Report to Council

General Practice, Solo & Small Firm Section

To generate interest in this Section this year, I helped organize and chaired a CLE for our Branch titled “Technology Relevant to your Practice”, held in Moncton on September 29, 2006 in conjunction with the CBA’s National GPSSC Annual Planning Meeting. This CLE was well-attended and included speakers such as Jean Beauchamp, Q.C. and Brian Maude (on the move to a virtually paperless office), Daniel Pinnington (on free programs and tips to increase your office efficiency), Gilles Bujold (on protecting your systems and enhancing productivity), Pascal Daigneault (on 91 websites providing free information on topics ranging from calculating present value of damages to medical terminology to employment statistics), and Mr. Justice Ted Scanlan of the Superior Court of NS (on organizing trial evidence) who was introduced by Justice J.C. Marc Richard. There is a summary of this CLE on the CBA’s National GPSSC’s website found on the cba.org site, under Groups, Conferences/Forums, under General Practice, Solo & Small Firm Conference, under newsletter “General Knowledge”.

The Mandate of the National General Practice, Solo and Small Firm Conference is to address the needs of lawyers in general practice, ranging from sole and small firm practitioners in both rural and urban settings, to those practising law in medium and large firms. More than 10 per cent of CBA members identify themselves as being in general practice. The Conference represents the common interests of general practitioners within the CBA.

It is hoped this Section will offer assistance to similar lawyers in New Brunswick. A GPSSF Section is active in most other Branches. All input is welcome.

June 22, 2007 Judith F. MacPherson, Q.C.

GPSSF Section Chair