University of Alberta, Law Students for Human Rights Club and the Canadian Red Cross present the 2022 International Humanitarian Law (IHL) academic conference, to be held on Thursday, Nov. 3, 2022, from 12-2 p.m. (MT). 

This conference will bring together experts from the field, including academics and representatives from the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement, to discuss Climate Change and Armed Conflict.

Alberta lawyers may consider including this conference as a CPD learning activity in the annual Continuing Professional Development Plan.

Register to attend this free event.

As part of Access to Justice Week, Legal Aid Alberta will be hosting a webinar on Oct. 25, from 12-1 p.m. (MT), for lawyers and law students interested in finding out what it takes to become duty counsel in Alberta. Attendees will also learn about the different services duty counsel provides, the objectives and expectations of the role, and tips for dealing with common challenges.

Speakers: 

• Danny Lynn – Senior Advisory Counsel, Adult Criminal Law, Legal Aid Alberta
• Katie Clarey – Advisory Counsel, Legal Aid Alberta

There is no cost associated with the event or deadline to register.

From Oct. 24-28, 2022, the Canadian Bar Association and its partner organizations will be offering a variety of virtual events and activities across the country highlighting the importance of justice, the barriers to accessing it, and the ways we can work together to break down those barriers.

The theme of Access to Justice Week (A2J) this year is Data and Access to Justice.

Register for an upcoming event below, or view the full list of A2J scheduled programs.

This conference has been held annually since 2015, providing networking and professional development opportunities for Crown prosecutors, attorneys and allied professionals across Canada. The goal of the conference is to facilitate the sharing of information and resources about animal abuse and the Violence Link (the relationship between animal abuse and human abuse) in order to ensure that crimes against animals are prosecuted effectively and efficiently.

The 2021 conference hit record-breaking attendance and our roster of speakers delivered up-to-date educational information that will assist prosecutors and allied professionals when coming across an animal abuse file.

Some of the session speakers and highlights of this year’s conference include:

• Sophie Gaillard, Acting Executive Director and Director of Animal Advocacy and Legal Affairs at the Montreal SPCA, who will share what was learned from the Saint-Édouard Zoo investigation, which resulted in the seizure of more than 200 animals ranging from lions, tigers, and zebras to bears, wolves, kangaroos and primates;
• Co-Director of the Centre for Forensic Research and Forensic Entomologist Dr. Gail S. Anderson who will explain how insects can be used to estimate the elapsed time since the death of an animal as well as other factors about a crime scene in relation to wounds and whether a body has been disturbed;
• Phil Bogdanoff, attorney and nationally recognized continuing legal education speaker, will return this year with Tiger King II, the highly anticipated sequel to last year’s presentation that will review the issues the “Tiger King” raised on appeal, the appellate court decision and resentencing, along with how wildlife offenses can be joined with non-wildlife offenses and a review of Season Two of Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness; and
• Tips on navigating animal abuse files, working with law enforcement, better understanding of how animal enforcement is regulated in Canada, and more!

Attendees can expect to enjoy professional development opportunities while learning from industry experts and professionals during interactive presentations.

LESA is also offering this program as a livestream program.

Loosely tracking the lifecycle of a criminal law matter, this program will explore issues that commonly arise. It will be of particular interest for lawyers in their early years of practice or those new to the practice of criminal law.

Topics include:

• Bail (judicial interim release)
• Disclosure
• Tips & tricks for negotiating with the Crown
• Closing arguments: applying the law to your case
• Sentencing
• Views from the Bench

Time:   9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. 

Price:  $445 + GST 

This program will be offered as an in-person program only. LESA will not be offering this program via livestream.

Legal support staff, and their lawyers, are working together to adjust their practices in light of recent changes to the Divorce Act and court procedures. Join experienced faculty to consider the impact these changes have on your day to day practice. Explore issues that legal support staff frequently face in divorce matters and develop practical solutions to best support your lawyers.

