Court Challenges Program
The CBA restated its views on the merits of the Court Challenges Program to the House of Commons Official Languages Committee in June. Speaking for the CBA, Melina Buckley of Vancouver told MPs the program was an essential tool in the development of a rich jurisprudence with respect to official languages as well as equality rights under s.15 of the Charter.

CBA on the Court Challenges Program >>> www.cba.org/cba/news/ccp/default.aspx


Draft Money Laundering Regulations Published
The federal government has just released new draft regulations under the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act, which would apply to the way lawyers (and other professions) identify clients, verify their identity, and maintain client records. The CBA will consider and respond to the draft regulations within the 60-day period allowed. The regulations are available in the June 30 edition of the Canada Gazette.

Regulations >>> canadagazette.gc.ca/partI/2007/20070630/html/regle6-e.html


Membership and Work Life Balance Committees
The Branch’s Membership and Work Life Balance Committees attended the Crown Counsel Conference in Whistler. From left to right are Catherine Sas, QC, Chair of the Work Life Balance Committee, Judith Janzen, Chair of the Membership Committee and Paula Cayley, Ad-hoc member of the Work-Life Balance Committee and Executive Director of Interlock.


Bill C-32 May Lead to Extensive Litigation
While it supports the underlying goals of Bill C-32 (Criminal Code amendments – impaired driving), the CBA cautions that impaired driving already consumes a disproportionate amount of court time and resources, and the amendments may open the door to new litigation, including challenges under the Constitution and Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Mitchell MacLeod of Charlottetown, a member of the CBA’s National Criminal Justice Section, appeared before the Commons Justice and Human Rights Committee in June.

News release >>> www.cba.org/CBA/News/2007_Releases/2007-06-12_c32.aspx
Submission >>> www.cba.org/CBA/submissions/pdf/07-32-eng.pdf


Task Force on Conflicts Underway
The CBA’s expert task force on conflicts of interest has begun its work to develop practical guidelines, advice, and solutions to help lawyers and law firms better serve their clients. The task force will report on its progress at the CBA’s August 2008 Canadian Legal Conference in Quebec City.

The CBA has enlisted the broadest base of input for the task force – lawyers representing large, small, urban, and rural law firms, in-house counsel, and all areas of practice. It includes client representatives, an ethicist, a liaison from the Federation of Law Societies of Canada, a law society insurer, and a noted conflicts expert.

Details >>> www.cba.org/CBA/groups/conflicts/


Award-Winning Program
The International Development Committee and partner IBM Consulting are the winners of the 2007 CHF Award for Improvement of Social Infrastructure, a Canadian award recognizing outstanding work in international co-operation and development.

It honours the CBA for its just completed Canada-China Legal Aid and Community Legal Services project. The project helped strengthen China’s legal aid and community legal services system.

International development program >>> www.cba.org/CBA/IDP/InterDev/


Law Firm Leadership Conference
Oct. 14-16, 2007 - Montreal
This year’s third annual Law Firm Leadership Conference – Oct. 14-16, 2007 in Montreal – focuses on Tools for the Successful Canadian Law Firm. Breakout sessions will tackle conflicts, best practices for managers, and effective media relations. The lineup of speakers includes Derek Burney and Raymond Chrétien on U.S.-Canada relations, political columnist Chantal Hébert, and Cisco’s Mark Chandler on technology and the law.

Details and registration >>> www.cba.org/cba/cle/cle00/mgpart_07.aspx


2007 Competition Law Conference
Oct. 11-12, 2007 - Ottawa-Gatineau Area
Highlights of Canada’s leading Competition Law Conference include a high-profile panel presenting a mock international cartel investigation and parallel multi-jurisdictional class action proceedings and a panel on recent changes to competition policy in the telecommunications industry. Commissioner of Competition Sheridan Scott is the keynote speaker.

Details >>> www.cba.org/cba/cle/cle00/comp_07.aspx


The Perfect Legal Bill
If clients pay their bills without complaint, lawyers assume that a laundry-list billing approach works. The doubt should begin to creep in, however, if several weeks pass without payment. An unpaid bill generally indicates that clients have one of four problems. This month on CBA PracticeLink, learn about these client complaints and discover the elements of the perfect legal bill.

Also new on CBA PracticeLink:

• Podcast: Developing a Conflict Checking System for Your Law Firm
• Cool Technology for Hot Lawyers
• News: Sedona Canada E-Discovery Principles Released
• Quick tips on marketing, financial management, client services and more.

All this and much more >>> www.cba.org/practicelink


Increase Funding for Legal Aid
The CBA, along with the attorneys general of Ontario, Saskatchewan, and Nova Scotia, has called on the federal government to increase funding for legal aid. At a news conference in June, CBA First Vice-President Bernard Amyot of Montreal said: “The Canadian Bar Association believes that legal aid is the key to the courthouse door. For those without the economic means, that key is beyond their reach. All of us – regardless of means – must be assured of effective and equal access to the judicial system when the fundamental interests are at stake.”

Full text >>> www.cba.org/CBA/news/pdf/2007-06-20_legalaid.pdf


Law Student Issue – National Magazine
The 2007 Law Student Edition of the National will be published in early September. Copies will be mailed out to each law school and an e-mail link to the online version will be circulated. Stories covered this year include five new practice areas that didn’t exist ten years ago, the changing face of law school faculty, and tips and advice from nine established lawyers to today’s new graduates. Shorter items will focus on conflicts of interest for students, what firms expect from their summer students, and trends in associate recruitment.

These articles were published in the August 2007 issue of BarTalk. © 2007 The Canadian Bar Association. All rights reserved.