---

Have you ever felt lonely at work? Have you ever struggled to belong in the workplace? Have your team members ever shared they’re feeling disconnected? Have you ever wondered what is happening in our minds and bodies that gives rise to these experiences? Given how difficult the last few years have been, it’s not surprising that study after study is finding that people are experiencing more loneliness and disconnection than ever before. The impact is profound, including in the workplace. And this is especially true for people who come from equity-seeking communities. Why do we feel lonely at work? What strikes at our ability to belong? What happens in our minds and bodies? And most importantly, how can we address this?

bhasin consulting inc. (bci) is delighted to announce that on July 19, 2023 at 2 p.m. MST, we’ll hold a free webinar, Understanding the Neuroscience of Belonging – A Workplace Lens, to explore these very topics. For this fascinating discussion, bci’s Mental Health Expert-in-Residence Dr. Komal Bhasin will lead a fireside chat with bci’s CEO and belonging expert Ritu Bhasin and renowned psychotherapist Donald Currie, where they’ll explore:

• How we’re wired, as humans, to long for connection and belonging with others, including in the workplace
• The neuroscience behind what leads to loneliness and a lack of belonging at work
• Research on how experiencing disconnection with others can lead to trauma in our bodies
• How to heal from difficult experiences that strike at our ability to be our authentic selves at work
• Key practices for claiming your belonging from Ritu’s new book We’ve Got This
• How to leverage this knowledge as a leader to build healthy, meaningful relationships

---

On July 6, 2023 at 12:00 PM, join the Law Society as they introduce the new Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Tool, a purpose-built application for lawyers to meet their CPD obligations and align their plans to the Professional Development Profile.

This session includes a walkthrough of creating a new CPD plan in the Tool as well as a Q&A session.

Register here.

---

Join an in-person Table Talk group mentoring session in Calgary on Wednesday, July 19, from 12:30pm – 2:30pm. The topic of this session is Criminal Defence.

Discussions will focus on substantive issues that arise in criminal law practice. Attendees will be divided into small groups led by knowledgeable criminal defence lawyers who will provide advice and insight into some of the unique issues they have experienced and how they overcame challenges.

The purpose of these events is to bring together mentors and mentees from our Mentor Connect and Mentor Express programs to network and discuss important topics that impact lawyers. Each event features a specific discussion theme with mentors leading informal conversations among small groups of mentees.

There will be an opportunity for attendees to network from 2 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. for those who are able to stay afterwards.

Attendance is limited and spaces will be filled on a first come, first served basis. Lunch will be provided and the event is free of charge.

For more information and to register, please contact the Mentorship team.

---

As part of the Justice Partnership and Innovation Program, the Alberta Council of Womens Shelters in partnership with the Government of Canada is providing Danger Assessment Training to lawyers in Alberta.

The Danger Assessment (DA) tool assesses the level of danger a woman is in, including risk of being killed by a partner, and can validate experiences and help women stay safe(er) by creating a plan for moving forward. This tool can also assist those working with domestic abuse survivors to better understand the situation and how to best support survivors.

Lawyers are invited to participate in any of the sessions on the following dates:

• Jan. 18, 2024 – Lawyer DA training
• Feb. 21, 2024 – Lawyer DA Training
• March 26, 2024 – Lawyer DA Training

The sessions will be hosted virtually and are free of charge. A certificate will be received upon completion of the training. 

Please note that registration is first come first served, as there are limited spots available for each training.

Register here.

---

Join an in-person Table Talk group mentoring session in Edmonton on Tuesday, June 27, from 12:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. The topic of this Table Talk is Entrepreneurship for Lawyers.

---

Please join us on June 21, National Indigenous People’s Day, for Journey to the Law – an opportunity to hear about the journey to becoming a lawyer for four Indigenous people at different points in their career.

