CLE Update
The Continuing Legal Education Society of British Columbia (CLE) is pleased to announce its new initiative – a significant expansion of our Web site, coming later this summer. The expanded site (www.cle.bc.ca) will feature updates and analysis of recent legislative changes, cases, and practice developments and issues. As with our live programs and print books, practitioners will be contributing material for the Web site, guided by a Web site Advisory Board made up of leading members of the profession. CLE aims for their Web site to be the collective work of the profession.

Pieces added to the Web site will also be delivered by weekly e-mail, for free. And CLE will be reorienting the Web site so that you can more easily and quickly view relevant information, based on your practice areas. Beyond this summer, CLE will be working on adding several other elements to the site, including discussion forums, online publications from CLE practice manuals and course materials, and online courses and events that will supplement and extend the reach of our live programs. Please contact Drew Jackson, Manager, New Media (893.2159) or Mary Conibear, Web site Production Manager (893.2108) if you have any questions or comments about the CLE Website.

CLE Programs
CLE is proud to announce that the third major Civil Litigation Conference will occur on Friday, November 17, 2000. This is a date when the BC Supreme Court will not be in session as the Judges are holding their own Conference – so you needn’t worry about a trial conflicting with the Conference.

Sharing the duties of Conference Chair are The Honourable Madam Justice Deborah Satanove, Supreme Court of BC, JJ Camp, QC of Camp Church & Associates, Ross McLarty of Macaulay McColl and Richard Sugden, QC of Sugden McFee & Roos. The format of the Conference is changing this year to make it easier for you to attend. Instead of two days, the Conference will be one day with your choice of three of nine break-out sessions in the afternoon. You will, however, receive the material for all nine sessions.

At this time, the Chairs are busy recruiting faculty, including a Justice from the Supreme Court of Canada. We are pleased to have confirmed both Eugene Meehan, QC President of the National CBA, and Robert Park, President of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers. Watch for new information in the next few weeks.


The Law Foundation of British Columbia
New Continuing Grants

The Foundation has established a budget of $250,000 to support new continuing programs in British Columbia. The Foundation intends to provide a modest level of funding for three to four groups who want to provide ongoing services in one or more of the Law Foundation’s statutory mandated areas.

The Foundation encourages applications for programs that meet the needs of seniors; culturally diverse groups; rural or smaller communities in areas such as the North West, North East, Kootenays and the North Coast; and/or Aboriginal communities. However, all applications that fall within the statutory mandate of the Foundation will be considered.

There is a three-stage process:

• Submission of a Letter of Intent by August 25, 2000.
• Invitation by November 30, 2000 to a limited number of groups to submit a full application for funding.
• Submission of a full application for funding by January 15, 2001 for adjudication by the Board of Governors at the March 2001 meeting.

If you are interested in this new category of funding, please contact the Foundation at 604.688.2337 for more information or to receive a Letter of Intent form. You can also fax us at 604.688.4586, or email us at lfbc@telus.net.

New Projects Funding
The Law Foundation of British Columbia has a budget of $400,000 available in November 2000 for new projects. To be eligible for funding, a project must fall within one or more of the five program objectives of the Foundation: legal aid, legal education, law reform, law libraries or legal research.

The Foundation encourages applications for projects that meet the needs of seniors; culturally diverse groups; people living in rural and smaller communities in areas such as the North West, North East, East Kootenays and the North Coast; and/or Aboriginal communities. However, all applications that fall within the program objectives of the Foundation will be considered.

The application must be for a time-limited project only.

The maximum amount available for each project is $50,000.

To be considered at the November 2000 meeting, a grant application must be received by the Law Foundation no later than 5:00 pm on Friday, August 25, 2000. These applications will be adjudicated at the November 25, 2000 Board meeting.

Please contact Law Foundation staff at 604.688.2337 to discuss your project prior to submitting your application.

Application guidelines may be obtained from the Law Foundation at 1340 - 605 Robson Street, Vancouver, BC V6B 5J3, or please call 604.688.2337, fax 604.688.4586, or email your request to lfbc@telus.net.

These articles were published in the June 2000 issue of BarTalk. © 2000 The Canadian Bar Association. All rights reserved.