FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 14, 2003
OTTAWA – Québec Premier Jean Charest joins the list of many notable guests confirmed to speak at the Canadian Bar Association’s 2003 Canadian Legal Conference in Montréal, Aug. 16-19. Premier Charest will address attendees of the Canadian Corporate Counsel Association (CCCA) Luncheon on Tuesday, Aug. 19 at 1 p.m.
Other headliners for this year’s conference include Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin, Federal Justice Minister Martin Cauchon, former External Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy, mystery writer and forensic anthropologist Kathy Reichs, and Olympic women’s hockey coach Danièle Sauvageau.
“This year’s impressive roster of speakers will not only deliver top notch legal education to our members, but will also focus on the hot legal issues of the day,” says CBA President Simon Potter of Montréal.
CBA’s decision-making Council meets on Saturday, Aug. 16 and Sunday, Aug. 17 until noon. Chief Justice McLachlin addresses Council Aug. 16 at 10:15 a.m. An ethics panel titled Sex, Fraud and Videotape will take place later that day at 3:15 p.m. Speakers will debate pressing issues such as the limits of solicitor/client confidentiality, the treatment of evidence and sex with clients.
More highlights of this year’s conference include:
- Robert F. Kennedy Jr. who will speak at the Opening Plenary on Sunday afternoon, Aug. 17; Federal Justice Minister Martin Cauchon, who will speak, then answer questions from CBA members, on Monday, Aug. 18 at 11:30 a.m., and Lloyd Axworthy, who will speak at the International Development Committee and Department of Justice Workshop on Sunday, Aug. 17.
- 37 Continuing Legal Education programs (including sessions for corporate counsel on the theme The Evolving Role of Corporate Counsel: Enhancing Your Business Skills) take place on Aug. 18 and 19 on a wide range of subjects, including the reality of women in the legal profession; corporate social responsibility; how to deal with unpopular clients; and how the Sarbanes-Oxley Act affects Canadian lawyers, among many others.
The Justicia Award for outstanding media coverage on the law will be presented at the Awards Luncheon on Saturday, Aug. 16. This year’s award winners were chosen from a field of 33 nominees. The Young Lawyers Pro Bono Award for outstanding service to the community will be presented Aug. 19.
AWe are expecting 800 lawyers, judges and their guests to join us in Montréal,” says Mr. Potter, who will transfer the chain of office to his successor, Bill Johnson of Regina, at the Young Lawyers luncheon. Mr. Johnson will then outline his priorities for his term as president.
Sessions are open to the media. Most programs take place at Montréal’s Palais des congrès, 201 Viger Avenue West. Accreditation may be obtained by contacting the CBA national office in Ottawa at (613) 237-2925, ext. 146, or at the CBA Media Centre, Palais des congrès, Room 523B, (514) 871-5823, beginning Aug. 15.
The Canadian Bar Association is dedicated to improvement in the law and the administration of justice. Some 38,000 lawyers, notaries, law teachers, and law students from across Canada are members.
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CONTACT: Hannah Bernstein, Canadian Bar Association, 500-865 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, Ontario, K1S 5S8 Tel: (613) 237-2925, ext. 146; E-mail: hannahb@cba.org
