OTTAWA – There can be no going back to the way things worked in the legal profession and the justice systems before the pandemic, says a report released today by the Canadian Bar Associations Task Force on Justice Issues Arising from COVID-19.
The task force, established in April, 2020, brought together CBA members and justice system partners from across the country to assess the immediate and evolving issues for the delivery of legal services resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Quotes
“The pandemic kick-started a modernization of the way the legal profession and the justice system provide services – something the CBA has been advocating for a long time. We now need to make sure these changes are sustainable and that they are properly implemented to enhance access to justice. ” – CBA President, and task force Co-Chair, Brad Regehr
“The task force report makes 18 recommendations for moving forward on innovative, efficient and effective modernization that put people seeking justice at the centre, to increase access to justice and confidence in the justice systems.” – Past CBA President and task force Co-Chair Vivene Salmon
It will take a significant investment in technology, and training in the proper use of that technology, to make effective change, the report says, calling on government at all levels to commit to providing necessary funding.
Other recommendations:
- Collaborate with domestic and international justice system partners on best practices
- Ensure that changes enhance access to justice instead of detracting from it by minimizing unintended consequences, including breaches of privacy
- Consider the impact on marginalized groups of implementing AI and other emerging technologies
Please contact Kim Covert, Manager of Media Relations and Public Affairs, to arrange an interview.
Related links
No Turning Back: CBA Task Force Report on Justice Issues Arising from COVID-19
Futures: Transforming the Delivery of Legal Services in Canada
Reaching Equal Justice: An Invitation to Envision and Act
About the CBA
The CBA is dedicated to support for the rule of law, and improvement in the law and the administration of justice. Some 36,000 lawyers, notaries in Quebec, law teachers and law students from across Canada are members.