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The Criminal Trial Lawyers Association (CTLA) is hosting the first Alberta Criminal Defence Conference, a must-attend event for legal professionals. This in-person conference will take place at The Matrix Hotel in Edmonton, AB.

You’ll have the opportunity to network with esteemed criminal defence lawyers and experts in the field and gain valuable insights from informative sessions and panel discussions. This year’s conference focuses on sexual offences with topics on procedure and evidence, substantive law, and better lawyering practices.

The conference will feature two keynote speakers. On April 27, you will hear from Mona Duckett, KC, and on April 28 you will hear from Chief Justice Ritu Khullar of the Alberta Court of Appeal.

Included with your ticket are two full days of educational sessions, lunches and nutritional breaks, and an evening reception. Registrants who want to stay at The Matrix Hotel during the conference can do so at a special rate.

Whether you are a seasoned defence lawyer or just starting your career, this conference offers valuable knowledge and practical tips that will enhance your professional skills. Don’t miss the chance to gain fresh perspectives, exchange ideas and connect with fellow legal professionals from across Alberta.

Dates: Saturday, April 27, 2024 at 9 a.m. – Sunday, April 28, 2024 at 4 p.m. MDT

Price: $320.83 for Junior Lawyers, $480.58 for Lawyers

View the Eventbrite page for more information.

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Public Safety Canada is launching its 2023–24 series on online child sexual exploitation (OCSE) for criminal justice professionals with a webinar on the emerging trend of Generative AI and deepfakes.

The use of AI to produce synthetic images and videos of child pornography is a growing concern. Technologies are developing and improving at light speed, and user-friendly tools are becoming the norm. New challenges arise as a result for those fighting the crime of OCSE.

During this session, Public Safety Canada will seek to understand what Generative AI and deepfake technologies are, and explore their impacts on victims and law enforcement investigations. They will also look at technological solutions to disrupt this concerning new trend.

Presentations include:

• Understanding AI and Deepfake Technologies.
  Chidera Okolie, Researcher and Compliance Officer, UK Ministry of Justice.
• Psychosocial Impacts of Gen AI and Deepfakes.
  Vasileia Karasavva, PhD candidate in clinical psychology, University of British Columbia.
• How AI is being abused to create child sexual abuse imagery.
  Dan Sexton, Chief Technology Officer, Internet Watch Foundation.
• Deepfakes and the sexual exploitation of children: Observed facts on an emerging trend.
  Charles-Henri Jenniss, Investigating Sergeant, Technological Division, Sûreté du Québec.

Event Information

Register here to attend.

Date: Nov. 28, 2023
Time: 1:30–3:30 p.m. EST
Format: Zoom

Participants will be able to ask questions during the webinar or share their questions in advance. These questions will help Public Safety Canada understand the issues that are important to their stakeholders and customize the presentation for each group.

For any questions about the event, email onlinecseeseenligne@ps-sp.gc.ca.

For help with the Zoom platform, email Tinsae Woldetensae at tinsae.woldetensae@hillandknowlton.com.

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Dr. Peter Jaffe and Professor Nicholas Bala are pleased to present training for “Improving Family Justice System Responses to Family Violence” to lawyers/legal workers and shelter workers. In this training, they will speak about the case law they have found relating to danger assessment, amendments to the divorce act, the power and control wheel and coercive control.

Discussion topics will also include:

• What do family lawyers need to be effective in representing family violence victims?
• What can shelter staff and advocates offer lawyers?
• What training do shelter staff need to better assist clients and their lawyers?
• How can shelter staff and lawyers work together in an effective and collaborative may? (province-wide and locally)

Virtual training dates:

• Dec. 14, 2023 – Edmonton Metro Region (register here) and Northern AB (register here)
• Jan. 24, 2024 – Calgary Metro Region (register here) and Southern AB (register here)
• Feb. 13, 2024 – Rural and Central AB (register here)

Cost: Free of charge

To attend, register for one of the sessions linked above or contact the event organizer for more information.

