sectiontalk In Case You Missed It — NOTABLE MEETINGS As we wrap up a hugely successful 2022-23 membership year, we’re proud to report that Sections collectively hosted more than 13,000 participants at 265 meetings this year. Session recordings are available to all CBABC members on our Sections web pages. Here are a few highlights from our latest meetings.
A NEW FORM OF ACCESS TO JUSTICE? The Constitutional/Civil Liberties Section brought together Sarah Bevan and Robin Gage, counsel for some of the parties in Trial Lawyers Association of British Columbia v. British Columbia (Attorney General) 2022 BCCA 163, and access to justice expert Robert Lapper, QC to discuss the issues arising from the case. The case concerns the Civil Resolution Tribunal’s jurisdiction to decide liability and damages for minor injuries resulting from motor vehicle accidents. TLABC and several plaintiffs in motor vehicle claims successfully challenged the CRT’s jurisdiction.
LISTENING TO THE VOICES OF SELF-REPRESENTED LITIGANTS Leona Harvie, Grimm Culhane, and Meg Holden, three self-represented litigants (“SRLs”) in
family cases, shared with the Unbundled Legal Services Section their stories about representing themselves, how lawyers can best interact with SRLs and how unbundled legal services can be used most effectively.
BANNING CONVERSION PRACTICES IN BC Hosted by SOGIC and Health Law Sections, Florence Ashley, Michael Kwag, and Jordan Sullivan discussed conversion practices and their harms. The panelists reviewed the recent amendments to the federal Criminal Code banning conversion practices, other legislative bans in Canada and internationally, and provisions for survivor supports. The panelists concluded by considering what further policy steps could be taken in BC and elsewhere to supplement to further reduce odious conversion practices.
ELDER LAW FOR INDIGENOUS INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITIES Michelle Isaak addressed some elder law issues that Indigenous peoples and communities experience, specifically in the areas of estate planning, incapacity planning, estate administration, and committeeship. As legislative schemes impact many aspects of life for Indigenous peoples, lawyers should be mindful of how these can influence how they approach Indigenous clients on estate and incapacity planning.
WHAT’S NEXT IN SECTIONS Members are telling us clearly: You want the convenience of virtual sessions with the option for in-person meetings. We are pleased to confirm that most Section meetings will continue to be delivered virtually to keep your practice and interest communities connected. Sections will also offer Hubs, where members can gather in-person to engage in a virtual meeting together. Any member wishing to host a Hub at their office can indicate that when registering for a meeting. CBABC will promote your Hub location on the meeting registration page! Stay in the loop: CBABC is committed to giving members at least three weeks’ notice of upcoming meetings so you can plan your attendance. Bookmark cbabc.org/events and update your Sections enrollment, so you don’t miss a thing!
16 BARTALK / AUGUST 2022
