News

Events are scattered across the country today and for the next month to commemorate the April 17, 1982 signing of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

As you may be aware, Court Services Division (CSD) is committed to modernizing practice areas to support accessible, fair, timely and effective justice services. As a result and in a continued effort to improve service to clients, I am pleased to advise that a vetting station will be implemented effective April 11, 2016 in the civil and family intake office with the Superior Court of Justice at 393 University Avenue.

The Law Society Human Rights Award, established in 2013, recognizes outstanding contributions to the advancement of human rights and/or the promotion of the rule of law provincially, nationally or internationally. The award is granted every two years to an individual who has demonstrated devotion to the advancement of human rights and the rule of law over a long term or a single outstanding act of service.

The Ministry of the Attorney General has launched a new pilot program that gives survivors of sexual assault access to free legal advice any time after the incident , regardless of how much time has passed. The pilot will be available to survivors living in the City of Toronto, the City of Ottawa , and the District of Thunder Bay later this spring.

Past OBA President Orlando Da Silva, LSM will receive a Law Society Medal for his work to bring mental health issues to the forefront of the legal profession.

The OBA congratulates this year’s Law Society Awards recipients, including Past OBA President Orlando Da Silva and OBA members Jennifer Babe, Ronda Bessner, Ronald Caza, David Estrin, Errol Mendes and Lisa Borsook.

At the Ontario Bar Association’s Institute 2016 Sean Zeitz, litigator for Lipman, Zener Waxman LLP discussed the financial obligations for married spouses under bankruptcy law.

An individual’s right of refusal of a capacity assessment was the subject of a robust discussion led by Lonny Rosen of Rosen Sunshine LLP.

Each year, the Ontario Bar Association (OBA) recognizes lawyers who demonstrate both a commitment to our member-based organization that advances the interests of the justice system and who make valuable contributions to specific practice areas. The OBA has two new awards for outstanding contributions in the practice of health and taxation law.

Today the Ministry of the Attorney General and the Law Society of Upper Canada announced the appointment of the Honourable Justice Annemarie Bonkalo to lead a review to consider whether a broader range of legal service providers, such as paralegals, law clerks and students, should be allowed to handle certain family law matters.