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Until recently, the term “Regulatory Sandbox” was familiar in other sectors of the economy but was foreign to the legal sector. In the legal context, a regulatory sandbox permits experimentation with technology, people and processes to offer fresh approaches to challenges faced by sectoral participants. And without fear of non-compliance with existing regulatory and policy frameworks set in place by law societies and bar associations.

The introduction of sandboxes allows for controlled spaces where innovators can try new approaches to solve pervasive problems with the appropriate guardrails in place to protect the public. Including the under-representation of many potential end users of legal services.

This webinar will provide a snapshot of the current state of play and future prospects for innovation sandboxes and their potential to foster structural change in North America’s legal sector. Len Polsky, Manager of Legal Technology and Mentorship, Policy and Education at the Law Society of Alberta will be speaking.

Speakers will cover the following themes:

• Is Canada’s legal sector becoming more receptive to change? What are the impacts for legal sector service providers in the private and public sector?
• Examples of what innovations sandboxes are delivering to date and what results and lessons are there to build upon? What does the future look like?
• What can we learn from other jurisdictions that have implemented innovation sandboxes for the legal sector (i.e the UK)? Does it lead to improved access to justice for market lead solutions where public policy and governmental approaches have failed to break the logjam in the past?

Date: Tuesday, June 7, 2022

Time: 10 a.m. MT

Cost: Admission is free.

Register here.

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We would like to invite all Alberta lawyers and students-at-law to Well-Being in Practice: A summit on taking care of yourself, your workplace and your profession.

The Law Society of Alberta, Alberta Lawyers’ Assistance Society (Assist), the Alberta Lawyers Indemnity Association (ALIA) and the Canadian Bar Association — Alberta Branch are partnering to host this virtual summit.

Our speakers include lawyers willing to share their own mental health experiences as well as mental health professionals providing education, concrete tools and resources to take away from the Summit.

Well-Being in Practice will be held over two half days:

• Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022, noon – 4:15 p.m.
• Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2022, 9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Registration for this event is free to all Alberta lawyers and students-at-law. This event is open to the first 1,000 registrants, so we encourage you to register now. If you are unable to attend the live Summit, we encourage you to still register for the Zoom event. Registrants will receive a link to the recorded version and other materials following the Summit. 

To register or learn more about the event, review the agenda and visit our registration page.

Please note that a Zoom account is required to register for this event. If you do not have a Zoom account, sign-up is free and available here.

Content Warning and Disclaimer

Throughout the Summit and in review of the suggested resources, you may encounter information or material that is triggering, upsetting or challenging to engage with. If you need to talk to someone or need support, you are encouraged to reach out to Alberta Lawyers’ Assistance Society (Assist) at 1.877.498.6898.

The presentations and suggested resources provided in this Summit are provided for educational or informational purposes only and are not intended to constitute legal or other professional advice. Views expressed during the presentations or in the suggested resources are the views of the speaker or author individually and do not necessarily reflect the views of the host organizations. The host organizations are not responsible for the accuracy, content or information provided in this Summit. Participants must exercise their personal and professional judgment about the accuracy, utility and applicability of the information to their circumstances.

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CCDC has launched CCDC Document Webinars, a new initiative aimed at providing information and guidance about the content and use of our standard construction documents.

CCDC’s June webinar will be on CCDC 11 ‘Contractors Qualification Statement’. CCDC 11 is an industry standard form that is often used for pre-qualifying general contractors and trade contractors. It can be used as a part of, or as a sole document requested in the RFQ. The webinar will explain everything there is to know about CCDC 11, including the two new sections on insurance references, health, and safety. Join CCDC to learn how to properly fill out the CCDC 11 forms, whether you are preparing or receiving the CCDC 11.

Dates: Thursday, June 9, 2022 (English) & Wednesday, June 22, 2022 (French)

Register for the English session or register for the French session.

The cost to register is $75.

 

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The Centre for Public Legal Education Alberta (CPLEA) is hosting a free webinar on Wednesday, June 1, 2022 about the recent ban on conversion therapy in Canada. Amendments to Canada’s Criminal Code took effect on Jan. 7 and include four new criminal offences banning conversion therapy and related conduct. What constitutes conversion therapy? How will the new law affect those providing and being subjected to conversion therapy?

