CLEBC Update: Online OnDemand Courses
B.C. Family Practice Manual, CRIMJI AND CIVJI – Now Available
As the practice of law changes, CLE is keeping pace. Access CLE courses anytime, anywhere with Online OnDemand sessions. You can buy whole courses or individual sessions, and use the table of contents to jump to the part you need. Each session includes audio and PowerPoint slides, and an electronic version of the materials and slides, allowing keyword searching. Go to www.cle.bc.ca, "Courses" for details or contact Ron Friesen, Director of Education, at 604-669-3544, 1-800-663-0437, rfriesen@cle.bc.ca.

Available May 2006, CLE introduces the fourth edition of the British Columbia Family Practice Manual. Reorganized and updated to reflect the evolving practice of family law, with all-new chapters on Conducting a Family Practice, Building Effective Relationships, Gathering Information, and Aboriginal Family Law Issues and including new case law and legislative amendments, the new edition of this already essential practice manual makes crucial practice information even easier for practitioners to find and use.

For nearly 20 years, the Canadian bench and bar have turned to Criminal Jury Instructions (CRIMJI) and Civil Jury Instructions (CIVJI) to assist in drafting and delivering charges in jury trials. With CRIMJI's fourth edition, the Honourable Mr. Justice Michael Dambrot (Ontario Superior Court) and the Honourable Madam Justice Elizabeth Bennett (B.C. Supreme Court) have joined Professor Gerry Ferguson as authors of CRIMJI along with a new editorial board comprising esteemed judges from across Canada. CRIMJI now has over 135 instructions on trial procedures, evidence, and all major offences and defences, presented in an organized manner and easy to understand language. As for CIVJI, the Honourable Mr. Dean Wilson is joined by new authors the Honourable Madam Justice Nicole Garson and Christopher Hinkson, QC with Fred Irvine continuing as able researcher. Well subscribed both within B.C. and other provinces, the authors will work with CLE to maintain and build on its valued place in the Canadian justice system.


The Law Foundation of British Columbia
The Board of Governors of the Law Foundation of B.C. met on November 19, 2005. Chair Warren Wilson, QC is pleased to announce that funding totalling $4,511,200 has been approved for the following programs. In addition, the Foundation approved 9 projects for $1,150,000 at the November meeting, previously listed in the February 2006 issue of BarTalk.

Funding up to $4,156,200 was approved for the following 17 continuing programs:

$136,900, BC COALITION OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, Legal Advocacy Program

$20,800, B.C. FREEDOM OF INFORMATION & PRIVACY ASSOCIATION, Law Reform and Public, Legal Education Program

$14,300, DEBATE AND SPEECH ASSOCIATION, 2006 Law Foundation Cup Debates

$103,300, DOWNTOWN EASTSIDE RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION, Legal Advocacy Program

$121,000, GREATER VANCOUVER LAW STUDENTS LEGAL, ADVICE PROGRAM, Legal Advice Program

$60,800, LAW COURTS EDUCATION SOCIETY, Northern Public Legal Education Program for First, Nations communities

$84,600, LAW FOUNDATION EDUCATION AND TRAINING FUND, Education and Training Fund for Law Foundation, funded lay advocates

$65,000, LAW SOCIETY OF B.C. CANLII, Virtual Law Library

$3,272,500, LEGAL SERVICES SOCIETY, Core Operating Grant

$65,500, UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA, First Nations Legal Clinic

$127,500, UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA, 2006/2007 Graduate Fellowships, Undergraduate, Scholarships, Entrance Awards, Projects Grants

$84,000, UNIVERSITY OF VICTORIA, 2006/2007 Graduate Fellowships, Entrance and, Renewal Scholarships, Projects Grants

Funding up to $355,000 was approved for the following 4 new Child Welfare Fund Initiative: Focus on Alternative Dispute Resolution and Aboriginal Children project grants:

$150,000, B.C. DISPUTE RESOLUTION PRACTICUM SOCIETY, Child Protection Mediation Practicum

$70,000, CARRIER SEKANI FAMILY SERVICES, Family Dispute Resolution Project

$65,000, INTERIOR MÉTIS CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES, Métis Alternate Dispute Resolution Project

$70,000, STO:LO NATION SOCIETY, Sto:lo Nation Children and Family Services Program

Please visit www.lawfoundationbc.org for more information.

Appointment of Governor
Margaret Sasges, barrister and solicitor, of Victoria, B.C., has been appointed to the Board of Directors of the Law Foundation of British Columbia for a three-year term commencing January 1, 2006.

Margaret Sasges
(Canadian Bar Association, B.C. Branch Appointment)
Ms. Sasges earned her law degree from the University of Victoria and was called to the Bar in 1990. She practises in the areas of wills and estates, elder law, environmental covenants, business, societies and real property at the firm of Clay & Company in Victoria. Ms. Sasges is the Vice-Chair of the CBA National Resolutions, Constitution & By-laws Committee and was formerly an officer of the Executive Committee of the Canadian Bar Association (B.C. Branch). She also served as a director of the Continuing Legal Education Society from 1995 to 2002, serving as its chair from 1999 to 2001. She is an active member of the UVic Law Alumni Steering Committee.

These articles were published in the April 2006 issue of BarTalk. © 2006 The Canadian Bar Association. All rights reserved.