CBABC in the News

Paralegals are defined by the BC Paralegal Association as those who “have legal training and knowledge of the substantive and procedural aspects of law and are capable of independent legal work, performed subject to the general supervision of a lawyer.”

The B.C. government is suspending civil jury trials for just over a year as a means of minimizing the impact of delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The suspension begins Sept. 28 and will run until Oct. 4, 2021. Any trial taking place during this time period will be heard by judge alone. In addition, neither plaintiffs nor defendants will be permitted to adjourn cases to a later date in order to have the matter heard by a jury, unless the court orders otherwise.

Starting on Sept. 28, 2020, following consultation with the Supreme Court of B.C. and key stakeholders, the attorney general is amending the Rules of Civil Court to temporarily suspend all civil jury trials for a period of one year.

The suspension starts Sept. 28, with civil jury trials set to resume on Oct. 4, 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to courtroom doors being shuttered and hearings being held on online platforms rather than boardrooms. But the new president of the Canadian Bar Association, B.C. branch (CBABC) says it has also led to the reshaping of a profession which still had many of its traditions rooted in the past.

What has become clear, however, is the benefits from the incredible improvement in communications Eby has nurtured and what that has meant.

COVID-19 has ravaged the country’s legal system and precipitated a long backlog of cases that has Attorney General David Eby and his counterparts in other provinces scrambling.

B.C. Supreme Court Chief Justice Christopher Hinkson told a webinar hosted by the Canadian Bar Association (B.C. branch) that during the past several months, little has been heard in court except urgent cases.

Thirty lawyers have been appointed the honorary title of Queen's counsel, Minister of Justice and Attorney General Shirley Bond announced today.

The Canadian Bar Association, BC Branch (CBABC) says the province’s just-announced 10-step plan to reform B.C.’s justice system doesn’t go far enough.