Proud to be a lawyer, says CBA President Johnstone NEWSLETTER OF THE CANADIAN BAR ASSOCIATION, B.C. BRANCH
"I'm proud to be a lawyer. I'm not apologizing for being a lawyer and I will speak out about the profession," said Cecilia Johnstone, Q.C., President of the National CBA, to members at the Sept. 10, 1993 B.C. Branch Annual Meeting. Johnstone also reported that the recently released report, "Touchstones for Change: Equality, Diversity and Accountability," has been controversial but there appears to be a will to move forward with the Bar as a leader on this issue for all professions.
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She briefly noted that during her term as president, she will focus on programs to demystify the law, alternatives to disputes in court, health law issues (both ethical and moral questions), and open communication with the Branches. She further reported that the National CBA deficit will be eliminated in this fiscal year. C
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Cecilia Johnstone, Q.C., (lejt), National CBA President in 1993/94 is joined by Jack Dunphy, Alberta Branch President at the 1992/93 Annual Meeting of the B.C. Branch on Sept. 10
Important Notice;
Workers Compensation Act Amendments increase law firm operational costs
VOLUME 5 NUMBER 7
United Way ..................... 2 "Dear Thelma" ............... 3 PLE survey results ........ 4 SectionTalk .................... 5 Legislative Update ......... 7 Vehicle Records .......... 10 AGM resolutions .......... 11 Provincial Council ....... 11 New tapes available .... 13 Financial pianning ....... 14
Bill 63, the Workers Compensation Amendment Act, 1993, will make Part 1 of the Workers Compensation Act more inclusive and will make it compulsory for all law firms to be covered under the Act. Previously most office workers were not included under the Act unless their employer was required to register under an existing rate group. All law firms must register and pay assessments as of the effective date, Jan. 1, 1994. Law firms may be included in the general retail store rate group or there may be a new rate category set up for this group. The current assessment for the retail stores category is $1.09/$100 of assessable payroll up to a maximum of $51,300 per person per annum, which will increase to $1.36/$100 in
January. Compulsory coverage will apply to associates who are employees, paralegals and staff. Under s.47 of the Act, the penalty for failing to file a return or assessment may be the capitalized value of an injury, which in a long-term disability case may be a substantial amount, enough to bankrupt a small firm. These changes may also affect premiums for private long and short term disability insurance that should be reduced as aresult of WCB coverage. However, if partners in law .firms do not want coverage under the WCB plan, which will be optional, they will have to rely on full coverage in their private plans. By withdrawing many
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