Clicklaw Monthly Roundup: December 2020

We share with you a monthly roundup of changes to Clicklaw’s collection. Here is a summary of updates done in December 2020.

Solve Problems

COVID-19 Resources

We are integrating the Covid-19 Resources for British Columbians wikibook with Clicklaw. It means when you use Clicklaw to search and find information related to your legal issues, you can see COVID-19 info when applicable. For example, the common question on rent increase now directs you to the government website about COVID-19 and tenancies. You can also search for covid-19 rent and see listings containing these keywords in the results, from common questions on tenancy to several online resources from trusted organizations.

As a summary, here’s the link to all common questions and online resources related to COVID-19. Let us know what you think and send us feedback via email to editor@clicklaw.bc.ca.

BC’s Ministry of Attorney General

  • Early Resolution and Case Management Process (Family Justice) (new)
    On December 7, 2020, the provincial court registries in Surrey and Victoria adopted the early resolution and case management aspects of the new Provincial Court Family Rules. This resource tells you about the process and the steps involved. Also includes a poster and a brochure downloadable in PDF.
  • Early Resolution and Case Management Model Explained (new)
    This document describes the Early Resolution and Case Management Model rules and process that have applied to matters under the Family Law Act (FLA) in the Victoria and Surrey Provincial Court registries. It provides information on the new processes, for both lawyers & the public.
  • Early Resolution Registries Infographic (new)
    This infographic explains the “Early Resolution and Case Management Model” in Victoria and Surrey locations of BC Provincial Court.

Human rights in BC (new)
by BC’s Office of the Human Rights Commissioner
An introduction to the three pillars that support human rights in the province. It also offers a brief explanation of personal characteristics based on the Human Rights Code, such as age, religion, gender identity, source of income, and many more.

BC Provincial Court

  • Learning your way around a courtroom (newly added to Clicklaw)
    This article explains the words used for things you’ll find in a BC Provincial Court trial courtroom, show you who sits where, and explain some of the customs you’ll see in court.
  • Getting the most from your small claims settlement conference (new)
    This guide helps you prepare for your small claims settlement conference. It covers audio & video settlement conferences, a checklist for getting ready, and a list of helpful resources.

National Self-Represented Litigants Project

  • How to order a court transcript across Canada (updated)
    This guide outlines the steps that are required to order court transcripts in each province/territory. It is a compilation of information obtained from court websites, telephone & email conversations with court services/transcript services at different courthouses, and from legal professionals.
  • Critical Judicial Decisions for Self-Represented Litigants (new)
    This primer contains a concise summary of Pintea v Johns. It also demonstrates a number of ways that Pintea may be successfully applied in a legal argument – and highlights specific limitations as well. It also includes summaries of two other very important decisions for SRLs that you can use.

Reform & Research

COVID-19 BC Gender Equality Report Card (new)
by West Coast LEAF
The Report Card assesses BC’s pandemic response in terms of impacts for gender justice. It explores access to justice, economic security, freedom from gender-based violence, health care, justice for people who are criminalized, and rights of parents, children & youth.

Stay informed:

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January 2021 Events

Bookmark this post! It will be updated as more events are announced. You can also get frequent updates via our Twitter. Have a suggestion? Email us.

Educating & Helping the Public

Free or low cost events for the general public to understand and use the law. Follow the links to see cost & registration info. All times in Pacific Time unless stated otherwise. See disclaimer.
Jan 1-10 | Jan 11-17 | Jan 18-24 | Jan 25-31
Looking for events for intermediaries? Jump to the next section.

January 1-10, 2021

  • Elder Abuse – What Is It? How Do We Deal With It? (Webinar)
    by Seniors First BC
    • What: This 60-minute workshop addresses the correlation between social isolation and abuse of older adults, types of abuse and people involved, and strategies to deal with abuse.
    • When: Tuesday, January 5, 2021 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM
    • Cost: Free

