The more things change, the more they stay the same…or do they? On March 7, 2024, please join The Advocates’ Society and their guest co-hosts, the Honorable Marshall Rothstein (retired Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada) and Justice Jo’Anne Strekaf of the Court of Appeal for Alberta for an engaging and timely afternoon seminar for Alberta advocates: Civility Across the Generations: The Future of the Profession.

Registration includes a networking lunch and a post-program cocktail reception.

You will gain:

• guidance on timeless principles of civility that continue to serve advocates well;
• top tips for navigating new challenges posed by technology, social media and more; and
• unique insights from judges and litigators from a variety of perspectives (and generations).

Registration includes educational materials, which will be provided prior to the program. Registration also includes access to the live webcast recording for 30 days from the date the link is sent to you.

Event Information

Date: Thursday, March 7, 2024
Time: Noon – 4 p.m., with post-program reception (MT)
Location: The Hyatt Regency, 700 Centre St. S., Calgary, AB
Delivery: In Person or Live Stream

Pricing

The Advocates’ Society Members: Regular: $219.00 + Tax | Discount: $164.25 + Tax* (please see below)
Non-members: Regular: $349.00 + Tax | Discount: $261.75 + Tax* (please see below)

*The Advocates’ Society is pleased to offer a 25 per cent discount on this program for all lawyers who practise as sole practitioners, or in firms smaller than five lawyers, and government lawyers (including lawyers who work for legal aid clinics).

Visit their website for more information and to register.

Join the Association of Women Lawyers (AWL) Board and other women lawyers and judges in Canmore for rest, relaxation and spirited discussion. Sessions will cover a wide range of timely topics that address the challenges and triumphs women face in the legal profession.

Retreat Details

Date: Jan. 26 – 28, 2024
Location: The Malcom Hotel, Canmore, AB
Registration Costs: 

• AWL members – $200
• Non-members – $250

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

The Commonwealth Lawyers Association Law, Innovation and Technology Committee presents “AI and Ethics in Contract Review and Due Diligence” on Jan. 18 at 1 p.m. GMT. The webinar will be moderated by Richard Amarh ESQ, and the panel is comprised of Genevieve Epatti and Desmond Israel ESQ.

Topics covered include the following:

• Overview of AI in contract review and due diligence, including its benefits and drawbacks.
• Ethical considerations in using AI in contract review and due diligence, such as ensuring accuracy, avoiding bias, and maintaining confidentiality.
• Best practices for using AI ethically in contract review and due diligence, such as training personnel and conducting regular audits.
• Use of AI tools such as natural language processing and machine learning in contract analysis and review.
• Ensuring the accuracy and reliability of AI tools, such as natural language processing and machine learning, in contract analysis and review.
• Addressing concerns related to bias and maintaining confidentiality when using AI in due diligence processes.

Register for this free event here.

The Alberta Court of Justice is inviting members of the bar to an in-person only child protection town hall, taking place in the Edmonton Law Courts.

Event Details

Date: Monday, Jan. 15, 2024
Time: 12:15 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. MST
Location: Courtroom 266, Edmonton Law Courts, 1A Sir Winston Churchill Square, Edmonton

If you would like to submit questions in advance, send them to the Court of Justice’s External Feedback email by Jan. 8, 2024.

The Distinguished Service Awards celebrate excellence in the legal profession. Jointly presented by the Law Society of Alberta and the Canadian Bar Association – Alberta, these prestigious awards shine a light on the outstanding contributions Alberta lawyers provide.

Members of the legal community being recognized this year include:

• Service to the Profession: Robert G. Harvie, KC
• Service to the Community: Sandy Alison Vander Ziel
• Service to Legal Scholarship: Professor Roderick J. Wood
• Service to Promoting Equity, Diversity & Inclusion in the Legal Profession: Andy Hayher, KC
• Special Mention: Alberta Surrogate Reform Project members

The event will take place in Edmonton on Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024, at 11:30 a.m. MT.

Visit the CBA website for event details and to purchase tickets.

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.

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.

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.

Join LESA in the mountains this spring at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise for several days of learning and networking. This conference includes topics for both solicitors and litigators whether you practice at a firm, with the government or in-house. In addition to the variety of substantive law topics, receive three hours of negotiation training with internationally recognized expert negotiator, Marty Latz. For a detailed overview of the conference, please see the event page on LESA’s website.

This conference offers in-person registration only. It will not be recorded.

Group discounts are available. Contact LESA at info@lesa.org to learn how your firm/organization can save by sending multiple people to this conference.

Please note that registration does not include hotel accommodations.

Event Details:

Date: Thursday, May 2, 2024 through Sunday, May 5, 2024
Location: Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, 111 Lake Louise Drive
Cost: $1,895