Panelists include:

• Blake Desjarlais, Member of Parliament for Edmonton Griesbach
• Emmet Michael, musician
• Glynnis Lieb, Executive Director for the Institute for Sexual Minority Studies & Services (iSMSS), University of Alberta
• Rin Lawrence, Chair of the Diversity, Equity, and Human Rights Committee and Chair of the Teacher Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA), Edmonton Public Teachers Local 37
• Charles Easton, LGBTQ+ Lawyer

The Centre for Sexuality will also be on hand to provide mental health support to our panel and participants. Visit this page for more information.

Date: Wednesday, June 1, 2022

Time: 1:30 – 3 p.m.

Register here.

 

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Join the Canadian Bar Association for a webinar about the Innovation Sandbox presented by Len Polsky, Manager, Legal Technology & Mentorship, Law Society of Alberta.

• Webinar Topic: Innovation Sandbox: Developing Innovative Models for the Delivery of Legal Services Outside the Existing Regulatory
• Date: Friday, May 20, 2022
• Time: Noon (MT)
• Cost: Live Webcast Subscribers — no charge
  On-Demand Subscribers and Non-Section Subscribers — $15.00
  Law Students — no charge

Visit this page for more information and register here.

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The LegalTech Summit Canada is a future-focused event dedicated to providing legal professionals with modern solutions to their most challenging, tedious problems. This event is a unique opportunity to explore the latest technologies, product innovations, and digital strategies with senior lawyers and legal tech authorities alike.

Featuring session on automation and artificial intelligence, digital marketing, improving the client experience in a remote or hybrid setting, and a one-of-a-kind presentation on the Law Society of Alberta’s Innovation Sandbox Initiative by Len Polsky, manager, Legal Technology and Mentorship, this event is covering everything law firms and in-house departments need to stay on top of the latest trends, drive efficiency in their organizations, and thrive in an evolving legal industry.

Now is the time to look towards the future and become an early adopter of the technology that is changing the field. Don’t miss your chance to connect with senior legal professionals and discover game-changing legal technology on June 15. Register today.

Date: Wednesday, June 15, 2022

Time: 11:45 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. (MT)

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The 11th annual Moose Hide Campaign takes place on Thursday, May 12. The Moose Hide Campaign is a grassroots movement of Indigenous and non-Indigenous men and boys who are standing up against violence towards women and children.

Throughout the year, and especially around the time of the campaign, people are encouraged to wear a moose hide pin to signify their commitment to standing against and protecting women and children from gender-based and domestic violence.

The inspiration for the campaign came to co-founders Paul Lacerte and his daughter Raven on an early morning in August 2011. The pair were hunting for moose on their traditional Carrier territory along the Highway of Tears — a 725-kilometre highway in northern British Columbia between Prince George and Prince Rupert where many women have gone missing or been murdered.

Since then, more than two million moose hide pins have been distributed in thousands of participating communities, schools, and organizations across Canada.

As shared on their website, “Moose Hide Campaign Day is a day of ceremony. It’s a day where all Canadians are called to join together to take a stand against violence towards women and children and to take practical steps for our collective journey of reconciliation.”

Learn more about the different ways you, your firm or your organization can get involved at the Moose Hide Campaign Day event website.

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Appellate Advocacy (Alberta) will provide you with key insights on how to capture and maintain the court’s attention, and give your client the best chance for success. Appellate judges and experienced appeal counsel will share invaluable guidance on how you can improve your facta drafting, hearing preparation, oral argument and more. Our keynote presentation will feature invaluable insights from the Honourable Chief Justice Catherine A. Fraser of the Court of Appeal of Alberta. Learn more.

Date: Wednesday, May 25, 2022
Time: 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. MT
Location: Le Germain Hotel 899 Centre Street S, Calgary (with optional webcast)
Register Here

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The National Criminal Law Program (NCLP) is back, and can’t wait to welcome registrants in person in 2022. The theme for this year’s NCLP is “Criminal Procedure, Ethics, and the Charter” and the program will be in Victoria, from July 4–8. Registrants will have access to up to 23 hours of substantive legal education including topics covering ethics, professionalism, diversity and inclusion as well as over 80 papers written by our faculty of Canada’s finest judges, Crown Prosecutors and Defence Counsel. Discounts and mentoring opportunities are available for new lawyers as well as networking events for all.

Register now and check out the full program and faculty list here and be sure to follow the event on Twitter.

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Join the Chief Justice of Alberta, Justices, and senior staff of the Court of Appeal for a discussion on current and future state of court operations, including virtual and hybrid hearings, appeal conferences and JDRs, public access to court records and more. We welcome your input Members of the Bar on these topics at this time.

Details and registration link to follow.

Wednesday, May 18, 2022
12:15 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.
Via Webex