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Myrna McCallum and Dr. Amar Dhall are hosting a professional development retreat in Whistler, BC, from April 11 – 13, 2023.

The retreat offers a unique and holistic approach to understanding the impacts of trauma with a focus on the law and justice sector. The aim of the gathering is to help participants develop strategies to empower a sense of self and well-being, as well as to create healthy professional relationships and positive client engagement.

For more information and to purchase tickets to attend, visit Myrna McCallum’s website.

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The Canadian Bar Association (CBA) Alberta is hosting a discussion around Community Justice Centres (CJC) and the possibility of their use within Alberta.

CJCs are spaces (physical and virtual) where justice processes are collocated with necessary services such as health, social supports, legal advice, and system navigation. Alberta Justice has been conducting community engagement around CJCs over the last year, and is eager to hear input from members of the CBA.

Meeting details: 

Date: Tuesday, April 25, 2023
Time: 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. (MT)
Location: Microsoft Teams
Price: No Charge

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

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The Canadian Bar Association (CBA) Alberta is hosting a discussion around Community Justice Centres (CJC) and the possibility of their use within Alberta.

CJCs are spaces (physical and virtual) where justice processes are collocated with necessary services such as health, social supports, legal advice, and system navigation. Alberta Justice has been conducting community engagement around CJCs over the last year, and is eager to hear input from members of the CBA.

Meeting details: 

Date: Monday, April 24, 2023
Time: 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. (MT)
Location: Microsoft Teams
Price: No charge

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

 

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Women in Law Leadership, in partnership with the University of Calgary Faculty of Law and the Law Society of Alberta, is pleased to present a leadership education program for women lawyers. The program’s vision is to accelerate equity, diversity and inclusion in the legal industry and empower women in law to lead from every seat and at every stage of their career.

Program Details

Dates: May 12–13, May 26–27, and June 2, 2023
Location: University of Alberta
Program Fee: $4,500.00 – includes tuition, program materials, meals and completion certificate.
Application Deadlines: Early bird deadline is March 31, 2023 and the final deadline is April 21, 2023

This is a highly collaborative program where participants share and leverage each other’s knowledge and build a network of support. To achieve full program value for all participants, it is critical to engage fully and attend the full program in person.

Visit the Women in Law Leadership website for more information about the program.

 

 

 

 

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The revamped Trustee Act will come into force on Feb. 1, 2023. Lawyers practicing in wills and estates will need to understand the impacts of the new legislation and how it will affect their own practices and their clients.

Topics addressed in this webinar include:

• the pre-eminence of the trust instrument and the settlor’s intent (including use of extrinsic evidence);
• variation of trusts;
• temporary trustees; and
• principles of good trusteeship in light of the new Act.

Event details: 

Date: March 7, 2023
Time: 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. MST
Cost: $206.25 – $275.00

Visit The Legal Education Society of Alberta website for more information and to register.

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Would you like to know more about Alberta’s new Chief Justice?

Please join David Tupper, member of The Advocates’ Society’s Alberta Regional Advisory Committee, for a virtual fireside chat with The Honourable Chief Justice Ritu Khullar of the Court of Appeal of Alberta.

Event details:

• Date: Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2023
• Time: 12 p.m. – 1 p.m. MT
• Location: Alberta
• Delivery: Live Online via Zoom 

Register to attend this free event.

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The Legal Education Society of Alberta (LESA) is hosting a number of programs in April.

Register for a program below, or view the full events calendar.

Date:	Topic:
April 21, 2023, 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.	Appellate Advocacy (Edmonton)
April 26, 2023, 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.	Estate Planning for Blended Families (Edmonton, in-person or live stream)
April 28, 2023, 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.	Appellate Advocacy (Calgary)

Visit the LESA website for more information.

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The Advocates’ Society is hosting a two-part program that will cover practical information and updates about evidence that every litigator, irrespective of practice area, needs to know. This event includes a plenary session and an optional hands-on, skills-based workshop.

Plenary details | Tuesday, Feb. 28, 1 p.m. – 4 p.m., live online
Esteemed members of the Bench and Bar will provide key insights into how to effectively obtain, use, admit and challenge evidence at trial. Join the session for dynamic presentations, panel discussions and demonstrations featuring skilled faculty.

Topics include:

• Evidence update: What every trial lawyer needs to know
• Top tips for handling hearsay and other objections at trial
• Live demonstrations of key skills featuring experienced members of the Bench and Bar
• Common evidentiary pitfalls and how to avoid them
• Do’s and don’ts from the Bench on how to present your evidence effectively and efficiently

Workshop details | Thursday, March 2, 1 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., in-person (Calgary and Edmonton) or live online
Participants of the Evidence for Litigators plenary session are also eligible to join the hands-on skills workshop. The workshop presents an opportunity to practice raising and responding to objections in a supportive environment. Each participant will be asked to prepare and present a slice of an examination-in-chief and a cross-examination with proper questions as well as one or two potentially objectionable questions. When not acting as examining counsel, paricipants will take turns listening to, identifying and objecting to the other side’s improper questions, while stating the basis for the objection. Participants will then get practical, individualized feedback on their performance from trained instructors, and will learn from peers while working through the interactive exercises in small groups.

Pricing:

Plenary and Workshop:
TAS members: *Discount: $261.75 + tax | Regular: $349.00 + tax
Non-members: *Discount: $441.75 + tax | Regular: $589.00 + tax

Plenary only:
TAS members: *Discount: $156.75 + Tax | regular: $209.00 + tax
Non-members: *Discount: $246.75 + Tax | regular: $329.00 + tax

Visit the The Advocates’ Society website for more information and to register.

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The Distinguished Service Awards celebrate excellence in the legal profession. Jointly awarded by the Canadian Bar Association – Alberta Branch and the Law Society of Alberta, these prestigious awards recognize the many outstanding contributions Alberta lawyers make to the profession, the community, legal scholarship, pro bono legal service, and in advancing equity, diversity and inclusion in the legal profession.

Members of the legal community being recognized this year include:

• Service to the Profession: Robert D. McDonald, KC
• Service to the Community: H. Markham Silver, QC (*awarded posthumously)
• Pro Bono Legal Service: Howard J. Sniderman, KC
• Service in Promoting Equity, Diversity & Inclusion: Patricia L. Blocksom, KC, AOE

The in-person event will take place in Calgary on Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023, at 11:30 a.m.

Visit the CBA website for more information and to purchase tickets.