October 5, 2017
Legal Services Provider Consultation
The Ministry of Justice and the Law Society of Saskatchewan have jointly undertaken a project to explore the possibility of allowing non-lawyers to provide some legal services in Saskatchewan. A Task Team - comprised of lawyers, individuals working in the legal system who are not lawyers and members of the public - has been appointed to examine this issue and develop recommendations for consideration by the Benchers and the Ministry about the appropriate role, if any, of non-lawyers in the provision of legal services. In carrying out its mandate, the Task Team will consider a wide range of possible approaches and will keep the public interest central to its determination. For more information about the Task Team, a press release can be viewed here.
An extensive consultation with legal organizations and other stakeholders within Saskatchewan’s justice system is currently underway. A consultation paper describing the project and the mandate of the Task Team can be found here. Any groups or individuals wishing to make a submission on this topic may contact the Task Team by email at LSTaskTeam@gov.sk.ca.
October 3, 2017
Members are invited to attend the Swearing-in Ceremony for Judge Lloyd Stang, which will take place at 3:00 p.m., Friday, November 10, 2017, at the Regina Provincial Court House.
The Court of Appeal will mark its centenary in 2018. This milestone will be celebrated with events including a banquet in Regina on Friday, March 2. Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin will be in attendance. There will also be a book launch in Saskatoon in the fall of 2018 for The First 100 Years, a history of the Court. Save the date now for March 2. More details will follow.
September 27, 2017
Recent Posts on Legal Sourcery - Please visit the Law Society blog, Legal Sourcery, for daily legal research and writing posts, and news about the Law Society and the legal community such as:
September 15, 2017
Recent Posts on Legal Sourcery - Please visit the Law Society blog, Legal Sourcery, for daily legal research and writing posts, and news about the Law Society and the legal community such as:
September 6, 2017
The Law Society of Saskatchewan Discipline Hearing Committee has issued a notice of hearing in the discipline matter of Daniel Kwochka.
The Court of Appeal invites members to attend the Presentation Ceremony for the Honourable Madam Justice Lian M. Schwann, which will take place at 3:30 p.m., Thursday, September 14, 2017, in Courtroom 7 at the Victoria Avenue Court House. A reception will follow at the Hotel Saskatchewan.
September 1, 2017
The Court of Queen’s Bench has issued a new practice directive concerning applications made to the Court under The Saskatchewan Human Rights Code. The new Practice Directive (CV-PD#5) comes into effect September 1, 2017 and can be found on the Courts of Saskatchewan website.
August 29, 2017
CPD Program Survey
Just a reminder that we are in the midst of conducting a comprehensive review of our CPD program and, as part of that review, we would like to hear from our members. We ask that you provide your feedback by completing a short survey.
The survey results will be considered along with other data and research in an effort to assess our CPD program and explore potential opportunities for improvement. The survey should take approximately 10 minutes to complete and will be open until September 1, 2017. All responses will remain anonymous. If you did not receive the survey link or are experiencing any issues, please contact the Law Society at (306) 569-8242. We appreciate your feedback!
August 24, 2017
Truth and Reconciliation – Call to Action #27
Canada’s Residential School System for Aboriginal children was a government-sponsored education system created to separate Aboriginal children from their families and cultural heritage, thereby assimilating them into Euro-Canadian society. The Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement (IRSSA) recognized the damage inflicted by the residential schools and established the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC). The TRC spent six years travelling to all parts of Canada to hear from survivors, resulting in the release of the Calls to Action Report in June 2015. The Calls to Action Report outlines 94 areas to be addressed as part of the reconciliation process.
Call to Action #27 specifically addresses the legal profession and states:
“We call upon the Federation of Law Societies of Canada to ensure that lawyers receive appropriate cultural competency training, which includes the history and legacy of residential schools, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Treaties and Aboriginal rights, Indigenous law, and Aboriginal – Crown relations. This will require skills-based training in intercultural competency, conflict resolution, human rights, and anti-racism.”
Recognizing the importance of Canada’s Indigenous peoples and the advancement of reconciliation, the Law Society of Saskatchewan has committed to responding to Call to Action #27. As part of our response, the Law Society has dedicated a section of our website to education about the Residential School System and Truth and Reconciliation. We will continue to provide more information and resources on this site as they become available.
August 18, 2017
Pro Bono Law Saskatchewan (PBLS) is accepting applications for an Executive Director/Staff Lawyer. PBLS is a non-profit charitable corporation with a mandate to improve access to justice in Saskatchewan by organizing the legal profession to provide pro bono legal assistance to persons of limited means within the Province. The successful candidate will excel in areas of operational, program, financial planning and management, leadership, and community relations and advocacy. Interested applicants should forward their resume and cover letter in confidence by August 25, 2017.
August 14, 2017
Recent Posts on Legal Sourcery - Please visit the Law Society blog, Legal Sourcery, for daily legal research and writing posts, and news about the Law Society and the legal community such as:
August 8, 2017
Members are invited to attend the Swearing-in Ceremony for Judge Robert Mackenzie, which will take place at 3:00 p.m., Friday, September 22, 2017, at the La Ronge Court House.
July 24, 2017
Members are invited to attend the Swearing-in Ceremony for Judge Michelle Baldwin, which will take place at 3:00 p.m., Friday, September 8, 2017, at the North Battleford Provincial Court.
July 20, 2017
CPD Program - Survey
It has been over 7 years since the Law Society implemented its continuing professional development (CPD) program on January 1, 2010…time flies when you’re having fun! We are now in the midst of conducting a comprehensive review of our CPD program and, as part of that review, we would like to hear from our members. We ask that you provide your feedback by completing the survey that you received in the Law Society’s weekly email. The survey results will be considered along with other data and research in an effort to assess our CPD program and explore potential opportunities for improvement.
The survey should take approximately 10 minutes to complete and will be open until August 25, 2017. All responses will remain anonymous. If you did not receive the survey link or are experiencing any issues, please contact the Law Society. We appreciate your feedback!
July 10, 2017
Please visit the Law Society blog, Legal Sourcery, for daily legal research and writing posts, and news about the Law Society and the legal community such as:
July 7, 2017
The Law Society of Saskatchewan is seeking a Complaints Counsel to commence August 2017.
July 5, 2017
Effective July 31, 2017, ISC Land Registry fees will increase for all Interest Registration Services, with the exception of Tax Liens, Postponements, and Public Utility Easements.
