2024

In October of 2016, the Minister of Justice announced key changes to the judicial appointment process. Following this announcement, and as the number of judicial vacancies increased across Canada, many wondered what the effect of these changes would be. Would the process be more open and transparent? To what extent would Canadians see themselves reflected in the appointees?

The Conservative Party leadership race has brought the debate over words like Islamophobia, racism and political correctness into sharp focus. The private member’s motion M-103, brought before the House of Commons by Liberal MP Iqra Khalid seeks to name and condemn Islamophobia and directs the Heritage Committee to undertake a study and develop a plan to address systemic racism and religious discrimination.

The laughter rang out throughout the evening as the WLF-Vancouver Island came together at the annual judges’ dinner on February 16, 2017. Seven judges and one master attended the event and shared their experiences and knowledge with those around them. While the weather caused some absences, the evening was a grand hit for those who braved an unusual winter night in Victoria.

We’ve all heard the bad lawyer jokes, i.e. What’s the difference between God and a lawyer? God doesn’t think he’s a lawyer. We’re all aware that lawyers may not be the most publicly loved section of society and these notions of unpopularity are part and parcel of the role of a lawyer.

In her concession speech on Nov. 9, the day after Donald Trump won the U.S. presidential election, Hillary Clinton said this to the little girls in her audience: “And to all the little girls who are watching this: never doubt that you are valuable, and powerful, and deserving of every chance and opportunity in the world to pursue and achieve your own dreams.”

Over the last few years, the legal industry has seen progress in terms of flexible work arrangements offered to individuals. Lawyers have expressed a desire for non-traditional work arrangements which allow those with children or other commitments to balance their careers with the rest of their lives.

The Kamloops Women Lawyers Forum held their Welcome Potluck for the incoming first year law students from Thompson Rivers University in October 2016. This well-attended event was held at the beautiful home of local bencher Michelle Stanford. The aim of this annual event is to introduce the new law students to the Kamloops legal community and to bring them together with potential mentors.

We are all familiar with the continuing high attrition rate for women lawyers, as well as the desire for many lawyers, both women and men, to have acceptable work/life balance. One way to address these issues may be flexible work arrangements.

Kathryn Sainty reports on the recent celebration of 100 years of women’s right to vote in British Columbia – where many of the honoured guests, including Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin, were present because of the tremendous efforts of the women who came before.

In the wake of the recent U.S. election, Caitlin Urquhart writes that it’s no longer enough to call yourself a feminist, especially if you’re doing so from a place of white privilege. It’s time to fight back – for everyone’s benefit.