Access to Justice

  • May 08, 2025

    Prisons and pets

    In my practice as a prison law lawyer, I encountered a situation that has received little notice. I found that many inmates who were recently incarcerated struggled more with the loss of their pet than with being sent to prison.

  • May 07, 2025

    CBABC honours lawyers for exceptional contributions to legal community

    The Canadian Bar Association, BC Branch (CBABC) has recognized the achievements of three of the province’s lawyers with awards presented on May 3.

  • May 07, 2025

    Nova Scotia releases latest accessibility plan

    Nova Scotia has released its latest multi-year accessibility plan as part of an ongoing bid to become more accessible to those with disabilities.

  • May 07, 2025

    Successful appeal includes ‘air of reality’ defence

    Two Moose Jaw, Sask., men had a violent encounter. Vincent William Picken was convicted of second-degree murder for fatally stabbing Shaun Holmes in 2020. Picken claimed he acted in self-defence after Holmes allegedly assaulted him and set his dog on him.

  • May 07, 2025

    A client’s capacity to instruct counsel

    Lawyers have an obligation to ensure that their clients have capacity to give them instructions. But what do you do if you suspect that your client may have lost that capacity?

  • May 06, 2025

    Ontario Court of Appeal decertifies class action against BMW, citing no viable plaintiff

    The Ontario Court of Appeal has set aside the certification of a proposed class action against BMW over alleged defects in the engines of certain BMW vehicles with model years from 2012 to 2015, finding that the proposed representative plaintiffs did not have a viable claim.

  • May 06, 2025

    The true meaning of remorse

    There is a word used every day in the criminal courtroom that one rarely hears in ordinary conversation: remorse.

  • May 06, 2025

    Sex assault sentencing decision a model for joint submissions, fairness

    Constantin Vlachias tried very hard to put his life back together. But in September 2021, his past caught up with him.

  • May 05, 2025

    Federation of Ontario Law Associations urging pause to current civil rules reform process

    The organization representing Ontario’s county and district law associations is calling on Attorney General Doug Downey to hit the pause button on efforts to overhaul the province’s civil rules.

  • May 05, 2025

    Nunavut court approves $8M class-action settlement in case of sex abuse by teacher

    The Nunavut Court of Justice has approved a class-action settlement of $8 million on behalf of individuals who were subjected to sexual abuse by a teacher while attending Nunavut schools.