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 Lawyers Take the Stage for 5th Annual Lawyer Show
Twenty-six local lawyers are deep in rehearsals and scripts for the upcoming production of Elmer Rice’s classic tale, Counsellor-At-Law. Following four years of success, the Lawyer Show brings out the finest acting talents of Vancouver’s legal community, who will grace the Stanley Industrial Alliance stage for two nights only on April 28 & 29th.
A fundraising event for local theatre companies, the Arts Club Theatre Company and Touchstone Theatre, the Lawyer Show is proudly supported by the Canadian Bar Association and the legal community at large. CBA member Sarah Hentschel of Watson Goepel Maledy LLP is making her Lawyer Show debut in Counsellor-at-Law as Bessie Green, the bubbly New York receptionist in the 1930s. When asked why she auditioned, Sarah credits the benefits of networking: “the CBA’s support of this project allows lawyers to connect with a different segment of the community, while also meeting lawyers who share similar interests and a love of theatre.”
In celebration of the 5th Anniversary of the Lawyer Show, organizers are introducing a new group price of $60 per person for parties of six or more. Regular tickets are $75 per person. Tickets can be purchased online at www.artsclub.com or by calling the Box Office at 604-687-1644. Tickets include the performance, post-show reception with the cast and a charitable tax receipt for a portion of your ticket price.
Law Week Events
The Canadian Bar Association strongly supports public legal education. Law Day is made possible through the funding of the Canadian Bar Association, the Vancouver Bar Association, the Law Foundation of B.C., and lawyers who donate thousands of hours of volunteer time to the events.
Law Day is a program that helps Canadians learn about their justice system through a number of events, such as mock trials, free legal classes, open houses at courthouses (including tours), public speaking and essay contests for high school students, and many more activities. This year’s theme is “The Law: Friend or Foe?” For more information or to volunteer, please contact the local representative or visit our website www.bclawweek.org.
Comox Valley – Saturday, April 22 2006
Bonnie Day 250-338-5311
Cowichan Valley – Wednesday, April 19 2005
Rowan Davison 250-746-5899
Kelowna – April 22 2006
Bill Clarke 1-877-868-2848
Prince George – May 12 & 13 2006
Kayle Barker 250-614-2747
Vancouver – Saturday, April 22 2006
Josey Schaefer 604-646-7855
Victoria – Saturday, April 22 2006
Sarah Klinger 250-385-4311
Dial-A-Lawyer: Saturday, April 22
The CBABC will hold its “Dial-A-Lawyer” Program from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Members of the public can call in to speak to lawyers about legal problems (15 minute maximum). Dial-A-Lawyer number: 604-687-3221 or 1-800-663-1919.
CBABC Women Lawyers Forum
“First, we must try to move society and families off the unrealistic, outmoded, and unfair assumption that only women should bear the lion’s share of responsibility for child care. Second, we must address the demands and structure of the workplace, to bring it into closer harmony with the reality of the modern world [to] allow more flexible working arrangements for parents of both sexes ....”
On Friday, January 27, 2006 the Forum hosted its first Signature Event, with the Rt. Hon. Beverley McLachlin, P.C., Chief Justice of Canada as the keynote speaker. The luncheon became a “hot ticket item”, and the sold out crowd of 360 was joined by many notables including the Chief Justice’s husband Frank McArdle, her lawyer sister Judi Dalling, Grammy and Juno Award winning singer/songwriter Sarah McLachlan, Attorney-General Walley Oppal, Chief Judge Hugh Stansfield, law school Deans Bobinski and Petter together with Madam Justice Anne Rowles who warmly introduced her colleague from their B.C. Bench days together.
To frame her address, the Chief Justice adopted a Globe and Mail editorial question: “to what extent are professions alienating talented people… because the corporate culture expects them to have no family life and no responsibilities that work obligations cannot trump?” The Chief Justice noted that twice as many women as men continue to leave the practice of law. However, inspirationally, she addressed the path to resolution this way: “We must not accept the status quo as the only quo. Rather, we should face the issue of the home-workplace interface with understanding, compassion, and imagination.” The challenge is there for all of us to put our hearts and minds to.
– Written by Kerry-Lynne D. Findlay, QC, Past President of the CBABC, and current Chair of the National Women Lawyers Forum.
