In this issue:
• President-Elect, Executive Elected for 2010
• Is the Law Society of Alberta Acting "In the Public Interest"
• PBLA Survey to Determine Feasibility of Roster Program
• Court of Queen's Bench Notice About Communications Channels
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President-Elect, Executive Elected for 2010
The Benchers of the Law Society of Alberta elected Douglas R. Mah, QC, as the President-Elect for 2010 at their meeting in Edmonton, December 3-4, 2009.
As well, the Benchers elected a slate of members for the 2010 Executive Committee. The Committee will include: Ron Everard, QC; Carsten Jensen, QC; Steve Raby, QC; and Dale Spackman, QC. The non-lawyer public representative on the Executive will continue to be Larry Ohlhauser, MD. The new Executive takes office in February 2010 when current President, Peter Michalshyn, QC steps down and current President-Elect Rod Jerke, QC assumes the role of President.
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Is the Law Society of Alberta Acting "In the Public Interest"
The Law Society of Alberta declares at every turn that it acts "In the Public Interest". What do we mean when we say that? And what is the Law Society doing to give effect to that bold commitment?
The Law Society of Alberta's plenary session at the Alberta Law Conference on Thursday, January 28, 2010 at the Westin Hotel in Calgary will explore the principled basis for acting "In the Public Interest". We will discuss how we advance this vision through core regulatory functions, and through principled governance of the LSA's policy work. Specific Law Society initiatives - the Safety of Trust Property and Alternate Delivery of Legal Services -- will be analyzed from this 'Public Interest' perspective.
Law Society of Alberta President Peter Michalshyn, QC and President-Elect Rod Jerke, QC will be joined by panellists Gordon Turriff, QC, outgoing President of the Law Society of B.C.; former Law Society of Alberta non-lawyer public representative to the Benchers, Yvonne Stanford; and Professor Alice Woolley, Faculty of Law, University of Calgary.
To register, please visit www.cba-alberta.org
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PBLA Survey to Determine Feasibility of Roster Program
Pro Bono Law Alberta and Alberta Justice is investigating the feasibility of a roster program to help address the increase in self-represented litigants, and increase access to justice, generally.
An important part of this study is your feedback. Your responses will be strictly anonymous; however, they will be included in the feasibility study.
The survey will take approximately five minutes to complete and will close on December 18, 2009. Please go to: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/T73DLF5
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Court of Queen's Bench Notice About Communications Channels
With the retirement of Chief Justice Wachowich as Chief Justice and appointments of Chief Justice Wittmann and Associate Chief Justice Rooke respectively, non-emergency communications pertaining to Edmonton should be directed to Associate Chief Justice Rooke. Communications pertaining to Calgary should be directed to Chief Justice Wittmann.
Communications in other judicial centres should be directed to the Supervising Justice of that Judicial Centre, or, if the Supervising Justice is unavailable, to Chief Justice Wittmann.
For emergency communications, an attempt should be made to contact Chief Justice Wittmann regarding matters pertaining to Calgary or any judicial centre other than Edmonton, and with respect to Edmonton, to Associate Chief Justice Rooke.
In the event either one is unavailable, the other should be contacted, and in the event neither the Chief Justice nor the Associate Chief Justice is available, the senior judge present and available in Edmonton or Calgary should be contacted.
Please contact the Chief Justice or Associate Chief Justice if any questions arise.
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Surprise Swearing-out Ceremony for Justice R.C. Cairns
Chief Justice N.C. Wittmann and Associate Chief Justice J.D. Rooke invite you to attend a SURPRISE "swearing-out" ceremony for Justice R.C. Cairns on his last sitting day prior to retirement.
This will take place Friday, December 11 at 9:00 a.m. in Courtroom 1801, Calgary Courts Centre. Gowning not required.
If you are attending, please arrive by 8:45 a.m. as Chief Justice Wittmann and Justice Cairns will enter the courtroom just prior to 9:00 a.m.
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Thanks for Participating in CPD Survey
Thank you to all those who responded to the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) survey held earlier this fall. The comments and feedback received are being considered in planning the 2010 CPD Program.
Please note that the last day for your declaration is March 15, 2010.
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