Announcements

You are invited to take part in a research project entitled Towards a Healthy and Sustainable Practice of Law in Canada (the “HSPL Project”).

The Canadian Bar Association, BC Branch has once again honoured several outstanding BC lawyers and an innovative organization, all of whom have contributed to the profession and community.

From the Canadian Press: The first Indigenous head of the Canadian Bar Association was a law school student in his mid-20s when he met his grandfather and learned he'd survived a "horrible" existence at a residential school in Saskatchewan.

The recent discovery of the remains of 215 children at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School is a devastating reminder of what we each must undertake to know the truth of Indigenous peoples in Canada and work towards reconciliation. The Canadian Bar Association, BC Branch mourns the lives of these children, and honours each child, their families, their communities, and all who are affected by the trauma inflicted by the residential schools in Canada.

"It is my great pleasure and privilege to announce that the Lieutenant Governor in Council has signed an Order in Council appointing Lorianna Bennett a judge to the Provincial Court." - Melissa Gillespie, Chief Judge, Provincial Court of British Columbia

The Three Courts’ Policy on Use of Electronic Devices in Courtrooms confirms that an electronic device may not be used in a courtroom to digitally transcribe a proceeding, and has been amended to clarify that this includes making a transcript using video conferencing software.

Annual nominations for the honorary designation of Queen’s counsel (QC) have opened and will be accepted until July 16, 2021.

Part 1 asked about Indigenous lawyers' experiences with the legal profession. It ended with a question, "If this is how Indigenous lawyers are treated in the legal system, what does this say about how the legal system treats Indigenous people in general?" This is Part II of that project.

Purpose The objective of this Notice to the Profession and Public is to outline the guidelines for using a support person (also referred to as a courtroom companion or “McKenzie friend”) in Provincial Court small claims or family proceedings. A support person may also be subject to any applicable provisions of the Legal Profession Act.

"At CBABC, we are committed to fostering diversity and inclusion in the legal profession and justice system. It is incumbent on each institution, and on each individual, to recognize and combat our unconscious biases and systemic racism."