 Law Week is April 12-17, 2004
Diversity: Celebrating Your Right To Be Unique
Law Day celebrates the anniversary of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, each year with a different theme – the 2004 theme is “Diversity: Celebrating Your Right To Be Unique.” In B.C., Law Day has expanded to a full week of events celebrated throughout B.C. Events are often organized by lawyers in their local communities, e.g., a mock trial competition will be held in Victoria. New this year is a Law Week 5k Fun Run/Walk and a new venue for the Law Week Open House in Vancouver.
Volunteers are needed for the Open House, the 5k Fun Run/Walk, and the Dial-A-Lawyer Program. To lend a hand, please e-mail cba@bccba.org with the subject “Law Week Volunteer” or call 604.687.3404 or toll free 1.888.687.3404.
Open House
The Law Week Open House in Vancouver has a new venue! It will be held at the Vancouver Law Courts on Saturday, April 17 between 10 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., with keynote speakers stepping up to the podium at 12:00 noon.
Members of the public and the profession are invited to view the following:
- two citizenship ceremonies;
- mock trials performed by students in the courtrooms;
- displays providing information and activities to educate the public about the justice system; and
- the B.C.-wide CBA public speaking contest.
An open house schedule will be posted at www.cba.org/bc by April 2.
5k Fun Run/Walk
Join us for the CBA’s first annual Law Week 2004 5k Fun Run/Walk. This family event will take place at UBC on April 4 at 9:00 a.m. The entry fee is $20 per person (children 14 and under may enter for free). The event is stroller and wheelchair accessible. No pets please. See the related insert in this issue and register today!
Dial-A-Lawyer Program
The CBA will hold its province-wide “Dial-A-Lawyer” program on April 17 between 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. During that time, members of the public are invited to call the Dial-A-Lawyer numbers to speak with a lawyer about a legal problem for up to 15 minutes. The Dial-A-Lawyer numbers are 604.687.3221 in the Lower Mainland, and toll free in B.C. 1.800.663.1919.
Student Mentor Program
This program has been successful for many years, due to strong support from CBA members. The program matches students with lawyers for a half-day in the lawyer’s workplace.
In response to expressed interest, students in Nanaimo were able to take part in the program for the first time last year. That involvement will continue this year as students in both Nanaimo and the Lower Mainland will have the opportunity to explore law as a career option.
Province-wide Youth Contests
Public Speaking: The annual Barry Sullivan Law Cup public speaking contest is open to students enrolled in Law 12 classes throughout B.C. The speeches will reflect the impact of the law on the life of all Canadians. The contest will be held at the Open House at the Vancouver Law Courts on April 17. Interested parties are welcome to listen to the speeches.
Photo and Short Story: These two contests are open to students throughout B.C. This year students will focus on topics stemming from the broad theme of diversity. The winning stories will be published on the CBABC Web site once the winners have been selected.
QC Appointments
Congratulations to the following CBABC members who received the QC designation in December 2003: - Joyce W. Bradley
- James L. Cassels
- W. Ross Ellison
- David E. Gillanders
- Romano F. Giusti
- Catharine Herb-Kelly
- John W. Horn
- Ian D. Izard
- Thomas G. Kendall
- John L. Leathley
- Richard B. Lindsay
- John O. E. Lundell
- Charles R. Kennedy
- R. Hector MacKay-Dunn
- David F. McEwen
- John S. McKercher
- David A. Paul
- Derrill W. Prevett
- Allan P. Seckel
- John G. Tait
- Anne K. Wallace
- Kenneth J. Yule
Section Enrolment Prizes
The CBA and the Continuing Legal Education Society (CLE) are happy to announce the winners of the annual CBA Section enrolment draws. Members who enrolled in four or more Sections were eligible to win one of four prizes. Special thanks to CLE for providing the prizes, and congratulations to our winners: - A gift certificate for $700 to be used toward any CLE product(s) Winner: Jerry McHale, QC, Victoria
- Complimentary registration to a regular, one day CLE Course (value $375) Winner: Jeffrey Andrews, North Vancouver
- Complimentary registration to a regular, one day CLE course (value $375) Winner: Peter Warner, QC, Prince George
- A gift certificate for $300 to be used toward any CLE product(s) Winner: Marjorie Mooney, Surrey
New CBABC Section - Employment Law
Created in December, this Section focuses on law related to non-unionized employment, e.g., employment contracts, wrongful dismissal, human rights, WCB issues, privacy issues and, perhaps, employment immigration. More than 120 members have enrolled. Contact the CBABC to participate in this new Section. The enrolment fee is $12 plus GST.
The Legislation and Law Reform Committee
This committee: - Promotes–on behalf of the profession and the public–well-developed, practical laws by coordinating the CBABC’s participation in the development of government policy and legislation;
- Provides a focus through which the CBABC membership may assist the Government of B.C. in ensuring that legislation is as comprehensible, workable and unambiguous as possible and that it does not violate the rule of law; and
- Works to ensure the bar and the public are made aware on a timely basis of changes and proposed changes to the laws, regulations and policies of the Government of B.C.
If you have any questions or proposals for law reform in B.C., contact the comittee’s Chair, Tim Delaney (Tel: 604.687.1323, e-mail: tdelaney@lklaw.ca).
We Have a Winner!
Congratulations to Seema Chaskar who won a yoga mat and 10 classes at Bikram’s Yoga College of India in the December BarTalk contest. The value of her prize is $165.
