Access to Justice Week is an opportunity to engage with the access to justice movement that is taking place in BC and beyond.
This is a week devoted to considering how to improve the justice system by putting its users at the centre of decisions and processes. During this week, law students and legal professionals organize events to look more deeply at how to do this in the environments that surround them.
Check out this video from last year's Access to Justice Week to hear from field experts offering their perspectives on why it remains so difficult for people in BC to access the justice system.
Indeed, various actors are continuing to innovate within the justice system. Covid-19 has had a major impact on access to justice, while at the same time presenting opportunities to create a long-term, positive impact.
In February 2023, we will ask, "Access to justice - whose job is it anyway?"
In fact, the answer is that each of us have a unique role to play.
Saturday
Youth Leaders in Law National Conference 2023
An opportunity for students who are considering law school to virtually engage with law school professors and legal counsel across the country.
The conference will start with a panel of speakers discussing the intersections of law and politics with recent national examples. The second portion of the conference will feature breakout sessions with panelists and law students where high school and undergraduate students will have an opportunity to ask questions and discuss.
Speakers:
Ewa Krajewska, Partner, Henein Hutchison LLP
Caroline Magnan, Professor of Law, University of Ottawa
Stephen Aylward, Partner, Stockwoods LLP
Moderator: Katelynn Cave, Counsel, Public Prosecution Service of Canada
Zoom Session from 9:00am to 11:00am (PST)
Intended audience: High school and undergraduate students
Register here: https://bit.ly/3w2k36k
More information is available here: www.youthleadersinlaw.com
Monday
Access to Justice Issues in BC’s Family Law System
Join PBSC and Access to Justice BC to learn about what recent research on access to justice issues within the BC family law system says and discuss people-centred design. This interactive session will engage your experiences and feed into upcoming research on access to justice issues. This is an opportunity to share your views, support innovative research and learn more about the Transform the Family Justice System Collaborative.
Speakers:
Taiylor Wiebes, first year law student at Thompson Rivers University
Julianna Hamilton, first year law student at the University of Victoria
Jayden Friesen-Kehler, second year law student at UBC's Peter A. Allard School of Law
Tina Parbhakar, Strategic Coordinator, Access to Justice BC
Zoom Webinar from 12:30pm to 1:30pm (PST).
Intended audience: Legal community
Register here: https://bit.ly/3Ja2N75
*This webinar qualifies for 1.0 hours of CPD.
The Civil Resolution Tribunal: Who we are and what we do
Join the Civil Resolution Tribunal (CRT) to learn about the CRT’s jurisdiction in motor vehicle accident claims, small claims, strata property, societies, and cooperative association disputes.
Since its inception as a virtual tribunal, in 2016, the CRT has focused on human-centred design to provide British Columbians with an accessible, informal, flexible, timely, and affordable way to resolve legal disputes.
Speakers:
Alison Wake and Kate Campbell will cover the types of claims that can be made with the CRT and the dispute resolution process.
MS Teams webinar from 12:00pm to 1:00pm (PST)
Intended audience: Law students and legal community
Register here: https://bit.ly/3Dlc9Jg
Trauma Informed Practice
This session will cover what trauma is, trauma-informed client-engagement, cultural humility, and vicarious trauma and resilience.
Speaker:
Myrna McCallum, Founding lawyer, Miyo Pimatisiwin Legal Services, Host, The Trauma-Informed Lawyer Podcast
Session from 4:00pm to 5:00pm (PST).
Webinar via Zoom (link here).
Intended audience: Law students
Tuesday
Understanding and Creating Access to Justice
Join the UVic Law A2J Club for an opportunity to discuss access to justice (“A2J”), and what it means to you as part of Access to Justice Week BC. In small groups, students will be invited to share their thoughts on what they see as the current barriers to A2J, and what they think could address those barriers.
In-Person Session in FRA 265 (Fraser Building) from 12:30pm to 1:20pm (PST)
Intended audience: All UVic students
Register here: https://bit.ly/3R3tf42
Access to Justice: Whose job is it anyway?
When it comes to this question, what role do lawyers, notaries and paralegals have to play? The provincial government’s Intentions Paper on the regulation of lawyers and other legal service providers suggests that regulation changes are part of the solution. Join our panel of thought leaders to hear their views on how access to justice and regulation of professions are connected.
Speakers:
Paul Craven, Assistant Deputy Minister, Justice Services Branch, Ministry of Attorney General
Chris McPherson, President, Law Society of BC
Clare Jennings, Past President, Canadian Bar Association BC Branch
Elizabeth Kollias, President, BC Paralegal Association
Mark Iyengar, Vice-President External, Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers (British Columbia) Society
Kate Roome, Director, BC Notaries Association
Moderator:
Kerry Simmons, K.C., Executive Director, Canadian Bar Association BC
Zoom Webinar from 4:30pm to 6pm (PST).
Intended audience: Legal community
Register here: https://bit.ly/3GxE9dq
*This webinar qualifies for 1.5 hours of CPD.
Wednesday
A caring public administration? Revisiting the values of tribunal adjudication for access to administrative justice
Speaker:
Sule Tomkinson, UBC Visiting Professor (Université Laval)
Adjudicators at agencies, boards and tribunals play a unique role in public administration. Often appointed for limited terms, they assume powers similar to traditional court judges but do so as employees of government's executive branch. Making determinations about peoples’ rights and entitlements, they contribute to an accountable government.
