---

As part of the Justice Partnership and Innovation Program, the Alberta Council of Womens Shelters in partnership with the Government of Canada is providing Danger Assessment Training to lawyers in Alberta.

The Danger Assessment (DA) tool assesses the level of danger a woman is in, including risk of being killed by a partner, and can validate experiences and help women stay safe(er) by creating a plan for moving forward. This tool can also assist those working with domestic abuse survivors to better understand the situation and how to best support survivors.

Lawyers are invited to participate in any of the sessions on the following dates:

• Jan. 18, 2024 – Lawyer DA training
• Feb. 21, 2024 – Lawyer DA Training
• March 26, 2024 – Lawyer DA Training

The sessions will be hosted virtually and are free of charge. A certificate will be received upon completion of the training. 

Please note that registration is first come first served, as there are limited spots available for each training.

Register here.

---

Join an in-person Table Talk group mentoring session in Edmonton on Tuesday, June 27, from 12:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. The topic of this Table Talk is Entrepreneurship for Lawyers.

---

Please join us on June 21, National Indigenous People’s Day, for Journey to the Law – an opportunity to hear about the journey to becoming a lawyer for four Indigenous people at different points in their career.

Event Details

Date: Wednesday, June 21
Time: Noon
Location: Online via Zoom Webinar

Jessica Buffalo, the Law Society’s Indigenous Initiatives Counsel, will host the panel as they discuss their personal experiences, issues in the profession and how to continue to move forward, featuring:

• Katelynn Cave – Counsel, Public Prosecution Service of Canada
• Krysia Przepiorka – Senior Criminal Defence Lawyer, Calgary
• Lorel Clearsky – Articling Student, Calgary Legal Guidance
• Tayla Basawa – Law Student, University of Calgary

Register to attend or learn more about the Law Society’s Indigenous initiatives.

---

In honour of Asian Heritage Month in Canada, the Law Society of Alberta, Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers (FACL) BC and FACL Western are partnering to host a virtual screening of the documentary But I Look Like a Lawyer on Tuesday, May 30 from noon to 1:30 p.m.

But I Look Like a Lawyer was originally released in November 2021 by FACL BC. The documentary shares stories of the discrimination, stereotyping and bias experienced by the BC Pan-Asian legal community. It aims to increase intercultural awareness and competency, and to surface the complexity of the historical, socio-economic and colonial aspects of these real lived experiences. It was inspired by the original But I Was Wearing a Suit documentary, a similar film created by Indigenous leaders in the legal community in BC.

The online event will feature a screening of the short documentary followed by a question-and-answer period. The screening will provide a space for discussion around individual and community experiences as well as tools and strategies for dismantling systemic discrimination in the legal profession.

Event Details:

Date: Tuesday, May 30, 2023
Time: 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Location: Online

Register for the online event through Zoom.

If you have any questions, kindly contact our Education department.

---

The Commonwealth Lawyers Association invites you to join them for a discussion chaired by Lord Carnwath of Notting Hill CVO, and led by Richard Clayton KC, Rowan Pennington-Benton and Desiree Artesi with a focus on recent developments in the Privy Council: cases, tips and tactics.

Richard Clayton KC will be speaking about the Privy Council’s Syraj, proportionality and other cases, whilst Rowan Pennington-Benton will be discussing recent important process changes. For example, that when an appellant now files an appeal that raises concurrent findings of fact the Board now gives an appellant only 30 mins to persuade them to hear the case.

Desiree Artesi is also joining the panel, an expert barrister in the fields of commercial law, property, international and appeals to the Privy Council. Desiree will be covering the case of Chantelle Day and use of “ existing laws” clauses? Also with reference to comparative application by analogy with Caribbean Court of Justice case law.

There will be a Q and A opportunity following the panel discussion. Should you wish to submit a question prior to the session, please email info@commonwealthlawyers.com referencing this event. Questions can also be submitted using the Q&A function during the webinar itself.

Event Details

Date: Thursday, May 25, 2023
Time: 7 a.m. MDT
Location: Online

Register for this free event.

 

---

Join the Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers – Western Chapter, South Asian Bar Association Calgary and South Asian Bar Association Edmonton for a virtual fireside chat with The Honourable Chief Justice Ritu Khullar of the Court of Appeal of Alberta.

During this session, attendees will have the opportunity to learn about the Chief Justice of Alberta’s journey as a lawyer and on the Bench.

Event Details

Time: 12 p.m. – 1 p.m. MDT
Location: Online

Register for this free event.

