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For our justice system to work effectively, everyone needs to understand their rights, responsibilities and what to do when they face a legal issue. Public legal education is an essential part of improving access to justice, and it supports a fundamental principle in our society – the rule of law. For this episode, we have invited Nora Bergh, Director of BC Programs at the Justice Education Society. She has spent the last decade dedicated to helping British Columbians learn about the law and our justice system so they can be better equipped to deal with their legal issues. She explores how public legal education supports individuals and communities, what programs the Justice Education Society offers, how a well-informed public can help reinforce the rule of law. Speaker biography Nora Bergh is the BC Program Director the Justice Education Society. As a non-practicing lawyer, Nora brings content expertise and plain language skills to help British Columbians learn about the law and our justice system, assisting them to be more able to deal with their legal issues. She oversees program and project operations, managing staff, deliverables and budgets, as well as ensures that projects achieve measurable impact.  Prior to joining the Justice Education Society in 2016, Nora articled with Lindsay Kenney LLP, was a Research Assistant at UBC and an LSAT Instructor. She has been an active volunteer, providing legal advice to clients of Atira Women’s Resource Society, Acccess ProBono, UBC First Nations Legal Clinics and UBC Law Students’ Legal Advice Program. Nora has a Bachelor of Commerce degree from UBC, a Master of Science in International Business from Oxford Brookes University in Hungary and Juris Doctor degree from UBC. Resources Visit the Justice Education Society of BC website for more information on their programs and initiativesFamilies Change provides age-appropriate information to help kids, teens and parents deal with a family break up. LegalHelpBC.ca provides free answers to frequently asked legal questions and includes a live chat option and a hot line for callers.Camp Justice is a one-week legal boot camp for students interested in the law, social justice, or a legal career.

CanLII is harnessing the power of artificial intelligence to help simplify and optimize legal research with its new AI research tool, Search+. The tool is designed to convert plain language questions into a structured Boolean query and to analyze results for the most relevant documents from case law, legislation and commentary available on CanLII.  A Boolean search query relies on a combination of words and phrases such as “AND,” “OR,” or “NOT,” as well as quotation marks and parentheses, to narrow down search results. While it is powerful and precise, it is not intuitive and most people who use CanLII do not necessarily know how to craft these queries. In this episode of LawCast BC, we chat with Francis Barragan, President and CEO of CanLII and Emma Elliott, Vice President of Operations at Lexum, the firm that developed Search+. They explain what problems the tool solves, how it actually works and how it differs from other AI tools that are more prone to hallucinations or errors. We also walk through a couple of live demos with real-life prompts, demonstrating the power of the tool to analyze and score results based on relevancy.  CanLII's entire technological platform is designed and maintained by Lexum, a legal technology firm that is owned by CanLII. Lexum continuously improves upon CanLII’s software infrastructure, including with the creation of Search+.  Resources: Information about the CanLII Search+ research assistantFuture updates about the Search+ tool can be found on the CanLII blog

When US President Donald Trump began threatening to make Canada the country’s 51st state, Canadians reacted with anger, outrage and a renewed sense of patriotism. But as one Indigenous organization is pointing out in a blog post, Trump’s annexation rhetoric is drawing parallels to our own shared history of the colonization of Indigenous peoples, and the present-day impacts we are still experiencing in Canada.  Lyson Rivest, a consultant, trainer and speaker with Indigenous Corporate Training Incorporated, encourages us to reflect with empathy on the similarities between how we may feel about Trump’s threats and the experiences of Indigenous peoples, whose lands and homes were taken away from them.  She also provides advice on how lawyers can more effectively and respectfully work with Indigenous peoples and communities by looking at emerging challenges through a lens of empathy instead of fear. Speaker biography Lyson Rivest is a consultant, trainer and speaker with Indigenous Corporate Training Incorporated.  Prior to joining ICT, she spent over a decade working in the federal public service, specifically within Crown-Indigenous Relations. During her public service career, Lyson represented Canada at negotiation tables for specific claims aiming to address past historical breaches of treaty promises or other obligations towards First Nations. She also participated in the negotiation of future-looking agreements, including modern treaties and self-government agreements. In her most recent role in the public service, Lyson served as the Manager of a team responsible for educating public servants about modern treaties and self-government agreements across departments. During this time, her team designed a core training program in Indigenous awareness, which has been attended by over 10,000 federal employees in under two years. Lyson holds a Bachelor in International Development and Globalization and is fluent in French and English. Resources Visit the Indigenous Corporate Training Inc's website to see more resourcesLen Pierre Consulting also offers free resources for the publicSee this interactive BC Treaty map to see First Nations that are participating in, or have completed treaties through, the BC treaty negotiations process.In British Columbia, the Nisg̱a’a Final Agreement is the province's first modern treaty.

