In order to assist lawyers with fulfilling annual CPD requirements during this challenging period, the Law Society has assembled the following list of programs that are being offered remotely and free of charge.
Anti-Money Laundering Measures
The Law Society is offering a free two-hour program provided by practice advisor Barbara Buchanan, QC and audit team leader Tina Kaminski to help lawyers comply with the Law Society’s anti-money laundering rules. The program includes information on money laundering, cash, client identification and verification, red flags and risk management. The program is eligible for two hours of CPD credit.
Watch the webinar here.
Trust Accounting Basics
The Law Society of BC is offering a free two-hour program provided by audit team leader Krista Adamek and trust auditor David Cho. The program covers the basics of trust accounting and includes information on opening and operating a trust account, seven key concepts in trust accounting, dealing with trust shortages and inactive trust balances and understanding and preparing trust reconciliations. The program is eligible for two hours of CPD credit.
Watch the webinar here.
The following two attachments will be discussed during the program.
Trust Accounting Regulatory Requirements
The Law Society of BC is offering a free one-hour program provided by senior auditors Angela Porco and Justin Wright. The program covers reporting requirements to the Executive Director of the Law Society, the compliance audit process and common exceptions identified during a compliance audit. The program is eligible for one hour of CPD credit.
Watch the webinar here.
Anti-Money Laundering – Client Identification and Verification Rules
In this CLE-TV program, Law Society practice advisor Barbara Buchanan, QC discusses the amendments to the client identification and verification rules which came into effect on January 1, 2020. The webinar is eligible for one hour of CPD credit.
Watch the webinar here.
Mental Health, Substance Use and an End to Suffering in Silence - Podcast
Brook Greenberg, Bencher and chair of the Mental Health Task Force, discusses the need to talk more openly about mental health and substance use so people don’t have to suffer in silence. Topics covered include:
- Stigmatization of mental health and substance use
- Mental health and substance use in law schools
- Frequency and types of mental health and substance use issues in the legal profession
- Comparative reflections on mental health and substance use in among different professions
- Mental health, substance use and applications for admission to legal practice
- Characteristics among lawyers and law practice that increase risk
- Regulator steps to address mental health and substance use issues
- Tips for lawyers, firms and regulators to address mental health and substance use issues
This podcast is eligible for two hours of CPD credits. Listen here.
The following CPD programs were developed by the Law Society and may be accessed through the Member Portal.
The Rule of Law and Social Justice (recording) - (1.00 Credits)
Law Society of British Columbia
Delivery Type: Archived webcast/podcast
Course Category: Administrative (including labour, immigration, regulatory bodies)
Practice Management Course (6.00 Credits)
Law Society of British Columbia
Delivery Type: On-line course with testing
Course Category: Practice management
Communication Toolkit (2.00 Credits)
Law Society of British Columbia
Delivery Type: On-line course with testing
Course Category: Practice management
Legal Research Essentials: Finding Cases on Point (1.00 Credits)
Law Society of British Columbia
Delivery Type: On-line course with testing
Course Category: Lawyering skills
The Continuing Legal Education Society of BC is offering a number of webinars and rebroadcasts at a reduced rate. Further information may be found on CLEBC’s Covid-19 Webinars and Rebroadcasts web page.
The Canadian Bar Association, BC Branch, also offers a range of professional development webinars, several of which are complimentary for CBABC members and at low cost to non-members. More information on CBABC’s webinars may be found here.
The Trial Lawyers Association BC is offering its TLABC Support Series, a complimentary benefit for TLABC members. Archives are available to non-members through the TLABC Marketplace. Topics focus the use of technology while practising law remotely during the pandemic.
Courthouse Libraries BC makes its archived webinars available to BC laywers; see Archived webinars | Courthouse Libraries BC.
The Criminal Defence Advocacy Society is engaged in advocacy, law reform and education in matters relating to criminal defence work in the justice system.