|
by Brad Martyniuk
The 2008 CBABC Winter Conference, the Spirit of San Diego, was held on November 21 and 22 in Southern California at the Westin San Diego. The conference featured a number of speakers from the U.S. and British Columbia, including the Honourable Wally Oppal, Attorney General of B.C., and the Honourable Mr. Justices Hinkson and Myers of the British Columbia Supreme Court. The conference seminars covered a broad range of legal issues, including such topics as judicial activism, document management, ethics, lawyer marketing and electronic discovery issues.
The conference was attended by more than 75 lawyers from across the province and the program allowed them to obtain 11 hours of voluntary professional development for the annual report to the Law Society of British Columbia.
The relaxed surroundings of San Diego permitted the attendees to receive information on a variety of practice issues that face British Columbia lawyers as well as having an opportunity to enjoy the sites of San Diego.
The Westin San Diego is situated near the Gaslamp Quarter, a premier dining, shopping and entertainment district which provided a truly eclectic blend of food, fun and culture, all within one of San Diego’s most historic areas.
|
Co-Chair Brad Martyniuk and
Lieutenant Commander William Kuebler
|
Co-Chair Katherine Robinson and Fiona Walsh
|
|
Closing Dinner Attendees
|
Attendees were provided with a unique opportunity to mingle with colleagues of the Bench and Bar and their Attorney General at social events during the course of the conference. At the closing dinner, attendees were addressed by guest speaker, Lieutenant Commander William Kuebler, a U.S. military lawyer, who provided some insight into the international legal issues involving the U.S. prosecutions of Guantanamo Bay inmates, including Canadian citizen, Omar Khadr. It was an informative and provocative presentation. Your CBABC Branch invites you to register for the upcoming 2009 Winter Conference (details and registration at www.cba.org/midwinter) which will also provide a great opportunity for you to complete the professional development hours that is mandatory for B.C. lawyers starting January 1, 2009.
This article was published in the February 2009 issue of BarTalk. © 2009 The Canadian Bar Association. All rights reserved.
|
