Section News
Dalhousie Professor Speaks to Family Law Section
At the February 18 meeting of the Family Law-Vancouver Section, more than 70 members heard Professor Rollie Thompson of Dalhousie University give a three-hour overview and discussion of the Draft Spousal Support Advisory Guidelines, just a few weeks after its release. This seminar gave Section members the opportunity to hear Professor Thompson discuss the basics of the guidelines, including an overview of their structure, the two formulas (with or without child support), and the guidelines' application on review and variation.

To join this or any other Section, please contact the B.C. Branch office or visit cba.org/BC.


Ken Sarnecki Fund
Ken Sarnecki, Q.C., a former CBABC member, Executive Committee member, and long-time Provincial Council member passed away in Kelowna on December 30, 2004. As a lasting memory to Ken, his friends and family are establishing a memorial fund through the Central Okanagan Foundation. Funds received will be eligible for a tax receipt and interest earned on funds will be used to benefit those activities and associations which were close to Ken’s heart. At this point, it is anticipated that funds will be used to assist junior golf development and bursaries and scholarships. For those wishing to contribute, please make cheques payable to the Central Okanagan Foundation noting on the cheque that the funds are for the Ken Sarnecki, Q.C. Memorial Fund. Cheques can be mailed to: Central Okanagan Foundation, 217-1889 Springfield Road, Kelowna, B.C. V1V 5V5.


Law Week Events
Kamloops: Thursday, April 14
The Kamloops Bar Association is assisting with a local revival of Law Day. An open house at the Courthouse is planned from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. with a mock trial, tours, scavenger hunt, a “Meet a Judge” session, and information booths by numerous community agencies. The RCMP dog and ident team, always a crowd favourite, are also expected. Contact: Rachel Lammers, 250.374.3344

Victoria: Saturday, April 16
Victoria will host Law Day activities at the Courthouse. Law Day in Victoria will be jointly sponsored by the CBABC and the Victoria Bar Association, and activities will include public tours, displays by justice related organizations, and a mock trial of Sneezy the Wolf for mischief and break & enter against the houses of the Three Little Pigs. At the same time, Glenlyon Norfolk School will hold its provincial mock trial competition. Contact: Sarah Klinger, 250-385-4311

Comox Valley: Saturday, April 16
Law Day plans include an open house at the Courthouse with a mock trial, information seminars, cell tours and displays entries for the high school poster competition. Contact: Bonnie Day, 250-334-4461

Cowichan Valley: Wednesday, April 27
The Cowichan Valley Bar Association will hold an open house and legal seminars at the Duncan Law Courts. Contact: Rowan Davison, 250-746-5899

Nanaimo City: Thursday, April 28
The Nanaimo Bar Association will hold two mock trials for elementary school students. Contact: Sandra Dick, 250-753-2202

Vancouver: Saturday, April 30
The CBA will host an open house at UBC Robson Square (800 Robson Street) between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. There will be a mock trial and displays by justice-related organizations. Speakers step up to the podium at midday. New this year are four People’s Law School classes: Child and Spouse Support; Wills and Estates; Custody, Guardianship & Access; and Employment Standards. Members of the public who wish to participate in a class are asked to complete a registration form (posted at www.cba.org/bc, under Public & Media). Contact: CBABC, 604-687-3404, ext. 313

Prince George: May or June
The Prince George Law Week Committee is planning an open house in late May or June at the Courthouse with a mock trial, tours by the Sheriffs, displays and presentations. Contact: Susan Grattan, 250-564-9717

Dial-A-Lawyer: Saturday, April 30
The CBA will hold its “Dial-A-Lawyer” program on April 30 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. During that time, members of the public can call in to speak with a lawyer about a legal problem (15 minute maximum).

Dial-A-Lawyer Numbers
604-687-3221
1-800-663-1919


Notice from BC’s Law Schools
Consider taking an articling student this year
Have you ever considered bringing an articled student into your firm? If so, now might be the time. A number of high calibre third-year law students are still seeking 2005-2006 articling positions. The UBC and UVic Career Services offices are ready to assist lawyers who can offer articling positions by answering questions, posting positions and advertising to students.

