Welcome to New Benchers
The Law Society of Alberta welcomed two new Benchers to replace those who have recently received court appointments.
Past Bencher Michelle Crighton was appointed to the Court of Queen's Bench in Edmonton, and Bencher Vaughn Myers was appointed to the Provincial Court - Criminal division.
New Benchers are Donna Valgardson, QC of the Public Prosecution Service of Canada in Edmonton and Roy Nickerson of Nickerson Roberts Holinski & Mercer of Edmonton.
Past Bencher Michelle Crighton was appointed to the Court of Queen's Bench in Edmonton, and Bencher Vaughn Myers was appointed to the Provincial Court - Criminal division.
New Benchers are Donna Valgardson, QC of the Public Prosecution Service of Canada in Edmonton and Roy Nickerson of Nickerson Roberts Holinski & Mercer of Edmonton.
Insurance Levy decreased for 2007/2008
At the June 2007 meeting, the Benchers approved the Alberta Liability Insurance Association insurance levy for the 2007/2008 policy year to be set at $1,900 plus GST.
Annual Report Now available
The 2006 Annual Report of the Law Society of Alberta is now available on its website. Please visit www.lawsocietyalberta.com to view or download a copy.
To request a hard copy to be mailed to you, please call (403) 229-4700 or fax (403) 228-1728.
To request a hard copy to be mailed to you, please call (403) 229-4700 or fax (403) 228-1728.
Pilot Project to Test Cheque Imaging Services
By Sheila Serup, Manager, Communications, Law Society of Alberta
| The Law Society of Alberta is embarking on a pilot project to test cheque imaging services. Companies involved include Chinook Credit Union, Credit Union Central's clearing system (CUPS) and two law firms. The Canadian Payments Association set the new deadline for new cheque specifications to September 2, 2008. In August 2008, the Association will begin to implement electronic cheque imaging. This means that by the end of 2009, lawyers won't have traditional access to cancelled cheques. Brian Olesky, Law Society of Alberta forensic investigator, notes that Chinook CU initiated this project with the Law Society in order to better understand the impact of these changes on lawyers' trust account cheques. At the end of the project, it is hoped that there will be an image statement service that accommodates lawyers' requirements. As well this service will be of benefit as Law Society fraud and theft investigations sometimes rely on information from cancelled cheques. Testing of this process started in August, will be complete in September and evaluated in October. "During the pilot |
 |
project, Credit Union Central's clearing system will return original cancelled cheques to the law firms during the project so there will be no violation of our current rules," says Mr. Olesky. The Law Societies of Manitoba and Saskatchewan are observers in the project, he notes. Basic service is being provided by CUPS in which cheques will be stored for seven years, and, in an enhanced service, law firms will be able to view cheques on line for up to 18 months depending on which credit union is being used. "With enhanced services, CUPS will store the cheques for 10 years and will give law firms direct access to view the cheques for the full 10 years," says Olesky. Most CU customers currently get their cheques returned in the form of digital images. Lawyers' trust cheques constitute the largest percentage of physical cheques being returned by the credit union. The pilot project will define the future process for transitioning physical cheques into electronic images. The process established from the pilot will be the standard CUPS will communicate to all credit unions in Alberta and Saskatchewan. |
Rule Changes Reduce Number of CPLED Supplemental Attempts
Rules have changed to clarify the number of supplemental attempts students are permitted on assignments in the CPLED program (Canadian Centre for Professional Legal Education).
The amendment to Rule 63, approved by the Law Society of Alberta Benchers, is effective for all students entering CPLED sessions after July 1, 2007.
Essentially, there are two additional limitations. They are:
The amendment to Rule 63, approved by the Law Society of Alberta Benchers, is effective for all students entering CPLED sessions after July 1, 2007.
Essentially, there are two additional limitations. They are:
(a) the maximum number of supplemental attempts on assignments is one supplemental per assignment, and
(b) the maximum number of supplemental attempts on competency evaluations is one supplemental per competency evaluation.
(b) the maximum number of supplemental attempts on competency evaluations is one supplemental per competency evaluation.
| ||
| Previous Page | Vol 5 Issue 3 - September 2007 | Next Page |