Victoria Battle of the Bar Bands
The inaugural Victoria Battle of the Bar Bands took place on March 2, 2006 and was a resounding success. There is no question that it will become an annual event. The event, co-sponsored by the Victoria Bar Association and the Canadian Bar Association (B.C. Branch), took place at the Central Bar and Grill in Victoria where a crowd of almost 300 people gathered to hear four great rock bands: two local and two from Vancouver.
The four bands were: “Blind Elmo” (John Waddell, QC, Tom MacLachlan, QC, Jerry MacLean, and Rob Ritchie) and “Tight Briefs” (Michael Frey, John Coupar, Mark Slay, and Ted Evans) – both from Victoria – and “Still Living at Home” (Paul Seale, Howie Mickelson, Mark Slay, Chris Ainscough and Mike Hirst) and The Defendersz (John Boice, Dieter Trenkel, John Thistle, Roger Holland, and guest appearance by Derek Brindle, QC) – both from Vancouver. For those who are paying attention, there weren’t two drummers named Mark Slay. He did double duty.
The winning band (unfortunately for the locals, but unquestionably) was the Vancouver band, “Still Living at Home,” three-time winner of the Vancouver Battle of the Bar Bands. The race was a tight one, though, and the “Applause Meter” registered only small differences between the competing bands.
The Victoria Battle of the Bar Bands was held to raise funds for the CBA (BC) Benevolent Society, a foundation established to provide financial assistance to lawyers and their families in times of crisis. From the sale of tickets together with the kind contributions from sponsors, Premiere Verbatim Reporting, Grand Pacific Hotel, Interlock, and Total Delivery System, the Victoria Battle of the Bar Bands was able to raise nearly $5,000 to contribute to the Society.
Mark your calendars now. The second annual Victoria Battle of the Bar Bands is in the process of being scheduled for a Friday evening in early March of 2007. For those aspiring rock stars out there – start rehearsing!
Battle of the Bar Bands IV – Charity Rocks in Vancouver
Mark your calendar for Friday, June 9, 2006 when the Fifth Annual Battle of the Bar Bands will once again rock the Commodore Ballroom. A sell-out crowd of over 900 is expected. Lawyers, law firm friends, and clients are all welcome to attend. Eight rocking Lawyers Bands will be competing for the ZSA Cup, the Lexpert Cup and bragging rights in being the best Bar Band in the land.
See the ZSA insert in this issue for a ticket order form. For bands wishing to enter this event or to obtain competition rules and entry requirements please call Jan Whyte 604-681-6564 for more information.
New Westminster/Fraser Valley Bar Association Golf Tournament
It will be held this year at the Guildford Golf & Country Club in Surrey on Thursday, July 6th. Stroke play or Texas Scramble at your option. Proceeds are donated to the CBA Benevolent Fund. More information can be obtained from Rick Molstad of McQuarrie Hunter at 604-526-1821. Mark this date in your calendars now.
2006 Canadian Legal Conference in St. John's
Mark your calendar now for the 2006 Canadian Legal Conference in St. John's, Newfoundland, August 13 to 15, 2006. The Registration Brochure was mailed to all members with the March National magazine. For updated information and online registration visit: www.cba.org/CBA/annualmeeting/main/
SUCCESS = APRIL 28, 2006
Join The Women Lawyers Forum for a full-day professional development and networking conference! SUCCESS in the Practice of Law: ACHIEVE Your Full Potential.
Friday, April 28, 2006, Metropolitan Hotel, 9:00 am - 4:30 pm
The morning session, “Secrets to Success: Stories from the Front Line” will feature a panel of successful women in the profession who have taken their legal training in different directions and built diverse careers: Judge Carlie Trueman, Jennifer Conkie, Marilyn Kerfoot, Kamaljit Lehal, Lisa Vogt, and Danielle Byres. After the panel, you will be able to meet the speakers individually in small breakout conversations.
A fabulous sit-down networking lunch will be served. In the afternoon, its your choice of two workshops out of the following:
- Can you have it all? Managing your time and balancing your life
- Know What You Own
- Financial Planning for Life: Starting Your Practice
- Financial Planning for Life: Changing Your Practice
- Office Yoga 101
- Yoga for Wellness: Hatha Yoga
Tell your friends and colleagues! The WLF looks forward to seeing you there!
These articles were published in the April 2006 issue of BarTalk. © 2006 The Canadian Bar Association. All rights reserved. |
