There Could Be Blood and Appreciation

There Could Be Blood: Tony Wilson
I read with interest and general approval Tony Wilson’s article “There Could Be Blood” in your April 2009 issue. I have two comments to offer:

1. In my humble opinion out sourcing legal work to India (which I have been approached numerous times to do) has always struck me as not in the least being in the best interests of my clients, the profession in B.C. or the general development of our law. It seems to me to be suicidal – shipping expertise regarding our own jurisprudence to another country. I, for one, will never do it. It’s like a farmer selling ALL of his seed this year because the price is good. What about the future?
2. As primarily a litigation lawyer I do take some offence as potentially being characterized as an “expensive outhouse lawyer.” “Expensive” I may not chafe at too much, but an “outhouse lawyer?” Speak for yourself Tony!

— John Campbell
Barrister & Solicitor
Straith & Company

Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society Says Thanks
On April 12, 2009 more than 100 Lower Mainland lawyers and their families participated in the sixth annual CBABC Law Week Fun Run helping raise $1,000 for the Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society.

This one thousand dollars allows us to purchase three thousand dollars in food as our purchasing power is so strong that for every dollar received we are able to purchase three dollars in food.

Thanks to fundraising events like this Fun Run, the Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society is able to feed up to 9,000 people each week. The need has never been greater with the strong economic downturn and with local companies either closing or laying off their employees. The GVFBS relies on the generosity of the public to continue operating. We do not receive any government funding.

We hope that this event will mark the start of a strong relationship between the B.C. Bar and the Food Bank. Our sincere thanks to all the lawyers, families and CBABC staff who participated and in doing so recognized and supported the important work of our Society.

— Doug Eason
Director, Community Investment
Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society

These letters were published in the August 2009 issue of BarTalk.