| Air Date: |
This is the archived version of a program presented on October 26, 2023. |
| Speakers: |
The Honourable Chief Judge Melissa Gillespie, Provincial Court of British Columbia
Jamie Maclaren, KC, Co-founder of Access Pro Bono Society of BC and the Everyone Legal Clinic
Sonali Sharma, Athena Law
|
| Moderator: |
Connor Bildfell, McCarthy Tetrault
Chair of the CBABC's Access to Justice Committee |
| Format: |
Webinar Recording |
| CPD Hours: |
1.50 Hour of Approved Continuing Professional Development in BC.
Viewing of this recording will provide you with 11.50 hour of the ethics, professional responsibility and practice management component for your Law Society of BC reporting.
|
SYNOPSIS
In collaboration with Access to Justice BC.
This panel discussion will examine recent efforts in British Columbia to improve access to justice and meet everyday legal needs (Justice Development Goal #2). Among other things, this panel will discuss efforts to address legal services gaps, foster innovation, and expand the scope of legal aid in British Columbia.
This 90-minute discussion (including a 30-minute Q&A) will be moderated Connor Bildfell (Chair of the CBABC’s Access to Justice Committee) and feature a distinguished panel
ABOUT OUR GUEST SPEAKERS
About The Hon. Chief Judge Melissa Gillespie
Chief Judge Gillespie was born and grew up in Calgary, Alberta. She received her law degree from the University of Toronto and was called to the BC Bar (licensed to practise law in BC) in 1991. Soon after that, she began her legal career as Crown Counsel working in New Westminster, Surrey and Burnaby. From 2000 until 2003, she served as Administrative Crown Counsel in Surrey. She then became Deputy Regional Crown Counsel, and in 2005 Regional Crown Counsel for the Fraser Region. Appointed a Queen’s Counsel in 2009, Chief Judge Gillespie was sworn in as a Provincial Court judge in February 2012.
Following her appointment she presided in the Fraser Region. In addition to sitting assignments, Chief Judge Gillespie was active in delivering education programs to judges and judicial justices, as well as to the larger legal community. She also served as a member of the executive of the BC Provincial Court Judges Association for several years.
Chief Judge Gillespie was appointed an Associate Chief Judge for a two year term in April 2016 and re-appointed for a three year term in April 2018. A member of the Board of Directors of the Justice Education Society, she has participated in a Justice Education Society project to strengthen the criminal justice system in Guyana.
She was appointed Acting Chief Judge on May 7, 2018 and appointed Chief Judge on October 19, 2018 for a seven year term.
About Jamie Maclaren, KC (he/him)
Jamie is APB’s Founding Executive Director. He's a practising civil litigator and a former Executive Director of the UBC Law Students’ Legal Advice Program and Pro Bono Law of BC. He volunteers as a law instructor for people overcoming homelessness and addiction, and regularly provides pro bono legal services in his East Vancouver community. He's also a Life Bencher of the Law Society of BC. In 2019, Jamie conducted an external review of legal aid service delivery in BC for the province's Attorney General.
About Sonali Sharma
Sonali completed her articles in Northern B.C., with a full-service firm and the Ministry of Justice. She has a unique mix of professional work experience ranging from positions at RBC Global Asset Management, Vancouver Coastal Health’s EFAP (Employee and Family Assistance Program) to working as a Family Lawyer with a mid-sized firm in Richmond, B.C. She started Athena Law because she saw a need for affordable “unbundled” legal services, particularly for “Every Day Legal Problems” like Family (out-of-court) and Wills and Estates practice.
Outside of her private practice, Sonali is a supervising lawyer with Access Pro-Bono’s Everyone Legal Clinic. The Co-Chair for Collaborative Divorce Vancouver, and a regular presenter with Continuing Legal Education Society and Legal Aid BC.
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