Ambitious program ignites interest in annual event

Law Day celebrates the anniversary of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. This year’s theme is “The Law: Friend or Foe?” In B.C., Law Day has expanded to a full week of activities. Events are often organized by lawyers in their local communities.

Open House on April 22
The Law Week Open House in Vancouver will be held on Saturday, April 22 between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., with keynote speakers at midday.

The public is invited to participate in classes on family law, employment law, wills and estates, and landlord and tenant law. There will be displays and an opportunity for the public to ask a panel of judges some questions. Kelowna will also be hosting an Open House at its Law Court that day.

Dial-A-Lawyer
The CBA will hold its province-wide “Dial-A-Lawyer” program on April 22 between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. when the public can call to discuss a legal problem with a lawyer for up to 15 minutes. The Dial-A-Lawyer numbers for English speaking lawyers are 604-687-4680 and 604-687-3221 in the Lower Mainland, and toll-free in B.C. 1-800-663-1919. The numbers for Chinese speaking lawyers are 604-687-3404 in the Lower Mainland, and toll-free in B.C. 1-888-687-3404.

Student Mentor Program
This program provides opportunities for students to spend a half-day in a lawyer’s workplace and lawyers also attend a high school law class, allowing students to explore law as a career option. See www.cba.org/BC, go to Student Mentor Program under Spotlight in the right-hand column for further information on how to participate in this program.

5K Fun Run
The Law Week Committee encourages members of the legal community and their families to participate in the third annual Law Week Fun Run, taking place at Locarno Beach Park on Sunday, April 9th at 10 a.m. It will be a 5 km run from Locarno Beach to the Spanish Banks and back and will be stroller and wheelchair accessible. At the finish line, youngsters may paint their own T-shirt and enjoy clowns, music, and food.

The cost per individual is $25 which includes a T-shirt and refreshments. Children under 14 are free.

This is one of those rare events where the bench, bar, law school students, professors and everyone else in the legal community come together to take part in a fun activity and support the B.C. Branch’s Law Week events. For registration info, go to www.cba.org/BC/Public_Media/law_week_2006/fun_run.aspx.

Student Contests
Public Speaking: The annual Barry Sullivan Law Cup public speaking contest is open to students enrolled in grades 11 and 12 classes throughout B.C. The students will present their speeches at the Vancouver Law Courts on April 20th at 4:30 p.m. Interested parties are welcome to listen to the speeches, which are generally enthusiastically and thoughtfully presented.

Essays: This contest is open to grade 12 students throughout B.C. The winning essays (if possible) will be available on the CBABC website.

Poster Competition: Providing a new outlet to budding artists, the Law Week Committee added a poster competition open to kindergarten to grade 3 students throughout B.C.

Volunteers are needed for the Open House, Fun Run, and Dial-A-Lawyer Program. To lend a hand, please call Josey at 604-687-3404, ext. 306 (jschaefer@bccba.org)

This article was published in the February 2006 issue of BarTalk and is subject to the copyright by the British Columbia Branch of the Canadian Bar Association, 2006, all rights reserved.