BarTalk August 2003
Volume 15, Number 4

Offering you greater functionality

by Patricia Jordan

In the February web column we asked members what they would like to see online. Several members asked for ListServes (Message Boards). Message Boards are now available for all Sections at www.bccba.org under CBABC Sections. Look for your Message Board discussion link in your registered Section(s) under “My Registered Sections.” A general discussion Message Board is available to all members in the Lawyer Lounge.

Our Message Boards provide a platform to ask questions, offer advice and share information online. Integrated features include attention messaging, e-mail participation, instant messaging, message search, online document storage, watch lists and white boards. With watch lists, you can mark a discussion topic that is of interest to you and be notified by e-mail whenever a message is posted to that topic.

Attention messaging allows you to post messages to another member’s attention. Message Board even marks messages posted to your attention so that you can see immediately what’s new. Messages sent to a member’s attention are visible to other discussion members.

The Message Board’s mailing list gives registered members the option of participating in discussions via e-mail. After subscribing to a discussion mailing list, you will receive all messages posted to the discussion and may respond or post new topics via e-mail. Members who prefer to participate through a browser but want to know about new messages without logging on, can receive e-mail notification of discussions with new messages once a day.

Prior to participation on a Message Board, members must complete an online Participation Agreement Form and send it to Fran Hodgkins, Sections Coordinator.

CBABC Web Facts

• BarTalk is the most popular destination for members at www.bccba.org (Library)

• Members have downloaded the Real Property Standard Undertakings more than 400 times since April 2003 (Library)

New Services online

• Articling Positions and Internships Sought in Human Resources

• Member Dispute Resolution Service in the (Lawyer Lounge, under What’s New)

New Documents in the library

• Submission of the CBABC to the Ministry of Finance of B.C. on the Real Estate Act Review Discussion Paper, May 2003

• Submission of the CBABC Corporate Counsel Section to the Law Society of B.C. on the Proposed Amendment to the Professional Conduct Handbook, May 2003

Ask the Webmaster
Why do I need a firewall?
Firewalls and virus software offer vital protection to your computer and network. Security experts recommend companies move toward a protective network environment through the use of e-mail/content filtering tools and antivirus/firewall software to protect against cyber intruders and virus attacks.

Firewalls offer perimeter protection but do not protect against viruses and worms. Firewalls block specified Internet systems, monitor outbound application traffic, protect personal information, provide immediate alerts, event information and tracing, validate the flow of information to and from a business, and provide multi-layered security.

Your firewall must be regularly configured and updated to ensure it protects your computer and network. For more information on firewalls, check out c/net at www.download.com and search for "firewalls."

Patricia Jordan is the CBABC Manager, Interactive Media. She welcomes your comments, questions, and suggestions. If you have a question about site content, or would like something added to the site, contact her at pjordan@bccba.org or call 604.646.7861.

This article was published in the August 2003 issue of BarTalk and is subject to the copyright by the British Columbia Branch of the Canadian Bar Association, 2005, all rights reserved.