The answer to the contest question “What is Bikram’s full name?” is “Yogiraj Bikram Choudhury.”
Bikram Yoga College of India has two Vancouver locations (2893 Cambie Street 604.876.9642 and 1650 Alberni Street 604.662.7722). Your first class at the College is free.
New Agreement Will Assist Land Title E-Filing
The Law Society of B.C. has signed an agreement with the provincial government to provide certification services that will permit lawyers to file real estate transactions online.
“This is a significant, concrete step towards the implementation of the Electronic Filing System for B.C.’s land title system,” said Hon. Stan Hagen, Minister of Sustainable Resource Management. “It will benefit British Columbians by providing the professionals they hire equal access to the land title system no matter where they do business.”
Under the agreement, the Law Society, using its innovative Juricert™ secure registration and authentication system, will provide online verification of lawyers’ electronic signatures and professional status. This verification is an integral part of the Electronic Filing System, which will be in place by April 1, 2004, and will permit lawyers to file many types of land title documents online from anywhere in the province.
Lawyers registered with Juricert will have the necessary software to securely sign electronic land title documents. The documents can then be sent to the Land Title Office’s online system that will automatically verify that the document has not been altered and that the lawyer’s professional status is valid.
“The Law Society has been working with the provincial government for five years to develop a cost-effective, efficient Electronic Filing System for the Land Title Office,” said Law Society Executive Director Jim Matkin, QC. “Implementation requires an independent and reliable system for online certification of a lawyer’s digital signature and professional status. Juricert will provide that certification without making fundamental changes to conveyancing practice.”
“The electronic filing system will make land title transfer faster and more effective, and will provide equal access from all parts of the province,” Hagen said. “I thank the Law Society for this essential support.”
BC Courthouse Library Society
Needs assessment survey completed
The B.C. Courthouse Library Society (BCCLS) has completed a province-wide survey of users and potential users of courthouse library services. BCCLS contracted with Synovate, a research firm, to survey lawyers, articled students, other legal professionals, legal referring organizations, and public librarians, on BCCLS services and collections.
This survey will help BCCLS determine if it is positioned to meet the changing demand for legal information resources. Opinions on issues such as technology and electronic delivery of information versus print resources and physical collections are important in ensuring resources are managed effectively. Survey results will be used in reviewing and modifying BCCLS’ short and long-term plans.
Highlights from the survey will be published on the BCCLS Web site (www.bccls.bc.ca) in mid-February, and in an upcoming issue of BarTalk. BCCLS thanks all who participated in the survey for providing valuable input into their planning process.
Training and orientation sessions at courthouse libraries
In the fall of 2003, BCCLS staff visited courthouse libraries throughout B.C. to offer orientations on the new BCCLS Web site, new BCCLS web databases, and electronic resources available in courthouse libraries throughout B.C. The orientation and training sessions will begin again in the spring of 2004. Look for notices posted at bccls.bc.ca and at your local courthouse library, or call 604-660-2841 or 1-800-665-2570 for more information.
Lawyers Assistance Program (LAP)
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 address is 415-1080 Mainland Street, Vancouver, BC V6B 2T4. Visit LAP on the Internet at www.lapbc.com.
Practice Directions
Criminal Caseflow Management Rules – Arraignment Hearings and Elections
The Chief Judge of the Provincial Court of B.C. issued two new Practice Directions dated November 25, 2003 relating to the Criminal Caseflow Management Rules – Arraignment Hearings and Elections. They can be accessed through the Provincial Court Web site: www.provincialcourt.bc.ca.
News from the Manufactured Home Registry
A new Web-based system called MH Online is changing the way lawyers file documents for manufactured homes.
The Manufactured Home Registry has replaced three of its most frequently used paper forms (initial registration, transfer of ownership resulting from a sale, and residential exemption) with electronic filing transactions. After February 2004, the registry will no longer accept paper forms for these filings. Instead, qualified suppliers will file through B.C. OnLine.
Only lawyers, notaries, home manufacturers and parties approved by the Registrar of Manufactured Homes can become qualified suppliers. These restrictions are deemed necessary to maintain control over key manufactured home filings that affect registration of ownership.
A new Manufactured Home Act and Regulations came into force on December 8, 2003. Copies of the Act and Regulations can be purchased through Crown Publications at 250.386.4636.
For more information, visit www.fin.gov.bc.ca/registries/mhrpg.
Mina’s Guide to Minute Taking
Eli Mina, MSc, PRP is a professional meeting chairman, seminar leader and Registered Parliamentarian, based in Vancouver. His latest book is Mina’s Guide to Minute Taking, a compilation of principles, standards and practical tools for recording minutes at informal, formal, and in-camera (closed) meetings. Topics include how to convert discussions into objective and concise summaries, what to record in minutes, how to preserve confidentiality of in-camera meetings, how to address freedom of information issues, how to establish minute taking standards and thereby avoid arguments about minutes, and how to handle the minutes approval process.
Mina’s Guide to Minute Taking can be purchased at www.elimina.com.
Computers for Cuba
Donate Your Old Pentiums For Reuse
Upgrading? If you’d like those old Pentium systems to do some good, consider letting ”Computers for Cuba” send them to Cuba, for use in schools, hospitals, museums, cultural institutes, etc. Contact Sheila Delany at 604.324.6037 or sdelany@sfu.ca regarding delivery or pick up.
These articles were published in the February 2004 issue of BarTalk. © 2004 The Canadian Bar Association. All rights reserved. |