January 11-17, 2021

January 18-24, 2021

  • How to Submit a Refugee Sponsorship Application to ROC-O Via Email and Updating Applications After Submission (Webinar)
    by Refugee Sponsorship Training Program (RSTP)
    • What: This webinar delivered by RSTP for new and experienced sponsors will provide an in-depth look at how to submit a refugee sponsorship application under the Private Sponsorship of Refugees (PSR) program to the Resettlement Operations Centre – Ottawa (ROC-O) via email and when and how to update an application after submission.
    • When: Monday, January 18, 2021 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM PST
    • Cost: Free
  • Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) Information Session Level 2 (Webinar)
    by Plan Institute
    • What: Advanced RDSP workshop for those who already have an RDSP or are deciding where to open their RDSP and want to deepen their knowledge and learn how to maximize growth. This workshop includes more complicated financial information and attendees should already have an understanding of RDSP basics before joining or attend Level 1 first.
    • When: Tuesday, January 19, 2021 10:00 AM to 11:30 PM
    • Cost: Free
  • Preparing for Arrival and Providing Post-Arrival Support: Handling Unrealistic Expectations and Practicing Ethical Consideration (Webinar)
    by Refugee Sponsorship Training Program (RSTP)
    • What: This webinar delivered by RSTP for new and experienced sponsors will provide a recap of sponsors’ settlement responsibilities when sponsoring refugees under the Private Sponsorship of Refugees (PSR) and Blended Visa Office-Referred (BVOR) programs; review ethical considerations that are important to keep in mind when sponsoring refugees; the power imbalance that exists in the sponsor-sponsored newcomer relationship and tips on how to mitigate the imbalance; and, the importance of managing expectations.
    • When: Wednesday, January 20, 2021 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM PST
    • Cost: Free
  • Wills, Trusts and Estate Planning (Webinar)
    by Plan Institute
    • What: Becoming well-informed about wills, trusts and estate planning is necessary to secure the financial future of your loved one with a disability. In this webinar you will learn things you should consider when creating a will, ways in which to ensure your loved one is protected when family passes, the types of trusts available, and more.
    • When: Thursday, January 21, 2021 7:00 PM 8:15 PM
    • Cost: $25 registration fee

January 25-31, 2021

  • Dealing with Neighbour Disputes: What are Your Rights? (Webinar)
    by People’s Law School
    • What: As between neighbours, who pays to fix the fence? Can I do anything about my upstairs neighbour watching TV all night? What about my neighbour’s giant tree creeping into my yard? When it comes to neighbours and everyday problems around things like fences, noise, trees, smells and parking, it helps to know your rights and what you can do about them.
    • When: Tuesday, January 26, 2021 Noon
    • Cost: Free

Learning & Community Building

Free or low cost professional development events for intermediaries, the people providing information and support to members of the public in their interactions with the legal system. We only include those that are open to non-lawyers. Also, events by organizations who help British Columbians in their interactions with the legal system. All times in Pacific Time unless stated otherwise. See disclaimer.
Jan 1-10 | Jan 11-17 | Jan 18-24 | Jan 25-31
Looking for public legal education events? Go back to the beginning.

January 18-24, 2021

  • Discussing the Promises and Problems with the Act respecting First Nations, Métis and Inuit Children, Youth and Families (Zoom meeting)
    by CIAJ & Courthouse Libraries BC
    • What: Designed to initiate discussion and pave the way to a major national conference on Indigenous Peoples and the Law to be held in Vancouver in November 2021. Speakers: Professor Hadley Friedland, University of Alberta Faculty of Law; Co-Founder, Wahkohtowin Law & Governance Lodge; Koren Lightning-Earle, Lawyer, Wahkohtowin Law & Governance Lodge (Samson Cree Nation, Alberta); Professor Naiomi Metallic, Chancellor’s Chair in Aboriginal Law and Policy, Schulich School of Law, Dalhousie University (Listuguj Mi’gmaq First Nation). Moderator: Jennifer Cox, Staff Lawyer, Dalhousie Legal Aid Service, Dalhousie University.
    • When: January 20, 2021, 12:30 – 2:00 pm
    • Cost: Free

January 25-31, 2021

  • Responding to Sexual Harassment Disclosure (Zoom Webinar)
    by PLEAC
    • What: The topic of this webinar is Responding to Sexual Harassment Disclosure. Our speaker, Chris Martin, is a Workplace Equity Educator for the Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region (SASC). His main role is to implement an anti-sexual harassment, anti-gender inequity curriculum to enable businesses/organizations to move towards a more equitable workplace culture. He brings 14 years of experience in social work, activism, and public speaking to SASC’s 31 years of transforming the lives of survivors in our community.
    • When: Tuesday, January 26, 2021 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM via Zoom
    • Cost: Free
  • Transforming Legal Practice: Lawyers Increasing Access to Justice (Webinar)
    by A2JBC, CBABC, CLEBC, The Law Foundation of BC, and LSBC
    • What: Lawyers are leveraging technology to provide a better, more cost-effective experience to their clients and to reach more people. This session will inspire attendees to meet the legal needs of British Columbians in new ways.
    • When: Wednesday, January 27, 2021 4:30 PM
    • Cost: Free
  • Introduction to Social Media and Canva for Advocacy (Webinar)
    by PovNet and Workers’ Resource Centre
    • What: Are you looking for an introduction to social media and how to use it for your organization or cause? Have you wondered how to spruce up your graphics for social media messaging? In this webinar, we will be going over what social media is, tips for managing your social media, how social media impacts advocacy and activism movements, and an overview of the Canva tool interface to help you make eye-catching graphics.
    • When: Thursday, January 28, 2021 10:00 AM
    • Cost: Free

Disclaimer: These events are being provided as a convenience and for informational purposes only; they do not constitute an endorsement or an approval by the Clicklaw team of any of the products or services of the organizations. Contact the external site for questions regarding their events.

Stay informed:

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