Law Week 2009 events

Law Day, held every April, is a national event created by the Canadian Bar Association to celebrate the signing of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and provides an opportunity for Canadians to learn about their justice system and see a positive image of the legal profession.

Law Day is held in communities throughout BC and in some places, it’s expanded into Law Week (April 16 – 25, 2009). This year’s theme is Access to Justice: Public Confidence in the Justice System, and events will be held in the Cowichan Valley, Fort St. John, Kamloops, Kelowna, Nanaimo, New Westminster, Terrace, Tri-Cities, Vancouver, Victoria, and possibly Maple Ridge and Prince George.

Made possible by the volunteer efforts of hundreds of lawyers and other partners in the justice system, Law Week will include the following events across the province.

Cowichan Valley

April 23, 4 – 6 p.m., at the Duncan Law Courts, visitors can watch a fairy tale trial, view various community displays, question a lawyer, tour with the sheriffs, and go on a treasure hunt (well, the kids, at least).

Fort St. John

April 8: RCMP presentation on “Responding to Drug Houses”

April 16: Goldilocks will stand trial at the Fort St. John Courthouse, charged with theft of porridge and mischief, ably prosecuted and defended by the Ambrose Elementary Grade 5/6 class.

April 25: Open house at the RCMP detachment from 1 – 4 p.m., including a canine unit demonstration at 3 p.m.

April 30: Family Law Clinic at Northern Lights College

Kamloops

April 16, Luke Skywalker will stand trial during the open house at the Kamloops Law Courts. Visitors can meet a judge, ask a lawyer questions, visit displays put on by more than 40 community groups, judge an elementary school poster contest, go on a scavenger hunt, learn more about the RCMP, and tour the courthouse with a sheriff.

Kelowna

April 18, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., at the Kelowna Law Courts, a Girl Guide will be arrested and tried. The public can ask lawyers and/or a Supreme Court judge questions, visit community group information booths and RCMP demonstrations, see a mock trial put on by Law 12 students, meet a sheriff, and tour the courthouse.

Nanaimo

April 25, 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., at the Nanaimo Courthouse, events include seminars on wills and estates and family law, question and answer periods with a Supreme Court judge, tours of the courthouse with a sheriff, RCMP and other information booths, presentations by the court registry on e-filing of civil and small claims matters, and R. v. The Big Bad Wolf, with a Provincial Court judge holding the wolf to account for all the huffing and puffing.

Terrace

April 16, featuring an open house at the Terrace Regional Centre (legal aid office) from 12 – 1 p.m. with lunch provided, then a courthouse tour at 1:30 p.m., followed by justice workers/professionals speaking in a courtroom from 2 – 4 p.m.

Vancouver

April 25, 2009, 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., at the Vancouver Public Library, events include free law classes, displays by a number of key organizations in BC’s legal community, Dial-A-Lawyer, mock trials, a public speaking contest for students, a student outreach program, citizenship ceremonies, and a free public forum featuring senior representatives of BC’s justice system.

Victoria

April 18, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., at the Victoria Courthouse, events include a fairy tale trial, the K-9 dog demonstration and other police presentations, talks with judges, a skit introducing family law and dispute resolution, resource rooms, a high school moot trial competition, and a scavenger hunt for the kids.

For more information about Law Week 2009 events, see the BC Law Week website.