Canadian Bar Association, BC Branch

Pro bono work can make a meaningful difference in the lives of British Columbians. In her BarTalk article, family lawyer Chyanne Sharma discusses how she helps bridge the access to justice gap – and why other lawyers should get involved. Read more in our link in bio. 

"As the legal community welcomes the Honourable Ronald A. Skolrood as the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of British Columbia on Friday, January 17, I extend my warmest congratulations on behalf of members of the Canadian Bar Association, BC Branch. Known as a principled and thoughtful legal professional, Chief Justice Skolrood had been a Supreme Court judge for nearly a decade when he was elevated to the Court of Appeal in 2022. He is widely respected for his extensive experience and admirable leadership, and we look forward to working with him to promote an accessible, equitable and fair justice system." CBABC President Lee Nevens

Time is running out to secure your seat at the full-day conference, Privacy Law 2025. Explore pressing privacy issues with expert lawyers, academics and government officials. Deadline to register is January 15: cbabc.org/privacy

Lawyers joining non-profit organizations as board directors want to provide value, but their professional status has implications on how they perform their duties. Marian K. Brown in her BarTalk article discusses lawyers’ legal responsibilities and limits: https://bit.ly/3BTpE5z 

The CBABC Annual General Meeting is coming up soon. Register to hear from Chief Justice Skolrood and learn about our accomplishments from the Board of Directors. Register by January 31: https://bit.ly/408jLtn

Health care professionals make decisions based on a patient’s medical history. Whether that history is private or not depends on existing law and policy.    Check out this session on balancing access to information with data protection in health care at the full-day conference Privacy Law 2025. Register today: cbabc.org/privacy

Nominations are open for the 2025 CBABC awards! Recognize a dedicated lawyer making impactful contributions to the legal profession by nominating them today. As Jim Wu, 2023 award recipient, said, “Be proud of who you are...[and] at the same time, be mindful that you are also agents of the law and exercise profound power to shape our society.” Deadline to nominate is February 24: cbabc.org/awards

The New Westminster courthouse and its surrounding areas were evacuated this morning in response to a threat, the nature of which has not yet been reported. CBABC is monitoring this situation. We are grateful for the swift response by law enforcement to protect people in the courthouse, which reopened to the public this afternoon. https://bit.ly/3BX11VG

Start the new year off right and advance your career with CBABC member benefits! Connect with colleagues in all areas of practice by joining Sections, access 300+ free CPD programs and find support through mentorship or Practice Coaches. Discover more about your membership: https://lnkd.in/gZYGRQvf

British Columbians who earn too much to qualify for legal aid but not enough to afford legal fees at full market rates make up the "missing middle." Access Pro Bono Executive Director Jamie Maclaren, KC advocates for them in his BarTalk article: https://bit.ly/3DAO3NG