Event Details

Date: Wednesday, June 21
Time: Noon
Location: Online via Zoom Webinar

Jessica Buffalo, the Law Society’s Indigenous Initiatives Counsel, will host the panel as they discuss their personal experiences, issues in the profession and how to continue to move forward, featuring:

• Katelynn Cave – Counsel, Public Prosecution Service of Canada
• Krysia Przepiorka – Senior Criminal Defence Lawyer, Calgary
• Lorel Clearsky – Articling Student, Calgary Legal Guidance
• Tayla Basawa – Law Student, University of Calgary

Register to attend or learn more about the Law Society’s Indigenous initiatives.

---

In honour of Asian Heritage Month in Canada, the Law Society of Alberta, Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers (FACL) BC and FACL Western are partnering to host a virtual screening of the documentary But I Look Like a Lawyer on Tuesday, May 30 from noon to 1:30 p.m.

But I Look Like a Lawyer was originally released in November 2021 by FACL BC. The documentary shares stories of the discrimination, stereotyping and bias experienced by the BC Pan-Asian legal community. It aims to increase intercultural awareness and competency, and to surface the complexity of the historical, socio-economic and colonial aspects of these real lived experiences. It was inspired by the original But I Was Wearing a Suit documentary, a similar film created by Indigenous leaders in the legal community in BC.

The online event will feature a screening of the short documentary followed by a question-and-answer period. The screening will provide a space for discussion around individual and community experiences as well as tools and strategies for dismantling systemic discrimination in the legal profession.

Event Details:

Date: Tuesday, May 30, 2023
Time: 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Location: Online

Register for the online event through Zoom.

If you have any questions, kindly contact our Education department.

---

The Commonwealth Lawyers Association invites you to join them for a discussion chaired by Lord Carnwath of Notting Hill CVO, and led by Richard Clayton KC, Rowan Pennington-Benton and Desiree Artesi with a focus on recent developments in the Privy Council: cases, tips and tactics.

Richard Clayton KC will be speaking about the Privy Council’s Syraj, proportionality and other cases, whilst Rowan Pennington-Benton will be discussing recent important process changes. For example, that when an appellant now files an appeal that raises concurrent findings of fact the Board now gives an appellant only 30 mins to persuade them to hear the case.

Desiree Artesi is also joining the panel, an expert barrister in the fields of commercial law, property, international and appeals to the Privy Council. Desiree will be covering the case of Chantelle Day and use of “ existing laws” clauses? Also with reference to comparative application by analogy with Caribbean Court of Justice case law.

There will be a Q and A opportunity following the panel discussion. Should you wish to submit a question prior to the session, please email info@commonwealthlawyers.com referencing this event. Questions can also be submitted using the Q&A function during the webinar itself.

Event Details

Date: Thursday, May 25, 2023
Time: 7 a.m. MDT
Location: Online

Register for this free event.

 

---

Join the Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers – Western Chapter, South Asian Bar Association Calgary and South Asian Bar Association Edmonton for a virtual fireside chat with The Honourable Chief Justice Ritu Khullar of the Court of Appeal of Alberta.

During this session, attendees will have the opportunity to learn about the Chief Justice of Alberta’s journey as a lawyer and on the Bench.

Event Details

Time: 12 p.m. – 1 p.m. MDT
Location: Online

Register for this free event.

 

---

The National Criminal Law Program (NCLP) is an annual, week-long, not-for-profit continuing legal education program that takes place every July. The NCLP consistently draws in excess of 600 attendees from across the profession, including federal and provincial prosecutors, defence counsel, judges, members of the law enforcement community, members of the Canadian military and volunteers from local law schools.

The NCLP rotates annually through three themes: Substantive Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure and the Charter, and Evidence. Each year also includes content relating to ethics, inclusivity and diversity.

The program is offered through the Federation of Law Societies of Canada, which works collaboratively with the program’s Chairs and Planning Committee to ensure the consistent delivery of exemplary legal education.

Upcoming NCLP Programs

• 2023: July 10-14, 2023, Montreal, Quebec
• 2024: July 8-12, 2024, Halifax, Nova Scotia

For more information and to register, visit the Federation of Law Societies website.