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Date	Topic	Location
Dec. 5. 2023	Illumination of Bias: Practical Strategies for Recognizing and Reducing Implicit Bias in the Practice of Law	Webinar
Dec. 6, 2023	MEP: A Primer for Legal Support Staff	Webinar
Jan. 19, 2024	Child Protection Issues in Family Law Matters	Edmonton & Livestream
Feb. 6, 2024	Alberta Family Law Procedures: What Internationally Trained Lawyers Need to Know	Webinar
Feb. 13, 2024	Practice Foundations: Tips for Effective Practice Management	Webinar
Feb. 27, 2024	Practice Foundations: Cross-Examinations	Calgary
March 5, 2024	Practice Foundations: Cross-Examinations	Edmonton

 

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The University of Alberta’s (UofA) Law Students for Human Rights is teaming up with the Canadian Red Cross to host a conference at the Faculty of Law in Edmonton. This conference will bring together a panel of expert speakers to discuss the growing usage of artificial intelligence (AI) and its evolving relationship with human rights at home and abroad, avenues for regulation, and how these concerns intersect with international humanitarian law.

Following the conference, an informal networking coffee event will take place in the evening to allow participants the opportunity to mingle with the speakers and UofA Law professors, all experts in their fields.

Event Details:

Date: Thusday, Nov. 9, 2023
Time: Conference – 12:00 p.m. 2:00 p.m. Networking Coffee – 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., MST
Location: University of Alberta Faculty of Law, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2H5

Register here for this free event.

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Join the Canadian Bar Association (CBA) on Tuesday, Nov. 7, as regulators, practice management professionals, wellness experts and practitioners from a variety of practice areas, firm sizes and backgrounds address challenges and stressors, consider solutions and identify next steps towards healthier legal workplaces.

Hear about best practices that work, policies and procedures that must change and how firms can meaningfully support and retain their lawyers. Learn why a healthy legal workplace is essential for a successful legal practice and what you can do to support your own wellness.

Event Details:

Date: Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023
Time: 9 a.m. – 5:15 p.m. EST
Location: In-person in Toronto, ON (OBA Conference Centre) and Online

Cost:

• CBA Members: $450
• CBA Young Lawyer Members (<5 years): $350
• CBA Student Members: $150
• Non-Members: $650
  *Plus applicable taxes

For more information and to register, visit the CBA website.

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The Law Society of Alberta is hosting a networking event for Indigenous lawyers and students. This event will present an opportunity for Indigenous law students, articling students and new calls to connect with experienced Indigenous Counsel.

Date: Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023
Time: 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Location: CRAFT Beer Market Downtown | 345 10 Ave SW, Calgary, AB

This event is a great introduction to the Law Society of Alberta’s initiatives and programs, including the Indigenous Mentorship Program. The Indigenous Mentorship Program matches Indigenous lawyers with Indigenous law students, articling students and new calls from the University of Calgary and University of Alberta.

The Indigenous Bar in Alberta has expressed a keen interest in meeting one-on-one with students to provide advice, guidance and connections within the Indigenous legal community. We hope this night brings some new networking opportunities for everyone.

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Event Details:

Date: Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023
Time: 12:30 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. MDT
Location: Calgary Courthouse, 601 5th Street SW

The town hall will be in-person only. No registration required.

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Please join the Association of Women Lawyers (AWL) at their upcoming Meals and Mentors dinner at Dentons, generously sponsored by Dentons WomenLEAD. The dinner is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

The AWL introduced this dinner series to provide mentorship, support and camaraderie to women lawyers from racialized or marginalized groups. The dinners are open to all AWL members and friends who identify as a member of a racialized/marginalized group, as well as members who would like to provide mentorship and support as allies.

The cost of dinner is $10 for AWL members and $25 for non-members. There will be Middle Eastern Halal cuisine served.

Members are invited to reach out to women lawyers who may benefit from AWL’s mentorship dinners but who may not be a current AWL member. AWL membership is free to law school and articling students, $25 for lawyers less than five years at the bar, and $50 for lawyers with more than five years at the bar.

Registrations will close at 12 p.m. on Oct. 18, 2023. There is limited seating so please advise if you need to cancel after registering so that your seat can be made available to others.

*** Please note that AWL is not accepting any registrations by cheque. Any registrations by cheque will be cancelled.