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The Alberta Court of Justice is hosting a virtual information session for Indigenous lawyers and student on Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024 from noon – 1:15 p.m. The session will provide an overview of the development of the Court’s Indigenous Justice Strategy and its responses, as well as an outline of the Court’s Indigenous Justice Shadowing Program (Shadowing Program) and how to apply to participate.

Launched in 2023, the Shadowing Program provides an opportunity for Indigenous lawyers, articling students and law students to gain exposure and insights into the workings of the front lines of the judicial system through meeting with and shadowing Justices of the Alberta Court of Justice and Justices of the Peace. The Shadowing Program pairs participants with a Justice of the Alberta Court of Justice or Justice of the Peace who works with them to develop a program that allows them to observe and discuss court proceedings that reflect their individual interests and priorities.

To register to attend the virtual session, please email Corinne Robitaille and you will be provided with a link to join the session closer to the date. If you would like to apply for the Shadowing Program, fill out an application form on the Alberta Court of Justice website.

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Join the Law Society on Tuesday, Dec. 3, during the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, from 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. for a webinar about what employers and lawyers can do to better accommodate colleagues and clients with disabilities. There is no cost to attend, and you can register here.

The webinar will begin with a presentation by David Lepofsky, a retired lawyer who chairs the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act Alliance. David will focus his remarks on how systemic strategies in Ontario have advanced accommodations for persons with disabilities. He will discuss recurring barriers that need to be fixed and offer action-oriented solutions.

Following the opening address, there will be a panel discussion, led by moderator and human rights lawyer Roxanne Davis, KC, QArb. She will be joined by two lawyers with disabilities:

• Bob Fenton, KC, Director of Legal Services for the Calgary Police Service and Chair of the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) Board of Directors; and,
• Taylor Grantham, a litigation lawyer practising in commercial and family litigation.

The panel will discuss the value of creating respectful environments within law firms and organizations to have open and honest conversations about accessibility for lawyers and clients with disabilities.

They will discuss the different realities of persons with disabilities, common barriers faced in the practice of law and how accommodations must take each unique person’s circumstances into account. The panel will tackle the misconception of disability being tied to incompetence and explore the tension that often exists when delegating legal work to lawyers with disabilities. They will also provide tips and strategies for lawyers with disabilities to be set up for a successful legal career.

For more information about the webinar, including the full bios for each speaker, visit the webinar registration page. We will be using Zoom webinar to run this webinar including auto-generated captioning. Within your registration, please indicate any additional accessibility needs you may have, and we will do our best to accommodate. For more information about Zoom’s accessibility features and settings, visit this webpage.

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Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024 @ 4:30 a.m. MT

IPV Protecting Victims from Cybercrime: Practical and Legal Next Steps

The Commonwealth Lawyers Association and International Academy of Family Lawyers invites you to join them for a webinar focusing on “IPV Protecting Victims from Cybercrime: Practical and Legal Next Steps.” Following on from the webinar “Cybercrime in the intimate partner and honour-based abuse contexts: signs and preventative strategies”, which took place on Sept. 17, 2024, the purpose of this webinar is to have a discussion about practical next steps and solutions.

Register here to attend.

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The Law Society of Alberta will be hosting an in-person Table Talk group mentoring session in Edmonton on Wednesday, Oct. 30, from 12:15 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. The topic of this Table Talk is Indigenous Law.

Discussion will focus on substantive issues that arise in Indigenous Law. Attendees will be divided into small groups led by experienced Indigenous Law practitioners who will provide valuable advice and insight into some of the unique issues arising within this practice area.

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 affect lawyers. Each event features a specific discussion theme with mentors leading informal conversations among small groups of mentees. Mentees are encouraged to raise questions and actively participate in the discussion.

There will be an opportunity for attendees to network from 2 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. for those who are able to stay afterwards. Lunch will be provided and the event is free of charge.

Attendance is limited and spaces will be filled on a first come, first served basis.

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

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Join the CBA Alberta for an exciting one-hour seminar about the transformative power of generative AI and discover how this cutting-edge technology is reshaping the legal landscape, offering unprecedented opportunities for innovation and efficiency. But it’s not all smooth sailing—learn about the potential pitfalls and ethical considerations that come with embracing AI in your practice. Don’t miss this chance to stay ahead of the curve by learning how to navigate the AI frontier with confidence and curiosity.

Visit the CBA Alberta website for more information.

Time: Noon to 1 p.m.
Price: Full Subscribers – No charge | Webcast subscribers – $30 | On-Demand Subscribers – $30 | Non-Section Subscribers – $30.00 | CBA Law Student Members – No charge

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The Players de Novo, a talented gaggle of lawyers and judges, have now produced more than 16 plays to rave reviews. They’ve raised over one million dollars for the Edmonton theatre community and the Victoria School Foundation.

They are hosting a casting call for the Stephen Sondheim Musical: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, which will debut on May 9, 2025.

Low key auditions will be held the evening of October 9th and 10th – come sing any song you want (without a major audience).

Interested? Contact Amy Lind at Lind@libertylaw.ca for more information and to arrange a time slot for your debut!

Read their poster for more information.

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The Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers – Western Chapter is pleased to present its 7th Annual Diversity in the City on November 19, 2024.

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Are you a slave to your precedents? Have you stopped to think about the effects of the various provisions in your precedents? Are there things you should be considering when negotiating clauses on behalf of your clients? Do your precedents protect your clients’ interests? Do they protect you? This program will go beyond a cursory review of standard commercial agreements and dive into clauses that can make or break a deal.