New and Notable - Practice Management and Technology

CBABC Responds to Announcement of Bill 44 - the Civil Resolution Tribunal Act

Courthouse Libraries of BC — Wed, 09 May 2012 19:30:00 GMT

The Canadian Bar Association BC Branch has issued a Media Alert in response to the introduction of Bill 44, the Civil Resolution Tribunal Act.

New CBA PracticeLink : What’s Ailing Productivity?

Courthouse Libraries of BC — Wed, 09 May 2012 18:55:00 GMT

The Canadian Bar Association has added What's Ailing Productivity? by Katya Hodge to PracticeLink. In this article, the author discusses the improved productivity that results from a more flexible work week.

Results of Bencher By-Election

Courthouse Libraries of BC — Wed, 09 May 2012 18:20:00 GMT

The Law Society has announced that Miriam Kresivo, QC has been elected as a Bencher representing Vancouver county in the May 8, 2012 by-election. Kresivo fills a vacancy left by Patricia Bond who was recently appointed a Provincial Court judge.

New one-click note-up and citations on CanLII

Courthouse Libraries of BC — Wed, 02 May 2012 18:35:00 GMT

CanLII now has a one click Note-up and citation feature for Statutes and Regulations.

Unprecedented lawsuit pits big firm against 150 other Canadian lawyers

Courthouse Libraries of BC — Wed, 02 May 2012 18:30:00 GMT

The Globe and Mail reports that Cassels Brock, defendant in a $750-million class-action suit launched by more than 200 former GM car dealers against General Motors of Canada Ltd, is cross claiming against all the lawyers who provided independent legal advice to those dealerships.

Amendments to the the Legal Profession Act Introduced

Courthouse Libraries of BC — Tue, 01 May 2012 18:00:00 GMT

The Legal Profession Amendment Act, 2012 (Bill 40) has received first reading. The amendments to the Legal Profession Act include the following:

An updated mandate of the Law Society
Decisions of Law Society hearing panels will be subject to review by a board which will include people who are not lawyers.
The Law Society will have the authority to suspend a lawyer under investigation or impose conditions on the lawyer’s practice.
Maximum fines for lawyers will be increased significantly to be more in line with those of other professional bodies and to act as a greater deterrent.
The Law Society will have the ability to require persons to answer questions and produce records in the course of an investigation into a lawyer’s conduct.
The Law Society will be able to suspend or disbar lawyers convicted of serious crimes, including those committed outside Canada, without a full hearing.
The elected board of governors will set the annual fees paid by lawyers to fund the Law Society.

See the Ministry of Justice News Release for more details.

Law Practice Magazine: The Time Management Issue

Courthouse Libraries of BC — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 22:00:00 GMT

Available online, the American Bar Association's April/May 2012 issue of Law Practice focuses on time management tools and techniques.

Law Society posts Law Day's "Law Society revealed" Twitter stream

Courthouse Libraries of BC — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 18:40:00 GMT

On Wednesday, April 18 the Law Society of BC showcased in real time, using Twitter, the work it is doing and interacted with interested members of the public. The full stream of Law Society revealed: a one-day insider’s view through Twitter is now available on the Law Society’s website.
The event was part of Law Week, which was put on by the Canadian Bar Association in partnership with the Law Society and others.

Law Society of BC 2011 Report on Performance Now Available.

Courthouse Libraries of BC — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 21:44:00 GMT

The Law Society of BC have posted their 2011 annual report, which provides a progress update on the 2009-2011 Strategic Plan and a review of their core regulatory performance.

CLE Practice Points: Remarks on Correspondence, Collegiality, and Courtesy

Courthouse Libraries of BC — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 20:53:00 GMT

CLE's Practice Points have published "Remarks on Correspondence, Collegiality, and Courtesy" by James A.W. Schuman, QC, of Schuman Daltrop Basran & Robin, Vancouver, BC and John-Paul E. Boyd of Aaron Gordon Daykin Nordlinger, Vancouver, BC

In this paper written for the recent CLEBC course Family Law Drafting Basics 2012, the authors "discuss some practical issues arising from their written correspondence, duties to their clients and to themselves, and their responsibilities as professionals."