New Associate Executive Director Announced
President Carman Overholt and Executive Director Frank Kraemer are pleased to announce the appointment of Caroline Nevin as Associate Executive Director.

The Associate Executive Director position was created as the result of a re-organization of operations to ensure exceptional service to the CBABC’s 9,700 members of the legal profession. Ms. Nevin, BarTalk Senior Editor, has served as CBABC Director of Communications and Government Relations for more than four years, and will continue to do so in addition to her new management responsibilities. “We made a strategic decision to expand Ms. Nevin’s role to ensure that her strong organizational development and management skills are put to good use in all areas of Branch operations,” said Mr. Kraemer.

Ms. Nevin has 15 years of experience in communications, government relations and organizational management, both in Alberta and BC. Since joining the CBABC, Ms. Nevin has led in the development of public, media and government relations strategies to increase awareness about professional and law-related issues of concern to lawyers. Ms. Nevin has also been responsible for helping the Bar to educate the public about the role of lawyers in improving the administration of justice and the law, and about the contribution of lawyers to BC’s economy.


Attorney General Speaks at Section Meeting
Attorney General Geoff Plant was the guest speaker at the Criminal Justice-Vancouver Section meeting held in November and attended by 94 members of the Section. Minister Plant addressed some issues immediately affecting the Criminal Bar.

A lively dialogue followed his brief speech, with impromtu questions raised on Legal Aid, Crown Counsel, the PST on legal services, the core values of a fair trial and public safety, and current budgetary concerns. The Section applauded the Attorney General for taking time to come and address these contentious matters.

It’s not too late to enrol in Sections! Contact the Branch office for an enrolment form.


Family Law Online
The Ministry of Attorney General has a new resource for British Columbians experiencing separation or divorce. The resource is available at www.ag.gov.bc.ca/family-justice/index.htm or by calling toll-free 1.888.216.2211. In Vancouver, call 604.660.2192.

The new services consolidate several resources and provide information on family law, options to the court process, a guide to legal terms and a list of places people can go to for help. The information may help people resolve disputes and make child custody and support decisions.

In the past, people could only get this information by contacting several service agencies or by talking to family counsellors, professional mediators or lawyers.

The resources are funded in part by Justice Canada and aim to augment, not replace, professional help and legal services.


Island Lawyers Support HIV/AIDS Community
Hats off to a group of Island lawyers who, spearheaded by the efforts of CBA member Denice Barrie, volunteered to prepare wills for members of the mid-Island HIV/AIDS community for a nominal fee. “I believe every day is an opportunity for lawyers to demonstrate they are supportive community members,” says Ms. Barrie. “World AIDS Day (December 1, 2001) and the holiday season presented a unique opportunity for such a demonstration which I hope will be followed by other lawyers in other communities throughout the province.”

Ms. Barrie, with the help of office members at the Doug Traill Memorial Law Centre, sent a letter to all Nanaimo area lawyers asking them to volunteer their services to the HIV/AIDS community – a group which had expressed a need for wills services.

The following lawyers volunteered their services – some on the same day they received Ms. Barrie’s letter – and many offered to prepare an unlimited number of wills. BarTalk wants to give these lawyers a round of applause:

Brent L. Hird, Basil Hobbs, John R. Jordan, Leonard Krog, Sharon Krog, Patricia E. Lebedovich, Stephen G. McPhee (articling student), Rod Mont, Sucha Ollek, Peter Ramsay, QC, Richard N. Rhodes, Bill Scott, Elisabeth Strain and Laura Wansbrough.


New Lead Rate From Coast Capital Savings
Coast Capital Savings Credit Union, informed of the negative impact of low interest rates on the Law Foundation and the community it serves, came forward with an agreement matching the highest rates paid to the Foundation on lawyers’ pooled trust accounts. Effective November 1, 2001, the interest paid to the Foundation on lawyers’ pooled trust accounts will be at a rate of prime less 3 per cent, with no service charges.

Increased revenues enable the Law Foundation to fund programs designed to make the law and justice system accessible to British Columbians, particularly those people who may have the greatest problems of access as a result of their economic, social, physical or mental special needs.

Law Foundation Chair Don Silversides, QC thanks Coast Capital Savings Credit Union for its continued commitment to the Law Foundation and for the leadership shown in offering this new agreement.

The CBABC, the Law Society and the Law Foundation urge lawyers to consider which financial institutions provide the best support to the Law Foundation when deciding where to place their trust accounts.


Radha Reddy Wins Whistler Blackcomb Tickets!
Congratulations to Radha Reddy of Vancouver, who won two Whistler Blackcomb lift tickets through a “Your Voice Counts” survey at the BC Branch’s Web site (www.bccba.org). Thanks to everyone who has participated in the ongoing survey on the new CBA ad campaign. We appreciate your input and the comments that you have e-mailed to us. The survey is still up, so please take a look.


BC Courthouse Library Society
The BC Courthouse Library Society now has computers in Vancouver and 30 of our branch libraries, providing access to the Internet and electronic resources. The Society plans to provide an increasing number of electronic products and Internet-based products in their collection in 2002. Now available in electronic format at the six large branches is The Canadian Human Rights Reporter. Ask BCCLS staff for assistance in locating and searching it.


Lawyers Assistance Program (LAP)
LAP provides confidential support, counselling and referrals for lawyers, their families, support staff, judges and students suffering from alcohol and/or chemical dependency, stress, depression or just about any type of personal problem.

For assistance or information on meetings and resources please call 604.685.2171 or toll free 1.888.685.2171.

The LAP office is located at 415-1080 Mainland Street, Vancouver, BC V6B 2T4.

These articles were published in the February 2002 issue of BarTalk. © 2002 The Canadian Bar Association. All rights reserved.