Strategic Plan modified
The Benchers started off the year by making modifications to the current Strategic Plan, including a new focus on the retention of Aboriginal lawyers in the legal profession. A business case for enhancing diversity in firms, with a particular focus on Aboriginal lawyers, will be developed during the coming year.
     The chair of the Equity and Diversity Advisory Committee, Robert Brun, QC, said his committee is looking forward to the work. "There is a definite air of excitement around these initiatives involving Aboriginal students and lawyers." [more] February 4, 2010

Maternity leave benefit loan program – The Law Society has implemented a maternity leave benefit loan program, designed to assist self-employed women lawyers to remain in practice. The program aims to help women address some of the overhead costs associated with maintaining a sole practice during a maternity leave. [more]
February 4, 2010

CPD and mentoring – The Law Society has now posted a Frequently Asked Questions page about the new CPD-accredited mentorship program, which came into effect January 1: see Licensing & Membership/CPD/Mentoring. [more] February 4, 2010

Law Society public hours during Olympics (February 5-26) – The Law Society will be open for business during the Olympic period, with modified public hours: beginning February 5, when the road closures begin, and ending February 26, when the road closures are lifted, our public hours will be 9 am to 3 pm. On February 12 the office will be closed at noon. Staff will continue to work their regular number of hours, but schedules may be modified. [more] January 6; updated February 9, 2010

Bencher Meg Shaw appointed a Master – Bencher Meg Shaw, QC has been appointed a master of the BC Supreme Court. Attorney General Michael de Jong, QC made the announcement during a visit to the December 11 Benchers meeting. Master Shaw will sit in Kamloops, and the appointment is effective immediately. [more] December 18, 2009

Legal Independence: It’s Your Right program launches – The Law Society and the Justice Education Society released the new “docu-fiction” video, Legal Independence: It’s Your Right, to high schools in BC. More than 450 high school law, social studies and civics teachers have received this DVD and the accompanying teacher’s guide to educate students about lawyer and judicial independence. The video features three high school students challenging a fictitious law, the “Youth Gathering Act,” which makes it illegal for a group of three or more youth to gather in public after 6 pm. [more] December 18, 2009

Significant interest in business case for retaining women lawyers in private practice – The Law Society’s Business Case for Retaining and Advancing Women Lawyers in Private Practice (PDF), prepared by the Retention of Women in Law Task Force, has garnered significant interest from both the public and the profession. Since its release in July 2009, staff and task force members have been speaking to both mainstream and legal media outlets about the importance of retaining women in the profession. [more] August 14; updated October 27 and December 18, 2009