BC Branch Executive Committee
Valli Chettiar is the newest member of the Executive Committee of the BC Branch, sitting as the Equality Committee representative effective September 1999.

Valli is an associate of Ladner Downs and practices primarily in the areas of wills and estate planning, probate and trusts. She received her law degree from UBC in 1992 and was called to the British Columbia bar in 1993. Prior to joining Ladner Downs, Valli practiced in Chilliwack in the areas of wills and estates, corporate/commercial and real estate law.

Valli is active in the legal and business communities. She is a member of the Canada-India Business Council. She is an elected member of the Provincial and National Councils of the Canadian Bar Association. She is the Chair of the BC Branch Equality Committee and a member of the National Standing Committee on Equality, the Business and Wills and Trusts Sections of the Canadian Bar Association, and the Credentials Committee of The Law Society of British Columbia.


Calling All Lawyers...
Every year, more than 91,000 people access the CBA’s Dial-A-Law scripts, either by telephone or Internet, which provide basic information about the law in BC. We need lawyers who will volunteer to revise scripts to ensure that the scripts are up-to-date. Right now, we need lawyers who can revise scripts in the following areas of law:

• Administrative;
• Banking;
• Civil Litigation;
• Contract and Commercial;
• Constitutional/Civil Liberties;
• Labour; and
• Real Property.

To volunteer, or for more information contact the BC Branch at 604.687.3404 or call toll free 1.888.687.3404.


Lawyer Referral Program
The CBA’s Lawyer Referral Program links members of the public with lawyers who will provide an initial consultation up to half an hour for a charge of only $10. This program allows members of the public to access affordable legal counsel, but it also provides many lawyers with an introduction to potential clients. Lawyers from all over the province are encouraged to add their names to the Lawyer Referral roster. A fax registration form is included as an insert to this issue of BarTalk. Call Lorna Paul at the Branch Office for more information.


New Class Action Section Brings Sections to 69
Members of Provincial Council approved the formation of the new Class Action Section at the December 11, 1999 meeting. This latest addition brings the number of BC Branch Sections available for CBA membership participation to 69. Since the Class Proceedings Act came into force in 1995, there have been approximately 100 class proceedings filed in British Columbia. The subject of class proceedings has been addressed in Canada in textbooks, dozens of articles and many CLE programs. A reasonably identifiable plaintiff’s bar has begun to develop, as has a larger group of defense counsel.

Register Now! Members interested in enrolling and participating in the new Class Action Section or wishing to join any other Sections may do so by contacting Fran Hodgkins at the Branch office. An enrollment form will be faxed to you immediately.

To register in Sections call the BC Branch office at 604.687.3404 or toll-free 1.888.687.3404 outside the Lower Mainland.


Volunteer Lawyers Called to Action
BC’s lawyers are volunteer contributors to thousands of community endeavours throughout the Province. If you are interested in being “matched” with an agency that needs your skills, fill out the enclosed Volunteer Registry insert and fax it back to the BC Branch at 1.877.669.9601. Volunteer Vancouver is also looking for a legal expert in non-profit organization law to be part of a panel presentation to Executive Directors and Volunteer Coordinators in Vancouver on March 28. Call 604.875.9144 to find out more.


Errata
We apologize to the following long-time members of the BC Branch who were omitted from the 2000 BC Lawyers Directory. When these senior lawyers were given “honorary” status the computer erroneously deleted their names from the directory database. Complete listings for each can be found in the enclosed errata.

• George A Armstrong
• Robert W Bonner QC
• David Brander-Smith QC
• Marshall Bray
• Richard Patrick Bridge
• Gretchen H Cleveland
• Helen Ray de Val
• Melvin D Easton
• Hugh B Heath
• Fredrick C Hislop
• Robert F Jackson
• Malcolm G King
• Brian W McLoughlin QC
• Harry Rankin QC
• Murdoch R Robertson
• Howard V Ross
• Alix M Sutherland
• William E Whittall
• L Allan Williams QC

Form 47s Ineffective: New Approach Ahead
The intent of any Law Society audit program is to identify areas of weakness in trust fund management, whether through ignorance, inexperience or fraud. The current practice in BC is that lawyers who administer trust funds submit annually a Form 47 financial report, signed off by an accountant. According to Jim Matkin, Executive Director of the Law Society, there has not been a single case in BC where Form 47s have identified an instance of defalcation. “Our research shows that a spot-audit program is more effective than our current approach.”

The Benchers will be considering what are being called the “Ontario Option” (short-form signed off by accountant, with spot audits) and the “Alberta Option” (self-reporting form, no accountant sign-off, and spot audits). Either option will require an increase in the Special Fund fee for in-house auditing resources, but the total cost will be much less than the $1,200 to $2,400 or more that lawyers report paying for Form 47s. If you have a strong opinion on which option you want supported, talk to your local CBA representative and your local Bencher.


Unclaimed Property Act in Force Spring and Summer 2000
Lawyers should be aware that provisions of the British Columbia Unclaimed Property Act (Bill 91) and Regulation in force April 1 and July 1, 2000 may impact on their clients’ affairs.

The provisions in force April 1, 2000 will regulate how over $30 million of unclaimed money held by government may be claimed by owners. The provisions in force July 1, 2000 prescribe the duties required of holders of unclaimed money.

Lawyers are encouraged to review Bill 91 to determine how it may affect their clients’ affairs. See the entries for the Unclaimed Property Act in this Legislative Update in “Acts in Force” and “Regulations to Note”.

For further information, contact Stuart Rennie, Legislation and Law Reform Officer.


BC Courthouse Library Society: Arthur Andersen Report
The Strategic Positioning Project Report for the BC Courthouse Library Society has been released. Produced by Arthur Andersen Business Consulting, the report makes recommendations for methods of augmenting income and promoting the Society’s services.

The Report draws on extensive interviews that were held with members of the legal profession, the judiciary and other stakeholders, as well as questionnaires distributed among the same groups. The BC Courthouse Library Society thanks all who contributed their time to the interviews and the questionnaires. They especially thank the Law Foundation of BC for providing the funds for the study.

The Report is available on the Society’s website at www.bccls.bc.ca.


Lawyers Assistance Program
The Options for Lawyers workgroup meets the third Wednesday of each month at 12:15 pm at the LAP office.

The Women Lawyers Support Group meets the first Wednesday of every alternate month at 12:15 pm at the LAP office. (next meeting is on February 2, 2000)

“Lawyers in AA” meetings occur:

every Wednesday at 5:30 pm at Christ Church Cathedral, in Vancouver, every Thursday at 12:30 pm at the LAP office, and every Thursday at 5:45 pm in New Westminster. For information on location, call (604) 685-2171.

We have a lawyers’ Accountability Group which meets Thursday at 5:45 pm at the LAP office.

We have a Co-Dependents Anonymous group which meets Monday at 5:30 pm at the LAP office.

These articles were published in the February 2000 issue of BarTalk. © 2000 The Canadian Bar Association. All rights reserved.