Pulse
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January 29, 2026
CBA president, law society commend Alberta judges’ call for respect, support
Members of the legal profession from across the country are applauding a public statement from Alberta’s three chief justices calling for respect and mutual support among the different branches of government. In a statement posted on the Alberta courts website earlier this week, Chief Justice of the Alberta Court of Justice James Hunter, Court of King’s Bench Chief Justice Kent Davidson and Acting Chief Justice of Alberta Dawn Pentelechuk said “a properly functioning democracy requires three separate branches of government that exercise their power and authority independently according to the Constitution.”
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January 29, 2026
A wake‑up call on Case Center and counsel accountability
The increasing reliance on digital platforms has fundamentally altered the practice of family law in Ontario. Case Center, now mandatory in the Superior Court of Justice, was introduced to promote efficiency, accessibility and clarity in court proceedings. While the platform has delivered on many of those goals, recent jurisprudence confirms that improper use can undermine, rather than enhance, the administration of justice.
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January 29, 2026
Feds appoint 2 judges to Alberta Court of King's Bench
The federal government has appointed Jason L. Wilkins and Peter D. Banks as judges of the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta, both sitting in Calgary.
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January 29, 2026
Davies welcomes partner Nikita Stepin to its technology practice
Nikita Stepin has joined Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP as a partner in the firm’s technology group.
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January 29, 2026
B.C. Court of Appeal decides procedural issue, bringing 1994 Mr. Big case closer to appeal
A Newfoundland carpet cleaner convicted of murdering his girlfriend in a 1994 shooting death in Richmond, B.C., is one step closer to having his conviction overturned after the British Columbia Court of Appeal outlined procedural issues that must be resolved before a new appeal can proceed (R. v. Skiffington, 2026 BCCA 26).
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January 29, 2026
Holistic mentorship in the legal field
The role played by mentorship in both professional and personal development is indisputable. Whether based on professional-sector or personal identity, mentorship can contribute to higher rates of success. Studies have established a positive correlation between mentorship and youth mental health, as well as sense of belonging in their communities.
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January 29, 2026
Dating rules as learned in criminal law practice
Dating advice is as old as ancient Rome itself. Ovid, the first-century poet, devoted an entire manual — The Art of Love — to the subject. His guidance was straightforward: wear a clean toga, mind your hygiene and present yourself well. Other advice, however, such as persistent pursuit or ignoring rejection, would today be more likely to attract police attention than romantic success.
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January 28, 2026
Anu Koshal named head of McCarthy Tétrault’s national tax disputes group
Anu Koshal, a partner in McCarthy Tétrault’s Toronto office, has been named as lead of the firm’s national tax disputes and tax litigation group.
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January 28, 2026
Goodmans announces 4 new partners
Goodmans LLP has named Larissa Fulop, Owen Gaffney, Christina Liao and Jaclyn Tilak as partners.
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January 28, 2026
A practical way for wills and estates practitioners to start using AI: document review
For many lawyers, including wills and estates practitioners, artificial intelligence (AI) may feel both promising and risky. On the one hand, AI offers the potential to complete comprehensive work more efficiently than ever. On the other hand, using AI for legal tasks may be outside a lawyer’s comfort zone.