New resource for members:
Advising a client of her or his French language rights
Members now have access to a new Law Society resource: Advising a Client of her or his French Language Rights in the Judicial and Quasi-Judicial Context.
Prepared by the Working Group on French Legal Services, the resource is part of an awareness campaign to communicate the importance of access to legal services in French. It will be translated into French and posted on the Law Society's Member Resource Centre website.
Members of the Working Group include members of the Equity Advisory Group/Groupe consultatif en matire d'quit (EAG), representatives of the Association des juristes d'expression franaise de l'Ontario (AJEFO) and representatives of the Official Languages Committee of the Ontario Bar Association.
For more information see the Equity and Aboriginal Issues Committee report
Law Society to contribute to McMurtry Gardens of Justice Project
The Law Society will contribute $100,000 to the McMurtry Gardens of Justice Project. Sculptures in the Garden are to represent the values enshrined in the Canadian justice system. The Garden will pay tribute to Chief Justice Roy McMurtry upon his retirement and will be located between Osgoode Hall and the 361 University Avenue Courthouse.
For more information see the Heritage Committee report
Law Society to review law program requirements
Convocation voted to review its law program requirements with a view to establishing modern, relevant criteria. The requirements were last amended in 1969. Graduates of law school programs approved by the Law Society are eligible for admission to the Law Society's licensing process without the need for further accreditation of their educational qualifications.
Convocation also reviewed a law program proposal from Lakehead Universtity and voted to defer its decision on the proposal until Lakehead has the opportunity to respond to certain Law Society concerns.
For more information see the Professional Development, Competence and Admissions Committee report
Bencher Election 2007
The Bencher Election matters in the Equity and Aboriginal Issues report were referred back to the committee.
Reports
The Profession Regulation Committee report was not reached.
Appointments
Marion Boyd was appointed to the Paralegal Standing Committee and Larry Banack was reappointed Chair of the Hearing Panel.