 

---

The National Criminal Law Program (NCLP) is an annual, week-long, not-for-profit continuing legal education program that takes place every July. The NCLP consistently draws in excess of 600 attendees from across the profession, including federal and provincial prosecutors, defence counsel, judges, members of the law enforcement community, members of the Canadian military and volunteers from local law schools.

The NCLP rotates annually through three themes: Substantive Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure and the Charter, and Evidence. Each year also includes content relating to ethics, inclusivity and diversity.

The program is offered through the Federation of Law Societies of Canada, which works collaboratively with the program’s Chairs and Planning Committee to ensure the consistent delivery of exemplary legal education.

Upcoming NCLP Programs

• 2023: July 10-14, 2023, Montreal, Quebec
• 2024: July 8-12, 2024, Halifax, Nova Scotia

For more information and to register, visit the Federation of Law Societies website.

---

Academics, practitioners and members of the judiciary from the public, private and non-profit sectors are invited to submit proposals for papers to present at the National Family Law Program, to be held July 22 – 25, 2024 in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

At this in-person event, more than 60 faculty from diverse streams of family law will share their knowledge and experience with newcomers to the practice as well as experienced practitioners. Sessions focus on matters related to:

• child and spousal support;
• child custody;
• surrogacy;
• financial disclosure in divorce proceedings;
• child protection; and
• tax principles in family law.

The sessions also deliver tips on how to grow and run a successful family law practice.

For more information, or to submit a proposal prior to the deadline of May 31, visit the Federation of Law Societies of Canada website.

---

In honour of Asian Heritage Month in Canada, the Law Society of Alberta, Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers (FACL) BC and FACL Western are partnering to host two in-person screenings of the documentary But I Look Like a Lawyer.

But I Look Like a Lawyer was originally released in November 2021 by FACL BC. The documentary shares stories of the discrimination, stereotyping and bias experienced by the BC Pan-Asian legal community. It aims to increase intercultural awareness and competency, and to surface the complexity of the historical, socio-economic and colonial aspects of these real lived experiences. It was inspired by the original But I Was Wearing a Suit documentary, a similar film created by Indigenous leaders in the legal community in BC.

These events will feature screenings of the short documentary, a question-and-answer period facilitated by FACL BC members and light refreshments catered from local Asian-owned businesses. The screening will provide a space for discussion around individual and community experiences as well as tools and strategies for dismantling systemic discrimination in the legal profession.

If you plan to attend, please register through the secure event pages linked below. Use the password Documentary to access the registration.

Event details:

• Thursday, May 4, 2023 from 4–5:30 p.m. – Calgary
• Thursday, May 11, 2023 from 4–5:30 p.m. – Edmonton

Please note that space is limited and available on a first come, first served basis.

If you have any questions, kindly contact our Education Department.

---

The Saint Thomas More Lawyers’ Guild of Calgary is pleased to invite all members of the legal profession and related professions, as well as family and friends, to Calgary’s annual Red Mass. The event will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2023, at St. Mary’s Cathedral, where Bishop William McGrattan will preside, with a reception to follow.

The featured guest speaker for the reception will be Justice David Brown of the Court of Appeal for Ontario. Justice Brown was appointed to the Court of Appeal for Ontario in December 2014, after sitting as a judge of the Superior Court of Justice of Ontario in the Toronto Region since September 2006. Justice Brown will be speaking about the topic of freedom of conscience.

Evening Schedule:

• 4:30 p.m. – Gowning of judges and lawyers (note: gowning is not necessary to attend or join the procession)
• 5 p.m. – Mass (open to all)
• 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. – Catered reception featuring Justice David Brown

The Red Mass is celebrated in honour of the legal profession as a vocation in the service of justice and the common good. It is an occasion for people employed in the administration of justice as judges, lawyers, paralegals, assistants, civic leaders and law students of all faiths to celebrate the beginning of the new judicial term and ask for blessing, strength and enlightenment in the pursuit of justice for all.

The tradition of the Red Mass began in the Cathedral of Paris in 1245. The Red Mass was first celebrated in England around 1310, where it is still celebrated annually at Westminster Cathedral. The Red Mass was first celebrated in Canada in 1896 and was re-instituted in Calgary in 2015.

The Mass is free for everyone to attend, including the general public. However, please note that members and invited guests must purchase a ticket to attend the catered reception following the Mass.

If you have any questions about the event or require financial assistance to purchase a ticket to the reception, please contact the Saint Thomas More Lawyers’ Guild of Calgary through the event registration page or by sending an email to calgary.stmlg@gmail.com.

Register to attend.