Traditionally, impartiality and independence are the key principles that balance the arm’s-length yet judicial and executive orientation of their position. Prof. Tomkinson argues this concept of administrative adjudication principally through its relationship to political superiors and courts ignores the people who seek justice.
Adjudicators themselves offer a different understanding, emphasizing their links to people who seek justice, describing it as, “being empathetic”, “hearing people”, “empowering individuals”, “restoring trust in the state”, “healing relationships”, and “being a spokesperson for the society”. The underpinning principle of care can enable greater access to tribunals and arises from interviews with adjudicators in health, residential tenancies, social security, worker’s compensation, human rights, immigration and refugee law in Canada.
12:45pm to 1:45pm (PST)
In-Person at UBC Allard Law, Room 106 and Zoom Webinar (link here).
Intended Audience: Academics, lawyers, students and anyone interested in administrative justice
The Self-Represented Litigant Experience
Speaker: Jeremy Matson
In-person from 1:00pm to 2:30pm (PST)
Webinar via Zoom (link here)
Intended audience: Law Students
Neurodiversity in Law
Speakers:
Dr. Lawrence Fung, MD, PhD, Director of the Stanford Neurodiversity Project, Stanford University
Simon Margolis, Associate, Borden Ladner Gervais LLP
Keenan Nadeau, Third-Year Law Student, University of Dalhousie Schulich Law
Join the Access to Justice Centre for Excellence and CBABC for a panel discussion on the competitive advantage of neurodivergent legal professionals, the practical challenges that neurodiversity presents in law school and law firm environments, and best practices for supporting thought diversity in law.
Zoom Webinar from 3:30pm to 5:30pm (PST).
Intended audience: Legal community
Register here: https://bit.ly/3Xysm5L
*This session qualifies for 2.0 hours of CPD.
Youth Leaders in Law Virtual Speed Networking
Join Youth Leaders in Law and Access to Justice Clubs from UBC Allard, University of Victoria and Thompson Rivers University Law Schools to learn more about the law school experience and the journeys of diverse law students into pursuing the study of law and legal career paths.
Zoom webinar from 7:00pm to 8:00pm (PST).
Intended audience: High school and undergraduate students.
Registration here: https://forms.gle/BsLjdevCJpCfgfmp8
More information is available here: www.youthleadersinlaw.com
Thursday
Justice for Everyone: Developing New Lawyers in the Public Interest
The Everyone Legal Clinic is a first of its kind virtual public interest legal incubator. Launched in May 2022, 25 recent law graduates receive quality training and mentorship, and provide direct legal services to clients based out of their home communities across BC. Using modern legal technology, the Clinic serves the dual purpose of training the next generation of legal professionals while simultaneously increasing access to justice for British Columbians based in underserved areas across the province. The presenters will share the methodology behind Clinic planning and execution, as well as the lessons learned and stories from its pilot year.
Speakers:
Jamie Maclaren KC, Executive Director, Access Pro Bono Society of BC
Sheila Goojha, Articling Clinician, Everyone Legal Clinic
Erin Monahan, Project Manager, Access Pro Bono Society of BC
Webinar via Zoom (link here) from 12:30pm to 1:30pm (PST)
Intended audience: Legal community
Regardless of your means: Redefining Access to Legal Services for All British Columbians
Join Amici Curiae Friendship Society to hear from a presider about their experiences when a self-litigant appears before them. Learn how AC’s unique approach fosters accessibility to legal services for all British Columbians, regardless of their means.
Speakers:
Hon. Justice Joel R. Groves, BC Supreme Court
Emily Quinn, Manager, Amici Curiae Friendship Society
Webinar via Zoom (link here) and In-person Session in Mega Room (OM 3732) from 1:00pm to 2:30pm (PST)
Intended audience: Law Students
Friday
Innovating to Create Market-Based Solutions
Speakers:
Hersh Perlis, Co-Founder & Director, Legal Innovation Zone
Matt Canzer, Lawyer and Founder, Butterfly Legal
Marcus M. Sixta, Founder, Crossroads Law & Coach My Case
Chyanne Sharma, Family Lawyer and Legal Coach, Coach My Case
Join Access to Justice BC and CBABC for a panel discussion on innovating and implementing market-based solutions to meet unmet legal needs in BC and Canada, in a sustainable way. The panellists will share their journeys into the field of development and delivery of such approaches, what they have learned so far and their reflections on clients and system users' feedback in terms of the future possibilities for access to justice.
Zoom Webinar from 12:30pm to 1:30pm (PST).
Intended audience: Legal community
Register here: https://bit.ly/3HdfmMr
*This session qualifies for 1.0 hours of CPD.
Drug Treatment Court - Specialized Approaches
Join TRU's Access to Justice Club to learn about this specialized court that serves as an alternative to mainstream court for people who commit criminal offences to support drug addiction.
Speaker: The Honourable Judge James (Jim) Ogle, presiding judge at the Calgary Drug Treatment Court, Director of the Canadian Association of Drug Treatment Courts (CADTC) and of the International Association of Drug Treatment Courts (IADTC).
From 1:15pm to 2:15pm (PST)
In-Person and Webinar via Zoom (link here).
Intended audience: Law students.
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