Law Week is a national event held annually in April celebrating the signing of Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Originated by the Canadian Bar Association and first held in Canada in 1983, Law Week provides an excellent opportunity for the profession to educate the public about the vital role that lawyers and the judiciary serve in guaranteeing an open, independent and unbiased judicial system. It is also a chance for the legal community to show the public the vast array of services available to them and all the reasons they have to be proud of the Canadian justice system.

Law Week is made possible through the efforts of hundreds of lawyers and judges who generously donate thousands of hours of volunteer time to Law Day events.

The Law Day 2010 theme is Access to Justice: Justice for All. Law Week events in British Columbia will be held throughout April and include participation in Cranbrook, Kamloops, Nanaimo, Prince George, Terrace, Vancouver and Victoria. Activities will include courthouse and jail cell tours, free law classes, fairy tale mock trials, student speech competitions, police demonstrations, a citizenship ceremony, public forums, a fun run and much more.



Province-Wide Activities
Dial-A-Lawyer
On Saturday, April 17, 2010, the British Columbia Branch of the Canadian Bar Association (CBABC) will hold its province-wide “Dial-A-Lawyer” event as part of Law Week. Those interested are invited to call 1-800-663-1919 between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. to speak with a lawyer for up to 15 minutes at no cost.

Barry Sullivan Cup
Students in Grades 10, 11 and 12 are invited to compete in the Barry Sullivan Law Cup held on Thursday, April 8, 2010 in the heritage courtrooms at the Vancouver Art Gallery. Students selected for the finals will be judged by an esteemed panel of judges.

The winner will receive a cash scholarship of $1,500 and will be awarded the Barry Sullivan Cup; second prize is $250 and third prize is $150.

Free Law Classes
The People’s Law School will be offering free classes on a variety of practical legal topics throughout the province, including communities in Vancouver, Surrey, Smithers and Victoria. Please check the Events section of their website at www.publiclegaled.bc.ca for topics, dates and registration details.

Student Outreach
The Student Outreach Program matches lawyers with groups of students at schools throughout the province. The program is an excellent opportunity for students to gain an inside perspective of the legal profession, as lawyers share their experience and insight into the practice of law. This program will be taking place throughout the month of April.

Kamloops
Law Day will be held April 8 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Events will include: a treasure hunt; courthouse and cell tours; ICBC demonstrations; community displays; a Harry Potter trial; and RCMP dogs.

They will also celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Kamloops Courthouse Library. Sponsors are CBA, Kamloops Bar Association, RCMP, B.C. Sheriff Services, St. Paul’s Cathedral and Impark.

Victoria
Law Day will be held in Victoria from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on April 17, 2010. Victoria’s Law Day will include a number of great events, so come by and check out:

• The trial of Hansel and Gretel. These two will face the court on trial for mischief for eating the house;
• Police K-9 Dog unit demonstrations;
• An opportunity to come to court and talk with the judges;
• A tour of a Sheriff’s van;
• Who wants to be a Mediator?;
• The Provincial Mock Trial Competition; and
• Resource Tables and Information.

Vancouver
Open House
The Vancouver Law Week Open House will be held on April 17, 2010 at the Vancouver Public Library. The Law Week Open House will include interactive displays from all aspects of the legal community, prizes, a fairy tale mock trial, a citizenship ceremony and a public forum.

A free public forum will be held from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Promenade at the Vancouver Public Library. CBC broadcaster Ian Hanomansing will host the event that provides members of the public with an opportunity to ask questions of a panel of senior justice representatives.

Also at the Open House, a Day for Legal Aid will be hosting events from 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. featuring the role of Legal Aid in our communities.

Fun Run
The CBABC will hold its seventh annual Law Week Fun Run on Sunday, April 11, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. in Locarno Beach Park. Members of the Bench, Bar and their families are all invited to come race, jog, walk or skip this beautiful five kilometre route along the water. The event will include a group led warm up, a yoga cool down, prizes and goodies.

This article was published in the April 2010 issue of BarTalk. © 2010 The Canadian Bar Association. All rights reserved.