Television shows such as Law and Order portray lawyers who prosecute crime as the heroes - fighting for justice and being the victim's voice in the court. In real life, these lawyers do play a critical role in the criminal justice system. However, shows that portray prosecutors as the defenders of … [Read more...]
Getting a Fair Say: Adjudicative bodies and the duty of fairness
“Administrative bodies” play a critical role in many areas of the law – from human rights to municipal planning to labour and employment. Maybe you have heard of the Human Rights Commission, the Subdivision and Development Appeal Board, the Labour Relations Board, the Immigration and Refugee Board … [Read more...]
A2J and Public Legal Education in 2020 in Alberta
What is justice? It is widely stated that we have an access to justice (A2J) crisis in Canada. You will get a variety of answers, though, if you ask people what they think this means and what we can do about it. As Lois Gander points out in her article in this issue of LawNow, one reason is that … [Read more...]
Public Legal Education: Unexamined theory constrains practice
Nothing is so practical as good theory. ~ Kurt LewinWhen Public Legal Education (PLE) began to take shape in Canada, it was an innovative, disruptive form of legal service. We were definitely thinking ‘outside the box’. So far out, in fact, that the mere thought of educating the public about … [Read more...]
BearPaw Media and Education: Indigenous public legal education in Alberta
What is BearPaw Media and Education? As a department of Native Counselling Services of Alberta (NCSA), we produce and distribute free, multimedia Indigenous public legal education and information (PLEI). Our resources are for Indigenous people, by Indigenous people in Alberta and include … [Read more...]
The Inuit Status Case
It appears to me to be a consideration of great weight in determining the meaning of the word “Indians” in the British North America Act that the Eskimo were recognized as an Indian tribe by the officials of the Hudson’s Bay Company which, in 1867, exercised powers of government and administration … [Read more...]
Human Rights and Civil Liberties Implications of COVID-19 Mask Laws
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect the entire world, many governments have passed legislation requiring that face masks be worn in many public locations. This has resulted in claims that the mask requirements violate civil liberties. At the same time, there have been some incidents of … [Read more...]
Access to Justice in Family Law: A guide to offering limited scope retainers
In Canada, access to the justice system is largely reserved for wealthier individuals and corporations. The poor have limited access through legal aid and poverty law clinics. However, the majority of Canadian citizens fall between those two extremes, unable to pay a lawyer to represent them but … [Read more...]
Money, Money, Money!
Maybe you have a part-time job. Maybe your parents pay you an allowance. Maybe you make money shoveling snow or cutting grass. In any case, you’ve got money! Opening a Bank Account First step, where do you put this money? Have you outgrown your piggy bank? Maybe a bank account would be more … [Read more...]
HAVE YOU HEARD? | Personal Debt Resources
Access to Justice Week Did you know?! October 26th to October 30th, 2020 is National Access to Justice Week! Look for amazing initiatives underway across our country, including here in Alberta. We want to hear from you! What do you love about LawNow? What do you wish was different? Please take a few … [Read more...]
