Public Sector Lawyers
Submitted by Section Co-Chair, Cory Bargen
Summary of Meetings
Number of Meetings Held: 4
October 31, 2013
Guest Speaker: Peter Lawless
Meeting Title/Topic: Sport Court? What is that?
Synopsis: Mr. Lawless spoke about the system being created internationally for the resolution of sports related disputes using his experience as counsel before the International Court of Arbitration for Sport. The meeting was broadcast via webinar.
November 25, 2013
Guest Speaker: Greg Levine, Lawyer and Municipal Integrity Commissioner
Meeting Title/Topic: Municipal Ethics - Conundrums, Codes and Commissions
Synopsis: Mr. Levine spoke about the context of municipal ethics and the rise of codes and commissioners. His presentation considered critiques of the system and contrasted the Ontario approach with that in other provinces, including BC. The meeting was broadcast via webinar.
March 19, 2014
Guest Speakers: Andrea Hilland, LSBC, and barbara findlay, Q.C., and Nancy Morrison
Meeting Title/Topic: Diversity by Design: Numbers, Narratives & Next Steps for the BC Legal Community
Synopsis: This was a joint Section meeting held with the Public Sector Lawyers Section. This panel discussion reviewed impediments for groups (such as women, persons with disabilities, Aboriginal peoples, visible minorities and LGBT) indicated by the data, and focused on how pioneering practitioners overcame challenges and have furthered ideas and actions that improve access to justice, equality and the rule of law. Next steps for a more vibrant legal profession were explored with a particular emphasis on the roles and duties of public sector lawyers in terms of inclusive strategies and approaches.
May 8, 2014
Guest Speaker: Commander Sheila Archer, Assistant Judge Advocate General
Meeting Title/Topic: The Structure and Services of the Office of the Judge Advocate General
Synopsis: Cmdr. Archer's presentation provided an overview of the structure and services of the JAG. She described who makes up the Office of the JAG, how the Office of the JAG is structured, the range of work and the services provided in advising on military justice, operational law and military administrative law at home in Canada and on deployed military missions elsewhere in the world.
Comments and Observations of the Co-Chair
This year highlighted the variety of interests and experiences of our Section members. The meeting topics were unique and the questions and discussions that took place during the meetings demonstrated the engagement of our members with the topics being presented.
Our Section's partnership with the national Public Sector Lawyers Forum was also a highlight as our members had the opportunity to attend several nationally broadcast "brown bag" lunches featuring leading national public sector lawyers.