UPCOMING EVENTS

Aboriginal Justice in Our Times
As part of our 20th Anniversary celebration, the Law Courts Education Society is hosting Justice in Our Times - a lecture series focused on highlighting important, current justice issues.

We invite you to the opening event of our lecture series: Aboriginal Justice in Our Times. A panel of notable speakers will use moderated discussion and audience questions to exchange thought-provoking ideas and opinions on legal issues facing the Aboriginal community.

Event Speakers:

• Grand Chief Edward John, lawyer and member, First Nations Summit Task Group
• The Honourable Judge Marion Buller Bennett, presiding judge, First Nations Court
• Hugh Braker, Q.C., President, Native Courtworker & Counselling Association of BC
• Representative from the Indian Residential School Survivors Society

If you are unable to attend, you can watch the event as it is broadcast live on the Internet at www.JusticeInOurTimes.ca.

Visit www.JusticeInOurTimes.ca for more information.

Reducing Conflict After Separation
Reducing Conflict After Separation is a three-hour information session for separating parents. The session’s purpose is to help parents make informed choices about their separation which take into account the best interests of their children. Participants learn how to:

• Recognize conflict triggers
• Control their reactions to reduce conflict
• Assist children with their responses to conflict
• Use dispute resolution techniques
• Find the support they need in the case of family violence

Sessions are scheduled for March 23, April 27, May 25 and June 29 in Vancouver (6-9pm). Contact Renee Mino (604-775-0856) for more information or to register.

Law Week
Law Week 2009 takes place from April 16-26 with exciting events planned across the province.

The theme of Law Week 2009 is Access to Justice: Public Confidence in the Justice System. From Fort St. John’s to Maple Ridge, communities across the province are hosting “Law Days” and providing British Columbians with the opportunity to learn about the law, the legal profession and some of the legal institutions that form the cornerstones of our Canadian democracy.

This year’s events include Dial-A-Lawyer, mock trials, essay and public speaking contests for students, free law classes, citizenship ceremonies, courthouse tours, as well as a fun run and free public forum in Vancouver.

Click here for more information and to see Law Week events in your area.

It’s Time
After being nominated as the Best Short Documentary at the 2009 Pan African Film & Arts Festival, It’s Time, African Women Join Hands Against Domestic Violence has been submitted for consideration to the New York African Film Festival. It will also be submitted to South Africa’s Tri-Continental Film Festival, which will mark the African debut of It’s Time.

PAST EVENTS

Criminal Intelligence Analysis Course
A two-week course in Criminal Intelligence Analysis was held in Guatemala City from January 26 to February 6, 2009, with funding provided by the Canadian government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DEFAIT).  The course was organized by the Law Courts Education Society with the support of the Criminal Justice Branch of the Ministry of Attorney General of BC and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

The course, part of a three-year training program on justice sector reform in Guatemala, was attended by total of 21 prosecutors, investigators and analysts from Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras.  The Guatemalan institutions represented were the Public Prosecutor’s Office (Ministerio Público), the General Directorate of Civil Intelligence (Dirección General de Inteligencia Civil) and the National Civil Police (Policía Nacional Civil).  Public Prosecutor’s Offices (Fiscalía General de la República and Ministerio Público) from El Salvador and Honduras, respectively, were also represented.

PROJECT NEWS

Judicial and Lawyers Independence
This program will replace the current Explore Judicial Independence program. A DVD has been completed and the Teachers’ Guide is being reviewed. Field testing is now underway. Contact Patricia Byrne (604-660-7214) if you would like to volunteer.

Finances After Separation
Currently under development, this DVD will feature three animated vignettes designed to demonstrate effective spousal communications and elicit discussion on financial matters. Actors have been chosen and preliminary storyboards have been approved. The project has a March 31 finish date.

In addition, Finances After Separation sessions have been scheduled in Vancouver (March 30; 6:30-9:30pm) and Port Coquitlam (February 25 and March 25; 6:00-9:00pm).

Contact Renee Mino (604-775-0856) for more information or to register.

Legal Journeys
Legal Journeys is a curriculum that has been developed to provide teachers with the background information necessary to teach the basics of our legal system and expose students to the concepts and principles that underlie it. The publication will be available for sale in March.

What Every Renter Needs to Know!
As its name implies, this video will show first-time renters what they need to know in numerous common renting situations. Filming will begin in late February with an estimated distribution date of late March.