Topics include:

• Broader divorce law issues and Divorce Act amendments
• Issues that may arise in pleadings
• Procedural issues and common applications
• The odd ones (relocation/Hague applications, validity of marriage, limitation(s) etc.)
• Courthouse filing/rejection issues

Time:  9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Price:  $400 + GST

This program will be offered as an in-person program only. LESA will not be offering this program via livestream.

Legal support staff, and their lawyers, are working together to adjust their practices in light of recent changes to the Divorce Act and court procedures. Join experienced faculty to consider the impact these changes have on your day to day practice. Explore issues that legal support staff frequently face in divorce matters and develop practical solutions to best support your lawyers.

Topics include:

• Broader divorce law issues and Divorce Act amendments
• Issues that may arise in pleadings
• Procedural issues and common applications
• The odd ones (relocation/Hague applications, validity of marriage, limitation(s) etc.)
• Courthouse filing/rejection issues

Time:  9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Price:  $400 + GST

One cross-examination can be the difference between winning and losing at trial. Acclaimed cross-examination specialist Larry Pozner is back to equip you with the advanced techniques you need for successful cross-examinations. Pozner will share the signature approach that has made his bestselling book, Cross-Examination: Science and Techniques, a “go-to” resource on cross for advocates.

Larry’s entertaining and practical program provides you with powerful sample “chapters” and scripts that you can tailor to your own facts to conduct strong cross-examinations. He will also teach you how to derail your opponent and impeach the key witness – even the most evasive or talkative one – in just a matter of minutes.

Using realistic examples and step-by-step instructions, Pozner offers effective cross examination tips and strategies that you can implement immediately in your practice. Whether you are a seasoned litigator or a recent call, a day with Larry Pozner will help you improve your cross-examination preparation and results.

Topics Include:

• How to train witnesses to say yes
• Constructive vs. destructive cross
• Effective impeachment techniques
• Preparing helpful witness and topic charts
• Controlling evasive witnesses
• Handling “I Don’t Know” and “I Don’t Remember”

Program Pricing:

• TAS Member: Discounted: $299.25 + Tax | Regular: $399.00 + Tax
• Non-member: Discounted: $449.25 + Tax | Regular: $599.00 + Tax

Register to attend in-person at the Petroleum Club or to watch the live stream online. Lunch is included for in-person attendees.

On Oct. 26, 2022, 3 – 4:30 p.m. (ET), The Advocates’ Society, the Indigenous Bar Association, and the Law Society of Ontario are hosting a free online program to launch the First Supplement. The program, Taking Action, Making a Difference: Recent Developments in Access to Justice for Indigenous Peoples, features a panel of leading Indigenous lawyers discussing how to better serve Indigenous clients and what to be mindful of when participating in legal proceedings involving Indigenous parties or witnesses.

Speakers:

• Dianne Corbiere, IPC, H.B.S.W., LL.B (Moderator)
• Jocelyn W. Formsma, HBSocSci, JD
• Kathleen N. Lickers, LSM, IPC
• Candice S. Metallic, B.A., LL.B, IPC, LSM
• Scott Robertson, LL.B., B.Ed., Certified Specialist in Indigenous Legal Issues

Register today and gain a greater understanding about how you can fulfil your duty to learn, and to act, and how to be courageous in breaking down barriers to access to justice and advancing reconciliation in the justice system.

This program is part of Access to Justice Week 2022, taking place from Oct. 24 to 28, 2022. For more information about Access to Justice Week, click here.

The Office of the Child and Youth Advocate is hosting its Best Practices in Child Legal Representation conference. The goals are to enhance legal representation practices and to elevate child participatory rights.

Headlining speakers:

• Justice Anna Loparco, Professor Nicholas Bala, Dr. Rachel Birnbaum, Cindy Turner KCChildren’s Participation in The Family Court Process: Recent Alberta Precedent (Re L)
• Myrna McCallum – Trauma Informed Lawyering
• John-Paul Boyd KC – Non-Evaluative Reports and the Child Perspective in Legal Disputes