The state of emergency declared pursuant to the Emergency Program Act has been extended through the end of the day on September 1, 2020. When the emergency is lifted, it is anticipated that provincial health directives, including those regarding workplace COVID-19 safety plans and physical distancing and other prevention guidelines, will continue to remain in effect until further notice. The Law Society continues to monitor the situation and will update you on further developments as we learn of them.
Update from the Court of Appeal regarding service and filing deadlines
The Court of Appeal has issued an updated notice to the public that the suspension of service and filing deadlines for existing appeals and chambers applications started on March 18, 2020 is being extended to September 14, 2020, and the suspension of service and filing deadlines will not be further extended. This means that the required time periods to file or serve materials for existing appeals will not start to run again until September 14, 2020. Beginning September 14, 2020, you will have the same amount of time to file and serve materials as you would have been entitled to on March 18, 2020. Further information is available in the full notice from the Court of Appeal.
Note that the suspension of time periods to commence civil or family proceedings started on March 26, 2020 pursuant to Ministerial Order No. M098 will remain in effect until 45 days after the state of emergency expires or is cancelled. For more information, review Order in Council 0453 and the COVID-19 Related Measures Act.
New free, remote CPD offerings
Courthouse Libraries BC (CLBC) is offering new online CPD programs, including:
- Trauma Informed Legal Practice: Vicarious Trauma
- Animal Law 101: Bite Size Animal Law
- Basics of the YCJA for Lawyers
Further details on these webinars and how to register may be found on the CLBC website. More information on other free and low-cost remote CPD programs is available on the Law Society website.
Request for IBA survey volunteers
The International Bar Association is seeking lawyers to volunteer 10-15 minutes of their time to respond to major global surveys that they are conducting:
- Mental Wellbeing in the Legal Profession, an anonymous survey that may be completed by individuals and/or by institutions) can be accessed here.
- Young Lawyers Survey (for lawyers aged 40 or under), an anonymous survey that closes on August 31, 2020 and can be accessed here.