Law Week 2014 Access to Justice: What does it mean to YOU?

VANCOUVER, BC – The Canadian Bar Association, BC Branch (CBABC), is pleased to announce Law Week 2014; a week of province-wide celebrations, including public education law classes, courthouse tours, mock trials, Legal Health Check, and a public speaking contest for high school students.

Law Day, April 10, 2014 is a national celebration of the signing of Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms and an opportunity to learn more about the justice system, what the legal community does, and what legal resources are available.

This year’s theme is Access to Justice: What does it mean to YOU? Law Day events across Canada are made possible through the efforts of hundreds of lawyers who generously donate thousands of hours of volunteer time.

“Law Week events provide British Columbians many opportunities to learn about the justice system in an engaging and interesting manner,” said Dean Crawford, BC Branch President. “The justice system touches the lives of British Columbians in so many ways. The CBABC is pleased to provide opportunities to see how the system works and we invite all British Columbians to attend these free events across the province.”

Law Week 2014 includes events across Canada during the month of April. Activities in British Columbia include public events from April 5 to 26 in Vancouver, North Vancouver, Nanaimo, Fort St. John, Kamloops, Vernon, Victoria, Terrace, and Cranbrook featuring:

• Community events including courthouse tours, free law classes, interactive displays, RCMP and K-9 demonstrations, contests, and more

• Mock trials based on fairy tales, including Hansel & Gretel and The Three Little Pigs, with juries randomly chosen from the audience

• Student Forum with BC’s three Chief Justices (previously taped to air on www.bclawweek.org  on April 10 with accompanying contest online)

• Barry Sullivan Law Cup – a public speaking contest for high school students

On Saturday, April 12, 2014 the CBABC Branch will hold its province-wide “Dial-A-Lawyer Day” from 10 am to 11:45 am and 12:15 pm – 2 pm. Residents in British Columbia are invited to call 604.687.3221 or toll-free at 1.800.663.1919 to speak with a lawyer for up to 15 minutes at no cost in the following seven areas of law (Family, Wills & Estates, Torts & Motor Vehicle Accidents, Immigration, Business, Employment, and Criminal).

Law Week 2014 partners are the Canadian Bar Association, BC Branch, the Law Foundation of BC, the Law Society of BC, the Continuing Legal Education Society of BC, and the Vancouver Bar Association.

More information is available online at www.bclawweek.org.