June 30, 2020
June 2020 Board Recap Video
President, Kent Teskey, QC, and President-Elect Darlene Scott, QC, discuss what happened at the June Board meeting.

Topics include:

  • Virtual hearing rule changes and pilot through June 2021;
  • Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee update; and,
  • Lawyer Competence Committee update.
New Practically Speaking Podcast Episode – Remote Mentorship
Mentorship is a valuable tool for both mentees looking to improve professional skills and mentors seeking an opportunity to take on a new role and share their insights with a new lawyer.

However, navigating a meaningful mentor-mentee relationship in a landscape of physical distancing and isolation is a challenge many lawyers – new and experienced – have never encountered before.

In the latest episode of the Practically Speaking podcast, Practice Management team members Len Polsky and Kris Bowlen discuss the mentorship opportunities available through the Law Society’s mentorship programs. They break down why it’s more important than ever for mentors and mentees to help each other deal with the challenges and isolation caused by COVID-19 and walk you through how to participate in meaningful mentorship in a remote setting.

If you have suggestions or input for future episodes, contact Feedback or @LawSocietyofAB .
Practice Management 101: Life Cycle of a File
The Practice Management team recently offered this recorded webinar on the basics of effective practice strategies from the beginning of a file through to the end.

Watch their discussion on these strategies that will increase your efficiency and decrease your risk.

Reference material can be found here.
Indigenous Land Acknowledgements
We have recently published Indigenous land acknowledgments to our website that recognize the traditional territories that the Law Society of Alberta serves. Law Society conferences and events should be opened with a land acknowledgment. Lawyers may also wish to use the following land acknowledgments for their own events, to demonstrate that they are actively thinking about what happened in the past and creating a space for Indigenous reconciliation to happen in the present and for the future.

Staged Resumption of Court Operations
The Provincial Court of Alberta is very mindful of the need to expand in-person access to the Court, while at the same time protecting the health and safety of courts users and the public. Therefore, effective July 6, the Court will be increasing the number of criminal, family and youth, and civil matters that can be heard in-person.
Extension on the Cap on Email and Fax Filing Fees and suspension of Rule 13.41(4) to September 30, 2020
Court of Queen's Bench Administration has extended the cap on email and fax filing fees until September 30, 2020. In addition to regular filing fees, documents that are filed via email or fax will be charged at the rate of $1 per page, capped to a maximum of $20.

The Court of Queen’s Bench has extended the suspension of Rule 13.41(4) under Master Order #4 to September 30, 2020.