Solicitors’ Issues Committee
The CBABC Solicitors’ Issues Committee was founded in October, 1998 to focus on issues of interest and importance unique to solicitors’ practice. Led initially by Margaret Ostrowski, QC, followed by Margaret Sasges, the committee has considered a broad variety of topics.

Currently chaired by Terry Hartshorne, the committee invites all CBA members to raise current issues of concern. Direct suggestions and comments to: fax 604.669.9601 (toll free 1.877.669.9601), attention “Solicitors’ Issues Committee.”


Good Help is Easy to Find
If you are considering hiring a student for an articling position, there are still a number of highly qualified third-year law students at both UBC and the UVic who are seeking articling positions for the 2003/2004 term. Moreover, the UBC and UVic Career Services offices would be pleased to assist you with your search.

Both offices have observed a significant drop in the number of articling positions available in the Lower Mainland and BC in general. In past years, only 7-10 per cent of the graduating class had not secured articling positions by early fall (summer being the primary recruiting period). This year, however, that figure increased to a staggering 25-30 per cent at UBC and UVic. It is worth noting that these figures do not reflect the calibre of students still looking for articles. Indeed, a number of outstanding students with strong academic records are still available.

Articling is an important – not to mention, mandatory – stage in the legal training process. Articling principals, through their assistance and guidance, provide students with the requisite knowledge and skills to become competent legal professionals. Hiring an articling student is an excellent opportunity for members of the bar to provide training and mentorship.

If you, or your firm, are interested in hiring a student for an articling position, please contact either of the Career Services offices. The offices will circulate your job posting and help you to identify qualified candidates.

University of British Columbia
Danielle Raymond, Director of Career Services
Judy Pozsgay, Associate Director of Career Services
UBC, Faculty of Law
1822 East Mall, Vancouver BC, V6T 1Z1
Tel: 604-822-0846 or 604-822-6350
Fax: 604-822-8108

University of Victoria
Nancy Pye, Career Development Officer
UVic, Faculty of Law
Fraser Bldg, McGill Rd, PO Box 2400, STN CSC
Victoria BC, V8W 3H7
Tel: 250-472-4719
Fax: 250-721-8146


UBC Mentor Program Matches 120 Participants
This year approximately 120 mentor matches were made through the UBC-CBA Mentorship Program. Participants included students in all three years of law school and the mentoring lawyers practised in a variety of areas of law (law firms, the university, corporations, etc).

The UBC Mentorship Program and annual Mentor Reception are CBABC-sponsored and organized by Soraya Jamal, the CBABC Representative on the Articling Committee at UBC law school.

This year’s UBC Mentor Reception, held October 10 at Cecil Green House, was an important event for students. “The reception provides a comfortable environment for students, not only allowing them to break the ice and to develop a friendship with their own mentor, but also giving students the opportunity to meet other lawyers and students,” said Ms. Jamal.

During the reception, the CBABC Student Award was presented to Michael Feder, and Amy Davison received the Scotiabank Law School Achievement Award.


Family Law Judgments at the BC Courthouse Library Society
The Supreme Court of BC recently decided to discontinue the publication of family law judgments on the Court Web site, except for a small number of judgments deemed to have precedent value. Since September 3, 2002, the BCCLS has received and stored all family law judgments directly from the Supreme Court of BC. These unreported decisions are available to users for copy requests at $.60 per page.

The BC Courthouse Library Society is in the process of creating a web-based full-text searchable database, to be made available to members of the Law Society through their Web site. The database should be available by early 2003. Please contact the Vancouver Courthouse Library Reference Section regarding the Supreme Court of BC family law judgments, at 604.660.2821, toll free at 1.800.665.2570 (email bccls@bccls.bc.ca).


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 is located at 415-1080 Mainland Street, Vancouver, BC V6B 2T4.

Pro Bono Goes High Tech
Pro Bono Law of BC is a new non-profit society, co-founded by the CBABC and Law Society of BC and funded by the Law Foundation of BC, to help community groups throughout BC link up with lawyers who want to volunteer their time and expertise.

“We know that lawyers across BC provide many hours of pro bono service in their communities. But we also know that there are many lawyers who would like to help but don’t know what opportunities exist, and many community groups that could really use their help. We’re going to link the two together,” said Vancouver lawyer Carman Overholt, President of Pro Bono Law of BC.

The Law Society of BC has expanded its insurance program to provide insurance coverage, free of charge, to non-practising lawyers, in-house counsel, retired lawyers and Crown counsel who provide approved pro bono services. Visit www.probononet.bc.ca for more information and to learn about volunteer opportunities in your area.


It’s a launch! VBA has new Website
The Vancouver Bar Association is pleased to announce the launch of their Web site (www.vancouverbar.ca), coinciding with their 110th anniversary.

The Web site provides a handy resource for VBA members, offering current information about the many activities, events and programs sponsored by the Association. Site features include:

• Description of the VBA
• History of the VBA
• VBA event information and calendar (interactive)
• Articling Interview Guidelines
• Membership form
• Executive information
• Committee information
• Links to law firms, courts, other bar associations, law societies and law libraries.

These articles were published in the December 2002 issue of BarTalk. © 2002 The Canadian Bar Association. All rights reserved.