Access to Justice Week BC 2025 is approaching!

Access to Justice Week BC is coming up on February 3 to 7, 2025. This annual province-wide week is dedicated to improving the justice system by placing users at the center of decisions and processes.  Law students and legal professionals organize events to delve deeper into how to achieve this in their respective environments and beyond.

This year’s theme is “What does the future of access to justice look like?” Our focus will be on technology, including artificial intelligence, and inclusivity, including solutions for individuals and communities with unmet legal needs.

In this blog post, I highlight and encourage you to participate in three free webinars as well as the Supreme Court of Canada’s 150th anniversary visit to Victoria on February 3 and 4. This visit is a momentous occasion that coincides with Access to Justice Week BC.

On Monday, February 3 at 12:30 pm, the BC Branch of the Canadian Bar Association (CBABC) will host Reimagining Justice through User-Centered Principles. This session will explore how a legal system that focuses on the needs and experiences of its users can ensure a more positive journey towards justice. Access to justice experts, Zach Zarnow and Dr. Andrew Pilliar, will identify the principles of user-centered design and how they can be applied to address real-world barriers. Angie Still, Client Navigator Lead at the BC First Nations Justice Council, will discuss delivering culturally appropriate services for Indigenous people through Indigenous Justice Centres. These services include wrap-around supports to address discrimination, traumas, and barriers to fully accessing justice. You can register here by January 30th.

On Wednesday, February 5 at 4:30 pm, the CBABC, Continuing Legal Education Society of BC and A2JBC will host Access to Justice in the AI Era: Innovation vs. Risk. This session will delve into the transformative impact of artificial intelligence on the legal field, evaluating both its potential benefits and associated risks. Professor Amy Salyzyn of the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Law, and Michael Litchfield, Director of the University of Victoria’s AI Risk and Regulation Lab will provide their insights through a discussion moderated by A2JBC’s Strategic Coordinator. You can register here by February 3rd.

On Thursday, February 6 at 12:30 pm, the CBABC and A2JBC will host Bridging the Justice Gap: Hackathons as Catalysts for Change, about how hackathon events can spark innovative ideas that can be harnessed and implemented to create more accessible and equitable approaches. Experts and key organizers from the Justice Hack BC, Stanford CodeX (the Stanford Center for Legal Informatics), the Philadelphia Social Justice Hackathon and the King’s Entrepreneurship Lab at Cambridge University will share how these events contribute to user-centred and multi-disciplinary approaches that generate novel tools, strategies and partnerships. You can register here by February 3rd.

Access to Justice Week BC 2025 aims to create dialogue on new and emerging practices and perspectives to advance justice for all. Our hope is that these unique sessions, with others being organized at BC’s three law schools, will blend forward-thinking discussions with actionable insights, contributing to a more inclusive and effective justice system. Similarly, the historic visit of the Supreme Court of Canada underscores the Court’s dedication to engaging with the public and a commitment to public education.

Chief Justice Richard Wagner, along with Justices Andromache Karakatsanis and Nicholas Kasirer, will participate in a series of activities designed to connect with various segments of the community. The highlight of the visit is the public event titled Beyond the Bench: A Dialogue with Judges of the Supreme Court of Canada, scheduled for February 3 at 3:00 pm at the Victoria Conference Centre.  This town hall-style forum offers a unique opportunity for attendees to engage directly with the judges, gaining insights into the judicial process and the Court’s impact on Canadian society.  Questions can be submitted to [email protected], allowing for a personalized and informative discussion.

Additionally, the judges will visit the University of Victoria’s Faculty of Law, emphasizing the importance of education about laws and legal institutions. Chief Justice Wagner aptly stated, “Building trust in the justice system begins with education.” Indeed, we are excited to see law students, colleagues in different sectors and all those who are curious attend and participate in the various opportunities to learn during Access to Justice Week BC.

– Leonard Marchand, Chief Justice of British Columbia