. With this mission BarTalk was born, and its aim endures.

To celebrate the upcoming 15th anniversary of BarTalk, the CBABC has gathered an enviable assortment of prizes from all counties in the province. To enter the contest, simply tell us:

• Your name;
• Your county; and
• One (at least) new BarTalk article or topic you’d like to see us cover during 2003.

Entrants will be eligible to win a prize in their home county. Send your suggestions to cba@bccba.org or fax 604.669.9601 or toll free 1.877.669.9601. Contest closes Friday, March 7, 2003 at 4:30 p.m.

The counties and their respective prizes are listed below. We thank the many sponsors who very kindly donated items for this contest.

• Cariboo: One $50 gift certificate, donated by CBABC, for the Shogun Restaurant, located at the Coast Inn of the North
• Kootenay: Two lift tickets for Fernie Alpine Resort donated by Resorts of the Canadian Rockies
• Nanaimo: Six lift tickets for Mount Washington Alpine Resort
• Prince Rupert: Two lift tickets for Ski Smithers and a $25 Gift Certificate for the Smithers Boston Pizza
• Vancouver: 1st Prize: 2 Whistler Blackcomb Adult Day Passes, Two High Performance Rental Vouchers. 2nd Prize: Two tickets to the Vancouver Symphony for the 2002/03 season
• Victoria: High Tea for two at the Fairmont Empress Hotel
• Westminster: 1st Prize: Two Whistler Blackcomb Adult Day Passes and two High Performance Rental Vouchers. 2nd Prize: CBA Golf Shirt
• Yale-North: Two tickets to the Two River Junction Dinner and Musical Revue donated by CBABC
• Yale-South: Brunch for two at the Coast Capri Hotel Kelowna

Amendments to Subrules 66(6) and (7)
In July 2002, amendments to Rule 66 expanded fast track litigation province wide. Previously the fast track procedure was available only in the Vancouver, New Westminster and Kamloops registries on a pilot project basis.

When the decision was made to expand Rule 66 province wide, the Rules Revision Committee examined the fast track procedure and one issue considered was whether to retain the automatic exemption of personal injury actions as set out in Subrules 66(6) and (7). After deliberation, the Committee decided that the exemption should no longer be retained. However, given the potential impact of such an amendment, the Committee seeks comment from members of the legal profession practising in this area before recommending the amendment.

Any comments or suggestions should be sent to Judith Hoffman, Secretary, Rules Revision Committee, 800 Smithe Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2E1 no later than March 15, 2003.


Notice to the Profession
Fax Filing Pilot Project (January 7, 2003)
On February 1, 2003, 14 court registries throughout B.C. implemented the Fax Filing Pilot Project to pilot the transmission of certain Supreme Court and Provincial Court civil documents by fax to the following court registries: Chilliwack, Cranbrook, Dawson Creek, Kamloops, Kelowna, Nelson, Penticton, Prince George, Rossland, Salmon Arm, Smithers, Terrace, Vernon, and Williams Lake.

The Pilot Project will run from February 1, 2003 to July 31, 2003. The full Notice to the Profession and the Practice Direction is available at www.courts.gov.bc.ca (Supreme Court) and www.provincialcourt.bc.ca (Provincial Court)


Victoria Law Centre Receives LSS Funding
Victoria’s Law Centre student clinical program has reopened and will continue to offer legal aid services to low income clients, thanks to project funding from the Legal Services Society and support from other donors.

The future of the Law Centre was placed in doubt last spring as a result of provincial funding cuts to legal aid. However, UVic permitted the law school to keep the program afloat while alternative funding was sought. The Legal Services Society will give the Law Centre approximately $200,000 to deliver a family law pilot project for low-income, unrepresented people. The project runs until March 2004.

UVic law faculty’s clinical program has been offered to law students since 1977, and provides legal services to about 4,000 clients a year. Students earn credits and gain hands-on experience providing legal services to low-income persons not eligible for legal aid.

For details, visit www.thelawcentre.ca.


Lawyers Assistance Program (LAP)
LAP provides confidential support, counselling and referrals for lawyers, their families, support staff, judges and students suffering from alcohol and/or chemical dependency, stress, depression or just about any type of personal problem. For assistance or information on meetings and resources please call 604.685.2171 or toll free 1.888.685.2171. The LAP office is located at 415-1080 Mainland Street, Vancouver, BC V6B 2T4.

These articles were published in the February 2003 issue of BarTalk. © 2003 The Canadian Bar Association. All rights reserved.