CBA News | May 2017

SPOTLIGHT ON COURT DELAYS

A key advocacy item so far in 2017 has been court delays – along with preliminary inquiries, which seems to be getting tied into the larger discussion. Read on to see what we’ve been saying about it.

CBA Influence

In case you missed it – Check out the latest issue of CBA Influence, a monthly newsletter with blog posts about CBA initiatives, submissions, interventions and comments on public policy. Combined with Focus on Parliament, with links to information about government legislative, regulatory and policy changes, this newsletter provides a 360-degree look at both our current advocacy work, and opportunities for the CBA to get involved.

BUDGET 2017: CONTINGENCY CASES EXCLUDED

The CBA has received confirmation that the Budget 2017 proposal to eliminate billed-basis accounting for income-tax purposes will not affect contingency fee arrangements. While we are encouraged by this news, we are continuing discussions with the government to understand the scope of and ramifications of the proposal. Read on for more.

ELECTIONS: BOARD OF DIRECTORS, VICE-PRESIDENT, AND CBA COMMITTEES AND SECTION EXECUTIVE

It’s election season at the CBA. We have a new Board of Directors, and voting will start at the end of the month for Vice-President. As well, anyone looking to join a CBA committee or a Section executive has until June 5 to put their names forward. Read on for more.

NOTICE OF 2017 ANNUAL MEETING

This year instead of the annual CBA Legal Conference, we’ll be holding an annual general meeting on August 17 in Montreal. Your Section has until June 2 to put forward a proposal for a resolution. Read on for more details.

CHILD RIGHTS TOOLKIT LAUNCHED

Three years of hard work by dozens of professionals across the country has culminated in the launch earlier this month of the CBA Child Rights Toolkit, a user-friendly resource for legal professionals and the general public. Read on for more details.

ACCESS TO JUSTICE IN LEGAL EDUCATION

A subcommittee of the CBA’s Access to Justice Committee will be presenting a workshop on experiential learning at a legal education workshop in Victoria this June. Read on for more about the workshop.

IP SECTION CHAIR HEADING TO INTERNATIONAL PATENT LAW SYMPOSIUM

The CBA National IP Section, which has been part of the Canadian Working Group for Global Patent Harmonization, has been invited to fill one of three Canadian spots at an international symposium in Munich in June. Section Chair Kamleh Nicola will represent the Section. Read on for more.

NEWS FROM CBA SECTIONS

TELECONFERENCE RECORDINGS AVAILABLE

The CBA National Public Sector Lawyers Forum has a wealth of online resources for CBA members in the form of archived recordings of its Teleconference Series dating back to 2015. Read on for more.

JANE BURKE-ROBERTSON AWARD OF EXCELLENCE IN CHARITY AND NOT-FOR-PROFIT LAW

W. Laird Hunter, Q.C., is the winner of this year’s Jane Burke-Robertson Award, presented by the CBA National Charity and Not-for-profit Law Section. Read on for more.

NATIONAL ADMINISTRATIVE LAW SECTION AND NOVA SCOTIA ADMINISTRATIVE LAW SECTION BRANCH JOINT OUTREACH EVENT

The National and Nova Scotia Administrative Law Sections have teamed up to present a joint seminar dealing with topics such as ways to expedite administrative hearings, mediation and ethical issues at arbitration, and case law updates. Read on for more.

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS

The CBA National Women Lawyers Forum has extended the deadline for nominations for its Cecilia I. Johnstone Award to May 31. Do you know a woman who has achieved professional excellence in the legal profession, and who has influenced others? Read on for information about nominations.

YOUNG LAWYERS PRO BONO AWARD WINNER

Ranjan K. Agarwal, a partner at Bennet Jones in Toronto who has been singled out as a future star in the legal profession, has been awarded this year’s Young Lawyers Pro Bono Award for his dedicated and innovative pro bono work. Read on for more.

LAW STUDENTS: ENTER A CBA CONNECT ESSAY CONTEST TODAY!

Law students have one more opportunity to enter a CBA Connect Essay Contest: the James H. Bocking Memorial Award, presented by the CBA National Competition Law Section, is still up for grabs. Read on for details.

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