E-Brief: June 2017
Benchers' nominee for 2018 Second Vice-President
At their meeting on June 9, the Benchers acclaimed Craig Ferris, QC as their nominee for 2018 Second Vice-President. Ferris was first elected a Bencher in 2014 and is currently Chair of the Ethics Committee, Rule of Law and Lawyer Independence Advisory Committee, Early Intervention Working Group and the Insurance Subcommittee, Vice-Chair of the Finance and Audit Committee and a member of the Executive Committee. He has also served as a conduct review panel member. The election for the 2018 Second Vice-President will be held at the annual general meeting on October 3.
Benchers approve Legal Aid Award
At their June 9 meeting, the Benchers approved the creation of the Law Society Award for Leadership in Legal Aid to recognize lawyers who have demonstrated an exceptional commitment to the provision of legal aid in British Columbia, exhibiting professionalism and a high degree of competence. Details are available on our website.
Nominations now open for three new Law Society awards
The Law Society is inviting nominations and applications for three new awards recognizing excellence in the legal profession: the Law Society Excellence in Family Law Award, the Law Society Award for Leadership in Legal Aid and the Law Society Diversity and Inclusion Award. For nomination and application guidelines and more information on each award, see our website.
Invitation to apply for appointment to hearing panel pool
The Law Society is currently inviting qualified practising lawyers to apply for appointment to the lawyer (non-Bencher) hearing panel pool. See the website highlight for more details.
Winner and runner-up announced in the rule of law essay contest
The Law Society congratulates essay contest winner Angela Tian, a grade 12 student from Burnaby South Secondary School, and runner-up Sylvan Lutz, a grade 12 student from Reynolds Secondary School in Victoria, for their outstanding essays on the rule of law. The full essays can be found on the Law Society's website.
Rule of law lecture on Brexit and presidential executive orders available online
On Wednesday, May 31, nearly 170 people attended the first annual Law Society Rule of Law Lecture to hear two international speakers talk about the role the rule of law has in limiting executive power. Anne Egeler and Richard Gordon, QC's presentations were captured on video and are available on our website.
For more information on the work of the Rule of Law and Lawyer Independence Advisory Committee, follow @RuleofLawBC on Twitter and visit our website.
Lifeworks Canada wellness services
Effective June 15, LifeWorks Canada has replaced Optum Health Services as the Law Society's provider of personal counselling and referral services for BC lawyers, articled students and their families. For more information on how to access LifeWorks' services, log in to member portal.
From the courts
The Federal Court has issued a Notice to Parties and the Profession on amendments to the Federal Court Rules. Visit the court's website for more information.
The Supreme Court has issued the following: a Criminal Practice Direction that describes the process by which the court will manage large or complex criminal cases that show a potential to occupy significant court time or to risk delays in reaching and concluding the trial, effective September 1, 2017; a Criminal Practice Direction on scheduling conflicts between the Provincial Court and Supreme Court, effective June 6, 2017; and an Administrative Notice on cover page requirements, effective June 12, 2017. For more information, visit the court's website.
The Provincial Court has issued the following: a Criminal Practice Direction regarding evidence containing high potency narcotics, effective May 16, 2017; a Notice to the Profession regarding changes to Provincial Court civil jurisdiction and procedures, effective June 1, 2017; and a General Practice Direction regarding identification of counsel or commissioner for taking affidavits, effective June 7, 2017. For more information, visit the court's website.
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Send your comments or questions to communications@lsbc.org.