Divorce and separation can be one of life’s most stressful events, especially for families with children. It not only has legal implications, but can impact the physical, mental and financial health of those involved. For this episode of LawCast BC, we invited family lawyer and Bencher Tanya Chamberlain and Dr. Ramneek Dosanjh, both members of the Health Justice Alliance, to speak about the intersection of law and health during separation and how parents can help their children navigate this stressful life change. The Health Justice Alliance was formed in 2022 as a partnership between physicians and lawyers who serve BC families experiencing high conflict separation and divorce. Through this alliance, physicians and lawyers come together to learn from each other, work together to help patients and clients going through high conflict separation and divorce, and to take action to address the public health issue of the immediate, long-term and intergenerational impacts of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). In April, the FamiliesChange.ca website was relaunched with new resources to help parents support their children’s well-being through a separation or divorce. We encourage lawyers to share these resources with clients, colleagues, friends or anyone going through a separation or divorce to help them navigate this significant change and stressful transition. FamiliesChange.ca website was developed by the Justice Education Society of British Columbia with support from the Department of Justice Canada and the BC Ministry of Justice. Resources were developed by the Health and Justice Alliance, along with the Shared Care Committee, the Law Society of BC, Justice Education Society of BC and other partners.  Speaker biographies Dr. Ramneek Dosanjh is a family physician, hospitalist and child and youth mental health advocate. She is currently the President of the Federation of Medical Women of Canada and has been a participant at the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women for the last two years. She was instrumental in the recent healthcare reform in British Columbia and on the negotiating team for the creation of BC's new payment model. She is an active member of the Indigenous Specific Anti Racism Committee. Dr. Dosanjh has been involved with the Health Justice Alliance since its inception, facilitating its first dialogue between physicians and lawyers in 2022. She is passionate about social justice, equity and fiercely dedicated to the reform of antiquated systems.  She has previously served in executive leadership roles such as President of Doctors of BC and BC Family Doctors. She was also a member of Doctors of BC’s Representative Assembly, Digital Health Collaborative and BC coroner's toxic drug supply steering committee. She previously served as a board member for her Division of Family Practice and on the Child Health BC board for four years. She has been involved in her hospital, health authority, UBC, and the Medical Council of Canada. Dr. Dosanjh was the physician lead for Child/Youth Mental Health Substance Use Collaborative in White Rock/South Surrey and has been a consultant with the White Rock South Surrey Child youth mental health Triage consulting team since its creation. She was also appointed to the Transform the Family Justice System Collaborative Strategy Committee. Tanya Chamberlain is a family law lawyer who was called to the bar in BC in 1995. Tanya’s family law practice is focused on consensual dispute resolution. She is a collaborative lawyer, family law mediator, arbitrator and parenting coordinator, and prepares Hear the Child Reports. In 2021, Tanya was elected as a Bencher of the Law Society and is currently the Chair of the Access to Justice Advisory Committee and a member of the Discipline Committee and the Eq

