Indigenous Peoples and the Law (Series of 6 webinars)
This is a series of six free webinars put on by Courthouse Libraries BC in partnership with the Canadian Institute for the Administration of Justice (CIAJ). The webinars, which will be broadcast between October 2020 and March 2021, have been designed to initiate discussion and pave the way to CIAJ’s national conference on the same topic to take place in Vancouver in November 2021.
The next webinar in the series will look at "Discussing the Promises and Problems with the Act respecting First Nations, Métis and Inuit Children, Youth and Families" and will take place on January 20, 2021. This webinar which will be in English with simultaneous interpretation.
A detailed outline of all 6 webinars can be found here:
Indigenous Peoples and the Law
All of the webinars will be broadcast from 12:30pm – 2:00pm (PDT) and are scheduled for the following dates:
- October 14, 2020: Overview of the Progress of the Calls to Action (In English, with simultaneous interpretation)
- October 21, 2020: The Next Stages of Indigenous Governance in Quebec (In French, with simultaneous interpretation)
- November 4, 2020: Looking at British Columbia’s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (In English, with simultaneous interpretation)
- January 20, 2021: Discussing the Promises and Problems with the Act respecting First Nations, Métis and Inuit Children, Youth and Families (In English, with simultaneous interpretation)
- February 17, 2021: Investigating the Indigenous Languages Act (In English, with simultaneous interpretation)
- March 10, 2021: Court Changes after the COVID-19 Pandemic and Indigenous Cultural Relevancy (In English, with simultaneous interpretation)
Register
Registration is required and will take place through the CIAJ. The registration form can be found here: https://ciaj-icaj.ca/en/upcoming-programs/webinar-series-indigenous-peoples-and-the-law/
During the registration process, you will have the option of selecting which of the six webinars you would like to register for. Registration for an individual webinar will close at 9am (PDT) on the day prior to the broadcast.
Criminal Jury Trials in a Pandemic: International Perspectives
This 1.5-hour panel discussion, organized by the International Society for the Reform of Criminal Law (ISRCL) and Courthouse Libraries BC, will take a look at how courts have managed jury trials during the pandemic in Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom.
Lord Hugh Matthews, a Senator of the College of Justice and a judge of Scotland's Supreme Courts will share a perspective from the UK on managing jury trials during the pandemic. Defence counsel, Mona Duckett, Q.C., a senior partner with Dawson, Duckett, Garcia & Johnson will speak to her experience with jury trials in Canada during the pandemic. Andrew Warren, State Attorney of Florida's 13th Judicial Circuit will share a perspective from the US. Our moderator will be Justice Tammen of the BC Supreme Court.
We invite attendees to submit their questions in advance for this session so that the panelists can focus their presentations on the information attendees are looking for. Upon registering, you will receive a link in your confirmation email to participate in a Thoughtexchange where you can input questions in advance.
Attendees may claim up to 1.5 hours of CPD with the Law Society of BC.
Material
- Briefing Paper - Judicial Institute for Scotland
- Duckett Presentation material
- Warren Presentation material
Date
Saturday January 16, 2021
Time
10:00 - 11:30am (PST)
Register
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/8416068583982/WN_23B40NKUS9mPKikGLP7cvw
A Brief History of Pardons: Should Louis Riel be Pardoned?
The issue of whether or not to pardon Louis Riel has risen a number of times in Canada. In this 1-hour webinar, Jean Teillet, senior counsel with Pape, Salter, Teillet, LLP will provide an overview of the law of pardons and their use as a political tool.
The author of The North-West is Our Mother: The Story of Louis Riel’s People, the Métis Nation and Métis Law in Canada, Ms. Teillet will explore the issue of what a pardon for Louis Riel would mean for the relationship between the Canadian government and the Métis Nation. She will also examine the relief pardons can provide from ongoing legal jeopardy for those who have paid their penalty against their use to pre-emptively exonerate individuals.
Attendees may claim up to 1 hour of CPD credit with the Law Society of BC.
Material
- Article from the Saskatchewan Law Review:
- Article from The Globe and Mail:
Date
January 18, 2021
Time
12:30 - 1:30pm (PST)
Register
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/5816068585231/WN_T5MrW2TbR3uibx1jzs9YyQ
Free Legal Services in BC: An overview of CLAS and APB programs
Front line service providers, advocates and lawyers are invited to attend this 1.5-hour webinar on the free legal services offered by Access Pro Bono (APB) and the Community Legal Assistance Society (CLAS).
Learn about the free legal clinics each of these organizations operate and the extent of legal advice or representation assistance a client can expect. This webinar is designed to raise awareness of the services APB and CLAS offer, and eligibility criteria for clients so that you can make more effective referrals for clients seeking free legal assistance and better manage client expectations. Following an overview of the programs, information on how lawyers can get involved in offering services through these programs will also be provided.
Attendees may claim up to 1.5 hours of CPD credit including 1 hour of Practice Management credit.
Date
Thursday February 4, 2021
Time
12:30 - 2pm (PST)
Register
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/2816068591677/WN_BVDnthuBSASuVtq67yUbNg
More CPD opportunities
Archived webinars
Archived webinars are organized by topic. If you plan to review a previously recorded course for CPD credit, it is your responsibility to ensure that your review of the course meets the Law Society of BC's criteria for Approved Education Activities.
Legal research course
This course, which is eligible for CPD credit, is a series of videos that demonstrate how to plan a research strategy and employ specific research skills. In the videos we show you how to use popular legal research tools that are free (CanLII) or that you can use for free at the BC Courthouse Libraries.
Take the course (including self-assessment quiz questions) on the Law Society Online Learning Centre.