Seven provinces will collaborate in A2J week 2022, a series of online events running Oct. 24 to 28 and involving legal regulators and other sectors in Ontario, Alberta, Manitoba, B.C., Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Saskatchewan.
“Access to justice is a fundamental principle of our justice system, and yet so many people have challenges getting the legal help and information they need,” Law Society of Ontario (LSO) treasurer Jacqueline Horvat told The Lawyer’s Daily.
Jacqueline Horvat, treasurer, Law Society of Ontario
On Oct. 24, representatives from the law societies of Ontario, Alberta, Saskatchewan and B.C. will present “Innovations in Access to Justice – Technology and Regulatory Sandboxes,” which will discuss how innovation in the legal sector is being explored through “regulatory sandboxes.”
“The regulatory sandbox model is a popular policy tool used by regulators to engage with innovative service providers that do not fit well within the existing regulatory framework,” said Horvat. “It will be interesting to exchange learnings and hear about the different approaches and the non-traditional ways we are using to increase access to justice across our various jurisdictions.”
On Oct. 25, Pro Bono Ontario will discuss the roles it and the province’s private bar can play to “better steward … resources, improve collaboration and provide effective services” to residents needing legal help.
That same day, a national presentation will be put on by the National Self-Represented Litigants Project (NSRLP) to discuss the “design, operation and outcome of the first-ever school for family litigants” — a 12-week program that gave “self-represented litigants … the tools to help them navigate the justice system on their own.”
On Oct. 26, programing in Saskatchewan and Ontario will present “Barriers to Accessing Justice for Two Spirit, Trans, Non-binary and Gender Nonconforming People in Canada,” which will include the results of a legal needs assessment examining discrimination faced by 2STNBGN people in the areas of employment, housing and medical treatment.
On the 27th, there will be a national presentation by the Action Committee on Access to Justice on its call for more national data in the name of supporting additional “people-centred” legal services.
On the 28th, an official with the Law Society of Manitoba and a member of the province’s private bar will look into ways lawyers have been offering their services in ways to help clients balance legal assistance and costs.
“Topics will include what types of alternative provisions are allowed in Manitoba, what to look for in providing those services, and how to make sure that there are no misunderstandings with lawyers and with clients when those services are provided,” states a program guide.
Also on the 28th, the Federation of Law Societies will host “Well-being Matters: Mental Health in the Legal Profession,” which will discuss a recent study and how the mental well-being of legal professionals impacts access to justice.
That day will also see a national presentation on access to justice in the wake of amendments to the Divorce Act.
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