For a law student, articling is a critical stage of legal training, and a mandatory step on the path to call and admission. Students are eager to put their skills to work and to experience the practice of law under expert guidance. Articles offer that opportunity.

Students can perform useful and billable work that benefits a firm or legal department. For a lawyer who serves as principal to a student, that assistance is valuable. But principals can also draw satisfaction from the important contribution they make. Principals help develop their students into good lawyers through guidance, training and mentorship. This benefits not only those students, but the profession as a whole.

To become a principal, you must be a practising lawyer in good standing with the Law Society with seven years of practice experience. For more on the qualifications of principals and the articling relationship, please see Law Society Rules 2-27 through 2-46. See also the current articling agreement and checklist, found under “Licensing & Membership” at www.lawsociety.bc.ca. If you are not certain if you qualify as a principal, please contact Lesley Small, Manager, Credentials & Licensing at the Law Society of B.C. at 604 669-2533 or lsmall@lsbc.org.

University of British Columbia
Faculty of Law Career Services and Alumni Relations
Judy Pozsgay, Co-Director
Nadia Myerthall, Co-Director
E-mail: pozsgay@law.ubc.ca or myerthall@law.ubc.ca
Tel: 604-822-6350 (Judy) or 604-827-5052 (Nadia)
Fax: 604-822-9486

University of Victoria
Jennifer Moroskat, Career Development Officer
E-mail: moroskat@uvic.ca
Tel: 250-472-4719
Fax: 250-721-6390
Website: cdo.law.uvic.ca
(Employers can post positions directly on this site.)


Win Miss Saigon Tickets
Enter to win two tickets to “Miss Saigon” at the Stanley Theatre in Vancouver by e-mailing your name to cba@bccba.org with the subject “Miss Saigon Contest.” The contest closes on Friday, May 6. We will hold a draw shortly thereafter and contact the winner by phone. You must be a CBA member on May 6, 2005 to be eligible to win. (Please allow up to 10 business days for processing membership fees.)

Congratulations to Rowan Davison of Orchard & Company in Duncan, who won two tickets to “The Lawyer Show” on March 12. Mr. Davison guessed closest to the number of CBABC members as of March 1, 2005.


BC Courthouse Library Society
Vancouver Courthouse Library Extends Hours
Effective April 1, the Vancouver Courthouse Library began offering extended reference service hours until 5:30 p.m., Mondays to Thursdays. Reference hours on Friday are unchanged, at 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The service is available in person to members of the Law Society of B.C. (due to after hours access restrictions) and by telephone and e-mail to all users.

During the summer, reference hours will return to 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for July and August, during which time the extended hours will be reviewed. The B.C. Courthouse Library Society plans to provide extended reference hours on a regular basis from September to June, based on the usage and demand for service after 4:30 p.m.

The Vancouver reference number is 604-660-2841 or 1-800-665-2570.


L’Association des juristes
The Honourable Louis LeBel to Speak at French Jurists’ Law Day
Please note: While all jurists are invited to attend, the presentations at the Association’s third annual Law Day, including the Hon. Mr. Justice LeBel’s talk, will be in French.

L’Association des juristes d’expression française de la C.-B. est fière d’inviter les juristes de la province à sa troisième Journée de droit annuelle, le 29 avril, de 9 h 30 à 14 h au Law Courts Inn de Vancouver.

À cette occasion, des conférenciers de haut calibre, dont l’honorable Juge Louis LeBel de la Cour suprême du Canada, nous entretiendront sur Le Bijuridisme-La rencontre des deux traditions juridiques au Canada. L’espace étant limité, veuillez vous inscrire au plus tôt à 604-629-1217 (info@ajefcb.ca).

These articles were published in the April 2005 issue of BarTalk. © 2005 The Canadian Bar Association. All rights reserved.