Still Want to Make a Difference? Join the International Resource Network Committee
Established by a small group of BC lawyers in 1999, the International Resource Network Committee (IRNC) is interested in assisting lawyers, legal professionals, and organizations in developing countries with their legal questions or problems and in creating mutual international information exchanges between members of the legal profession. The IRNC is a special committee of the CBABC and acts in conjunction with the International Development Committee of the national CBA.

IRNC members have diverse and eclectic backgrounds, from those who have done extensive work in developing countries (legal or otherwise) to those who merely have an interest in assisting foreign legal practitioners. Since its inception, membership has grown from half a dozen to approximately 25 individuals.

One of the first projects undertaken by the IRNC was to provide information on Canadian legal institutions, including organizational structure and the interplay of the courts, administrative bodies, governmental departments and legislature, to the newly formed Legal Secretariat of the Kingdom of Bhutan. In satisfying Bhutan’s request, the IRNC was provided with invaluable assistance from the Law Courts Education Society.

Since that time, the IRNC has received requests for assistance from such countries as Cambodia, Zanzibar, Malaysia, Namibia, and South Africa. In response to the request from the Legal Assistance Centre of Namibia, IRNC members provided information and research on a specific family law issue and information on domestic violence and how it’s dealt with in Canada.

A common request received from legal organizations has been for legal texts and printed legal materials. Most organizations are thrilled to receive texts that we would consider outdated, as most work with limited or no resources and have no access to any written legal materials. Many of the organizations’ members may have had little formal legal education and may be situated in a country with a developing legal system. They crave texts that set out basic common law legal concepts as well as those dealing specifically with areas such as constitutional law, commercial law and civil and criminal procedure.

As a result of the such requests, the IRNC has an ongoing need for texts or loose-leaf materials in all areas, including the following: Evidence; Criminal Law; Contracts; Commercial Law; Family Law; Constitutional Law; Refugee Law; and Human Rights. PLTC practice materials are also extremely useful as they provide an overview of most of the foregoing areas.

If you, your firm, or organization have such texts or resource materials to donate, please contact the IRNC.

The BC Branch is the only provincial branch that has a committee such as the IRNC, providing hands-on information and materials to those in other nations. But there is hope that the idea will spread to other provinces.


New Okanagan Section: Young Lawyers Okanagan Section
At the December 9, 2000 Provincial Council meeting the Young Lawyers-Okanagan Section was approved. This brings the number of CBABC Sections to 72. Young Lawyers in the Okanagan District will benefit by joining this new Section, meeting to discuss current issues, socializing and supporting each other. William Clarke of the firm Martin Johnson is the Chair of the Section. If you are interested in joining the Section please call the BC Branch office and an enrollment form will be faxed to you.


BC Courthouse Library Society
The BC Courthouse Library Society now has computer workstations in 25 courthouse libraries across BC. These new workstations provide access to the BCCLS Web site, which includes the library’s online catalogue, legal research links, a What’s New section, and BCCLS contact information. Quicklink software has also been installed on each computer to allow Quicklaw searching.

The online catalogue allows users to search for materials in all of the Society’s libraries, including by library location. The BCCLS website is also equipped to accept reference questions, photocopy orders, loan requests or purchase suggestions. See Contact Us on our home page for web-based forms or email addresses.

Copy cards can be purchased to enable printing from the catalogue, the Internet, Quicklaw, or from a user’s laptop. For further information, call 604.660.2841 or toll-free 1.800.665.2570, email bccls@bccls.bc.ca or visit www.bccls.bc.ca.


Lawyers Assistance Program
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.


Lawyers Who Lunch
Professional collegiality, or as some believe the lack thereof, seems to be on more than a few minds. The CBA’s Communications Committee has looked at issues surrounding collegiality and www.cba.org/BC has questions on collegiality in its “Your Voice Counts” poll. As BarTalk conjured images of lawyers facing off in the courtroom we understood why the public might think that things aren’t always friendly among lawyers. How shocked a client would be to stroll past a bistro and see their lawyer happily sharing soup du jour with their courtroom adversary.

Well Joe Client, it’s time for a rude awakening. Lawyers do have lunch, even with opposing counsel, and especially with counsel whom they like or with whom they want to improve their professional relationship. BarTalk surveyed a few members of the Bar on lunch, collegiality, and their favorite restaurants and found that lawyers are lunching all over. “I sometimes join up with some of the other lawyers and the judge for lunch on court days,” says Linda Locke of Hazelton. Although all of the members surveyed cited the benefits of lunching with lawyers, Tracey Jackson says lunch has its pitfalls. “I sometimes can’t meet them for lunch because I’m preparing materials to serve the next day!” she says.

Some of the nicest responses to our survey came when we asked members if new lawyers were welcome to join their informal lunch gatherings. “Yes, absolutely. I know that most of the members would be pleased to meet the new lawyer and introduce him or her to the other lawyers,” says Linda. Tracey says that “As a host of the legal radio show “Judgment Calls”, I am always interested in meeting new lawyers.” Bruce Grist recognizes that it is not easy to join a group, but says that’s human nature. “It’s difficult to walk up to someone or to a group and say “Hey, I’d like to join you for lunch,” says Bruce. Doug Robinson, QC responded that he’d be happy to lunch with a young lawyer who contacts him.

So now we’d like to ask you: Where’s your favorite place to lunch? What are the professional benefits of lunching? Send us your answers to be entered in a draw for lunch for two at Bacchus, a popular spot for lawyers who lunch. When the Wedgewood heard of the high praise Bacchus received from our survey respondents, they kindly offered a certificate for lunch for two at Bacchus.

Win Lunch for Two at Bacchus
Simply tell us your favorite place to lunch and what you think are the professional benefits of lunching to be entered in the draw. Send your answers to cnevin@bccba.org – entries must be received by 4:30 pm on March 30, 2001.

Thanks to our survey respondents: Doug F Robinson, QC, a senior Vancouver lawyer; Bruce Grist, a partner at Fasken Martineau DuMoulin, LLP; Tracey Jackson, of Dunnaway, Jackson & Hamilton and host of “Judgement Calls”; and Linda Locke from the Upper Skeena Counselling & Legal Assistance Society in Hazelton.


Association of French-Speaking Jurists
The Federation Des Francophones De La Colombie-Britannique (FFCB) has established an association of French-speaking jurists, the Association des juristes d’expression francais de la Colombie-Britannique. A 1995 study by the FFCB concluded that the services and resources available in their official language to francophones facing trial are not sufficiently organized, even though the right to service in their language is recognized by legislation.

The new association will:

• Work for the development and implementation of legal services in French in BC and make sure that existing rights are upheld;
• Further the professional development of French-speaking jurists and legal practitioners in order to favour the practice of law in French in BC and provide access to services for francophones;
• Consider or study any question concerning the language rights of francophones in BC and provide advice on any measures to take to safeguard those rights.

For more information on the association contact Sonia Desaulniers, Coordinator at 604.732.1420, ext 319 or email ajefcb@ffcb.bc.ca.

These articles were published in the February 2001 issue of BarTalk. © 2001 The Canadian Bar Association. All rights reserved.