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.

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.

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.

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.

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.