In this episode of LawCast BC, we are pleased to introduce you to the Law Society’s new Chief Executive Officer/Executive Director Gigi Chen-Kuo. We invite you to get to know Chen-Kuo as she shares insights into her experience in leadership roles and what she believes to be qualities of an effective leader. As a CEO who is passionate about empowering others, she shares her perspective on cultivating a healthy workplace, the importance of equity, diversity and inclusion and advice for anyone who is just starting their careers.  Gigi Chen-Kuo was appointed Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of the Law Society in 2025 and is responsible for the overall strategy, key priorities and operation of the organization. Called to the Bar in 1991, Gigi worked in private practice before becoming in-house counsel for BC Transit and TransLink. At TransLink, she served in various leadership roles including General Counsel & Corporate Secretary, General Counsel & Executive Vice-President, Corporate Services, Interim Chief Executive Officer, and Chief Operating Officer. Her experience in the complex and dynamic public transportation environment is proof of her strong track record in serving the public interest and managing change. Gigi has extensive experience in governance and serves on the boards of Coast Capital Savings Credit Union, the British Columbia Automobile Association, Transportation Investment Corporation and Union Gospel Mission. She is also member of the Allard School of Law Dean’s Advisory Council at the University of British Columbia. In 2022, Gigi was nominated for a YWCA Women of Distinction Award in the Business & the Professions category and was a shortlisted nominee for the Women’s Infrastructure Network’s Outstanding Leader Award.

Every February, people across Canada participate in Black History Month events and initiatives that honour the legacy of Black people in Canada and their communities. The theme for this year’s Black History Month is “Black Legacy and Leadership: Celebrating Canadian History and Uplifting Future Generations.”  In this month’s episode of LawCast BC, we invited Cecilia Barnes, president of the Canadian Association of Black Lawyers (CABL) BC Chapter, to speak about how she chose a career in law, her personal stories of growing up as a Black student and practising as a Black lawyer, the work of the CABL and how it has made a difference in her life, as well as her advice for young lawyers entering the profession. Barnes is a commercial lawyer at Lawson Lundell, specializing in Technology Law and Privacy within the Corporate Commercial Group. Her expertise lies in delivering business-centric legal advice to technology companies and identifying solutions and mitigating risks. She advises a broad range of clients in the technology sector, including early-stage companies, growth-stage companies, entrepreneurs and investors. The Canadian Association of Black Lawyers (CABL) was formed in March 1996, with a mission to uplift and celebrate the achievements of Black professionals within the legal field by offering its members access to job opportunities, mentorship, and professional growth opportunities. If you are interested in getting involved with CABL, visit their website to learn about its events and initiatives and the benefits of joining the association. Resources for Black History Month Visit the following educational resources to learn more about the history of Black communities in Canada. Find out how you can support and get involved with the Canadian Association of Black Lawyers (CABL).Explore City of Vancouver’s Black History Month events and learn about Black history in Vancouver. Check your local municipality’s website to see how they are marking Black History Month. See Vancouver Public Library’s resources for adults, kids and teens, including a reading list and digital library on Black History Month. Visit your local library for book recommendations for Black History Month.The British Columbia Black History Awareness Society (BCBHAS) celebrates the achievements of Black people in British Columbia. Be sure to check their event listings for this year’s Black History Month.The UBC Black Caucus is an independent organization at the University of British Columbia that brings together Black students, staff, and faculty from across UBC’s campuses. Their website also offers a list of resources for the Black community and beyond. The Royal BC Museum is holding two events for Black History Month: BC Black History and Heritage Day and a Black History Month Fashion ShowBlack Women Connect Vancouver inspires, empowers and supports black women living throughout the lower mainland, by hosting events and providing resources for teens and moms. LifeSpeak has a variety of exper

Ahead of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, we were honoured to speak with Hank Adam, an intergenerational residential school survivor speaker with the Orange Shirt Society. The Orange Shirt Society was formed in 2015 to create awareness of the individual, family and community intergenerational impacts of residential schools, to support reconciliation and to promote the truth that every child matters. In this episode, Hank Adam shares his story to raise awareness of the impact of Canada's residential schools and the painful legacy they have left behind, as well as suggestions for how the legal profession can advance Truth and Reconciliation. Please note this episode contains references to violence. Residential school survivors and their families who need help can call the National Indian Residential School Crisis Hotline at 866.925.4419 for emotional crisis referral services and information on other health supports from the Government of Canada. Indigenous peoples across Canada can also go to The Hope for Wellness Help Line 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for counselling and crisis intervention. Call the toll-free Help Line at 1.855.242.3310 or connect to the online chat at hopeforwellness.ca. For resources on Truth and Reconciliation, visit the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation’s website at nctr.ca.

Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools such as Chat GPT continue to make headlines. Numerous industries, including the legal one, are already feeling the impacts and implications of AI, as well as exploring its potential. We have invited guest speakers Jon Festinger, KC and Robert Diab to chat about the ways that AI has been used to help practice law, the risks in using AI tools and how AI could potentially change how people access legal services. Jon and Robert are working on putting a course together on AI, Law and Justice, which will be taught by them next year at Thompson Rivers University. Jon Festinger, KC is a Vancouver based counsel and educator. As an Adjunct Professor at UBC’s Allard School of Law, he has taught a wide variety of law courses relating to intellectual property, media and communications, and business for more than 30 years. He also teaches at Thompson Rivers University. Jon practices law as Of Counsel at the law firm of Chandler, Fogden, Lyman. Robert Diab is a professor at Thompson Rivers University’s Faculty of Law. He writes about constitutional and human rights, and topics in law and technology. This includes work on privacy, encryption, and AI, and on powers of detention, search, and public order policing. Prior to teaching at TRU, Robert practiced criminal and administrative law in Vancouver. We encourage lawyers to read the Law Society's Guidance on Professional Responsibility and Generative AI to help them consider the use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools in their legal practice. The guide is focused on the use of AI tools powered by large language models that can create new content or data based off of the data it was trained on, such as Open AI’s ChatGPT-4 or Google’s Bard.

Discrimination and harassment, including sexual harassment, in the workplace are serious problems in society, and the legal profession is not immune to it. As the regulatory body for lawyers, the Law Society has an important role in ensuring lawyers do not engage in harassing or discriminatory behaviors.  In the latest episode of LawCast BC, Sarah Sharp, Equity Advisor at the Law Society speaks about her role in supporting those who have experienced or witnessed harassment, discrimination and bullying in the legal profession. She addresses challenges faced by those who experience or witness this harmful behaviour, including retaliation, and outlines the supports and resources available. She also speaks to recent expansions to sections of the BC Code on discrimination and harassment. Given the nature of this topic, the situations and content covered in this podcast may be triggering for some listeners. Please take care when listening. Lawyers, articled students, law students and support staff of legal employers who have a concern or a question are encouraged to contact the Equity Advisor at [email protected] or 604.605.5303. Here are some resources mentioned in this episode:  Section 6.3 of the Code of Professional Conduct for British Columbia on harassment and discriminationInformation about the Equity Advisor, including contact informationAdvice Decision-Making Assistant on Law Society of BC's websiteLawyer Well-Being Hub on Law Society of BC's websiteComplaints about Sexual Misconduct, Harassment or Discrimination on Law Society of BC's websiteUs Too? Bullying and Sexual Harassment in the Legal Profession study and report by the International Bar AssociationNational Study on the Psychological Health Determinants of Legal Professionals in CanadaGuidance for Lawyers on Using Inclusive Language provided by Law Society of BCMental Health Forum for Legal Professionals – Part 2, originally presented on February 6, 2024Rule of Law Matters podcast episode: Season 1, Episode 14: Racism, equity, diversity and the rule of lawLawCast BC podcast episode: When lawyers need help: Navigating mental health resources

In this episode, we are going to talk about one of the most critical areas the Law Society is addressing – meaningful Indigenous reconciliation and cultural safety. In July 2023, the Law Society's board of Benchers approved recommendations from the Indigenous Engagement in Regulatory Matters Task Force report, to remove systemic barriers experienced by Indigenous complainants and witnesses. Implementation of the task force’s recommendations is now underway. Hear from Vicki George, Senior Advisor, Indigenous Engagement, who shares one component of her role that includes guiding the implementation of the Indigenous Engagement in Regulatory Matters Task Force’s recommendations. She also provides an introduction to the new role of the Law Society’s Indigenous Navigator, the importance of relationship building and the context that has informed the Law Society’s ongoing efforts and path toward reconciliation.  Read the full report and recommendations of the Indigenous Engagement in Regulatory Matters Task Force.

A national survey was published last year on the state of legal professionals’ mental health. More than half of respondents in BC reported experiencing psychological distress and many of them said they did not seek help despite needing it.   In this episode, we share information about one of the most pressing issues facing the legal profession – mental health. The Law Society is committed to supporting the mental wellness of lawyers and has taken a number of steps to increase access to resources and provide opportunities for connection and conversation.  Learn about our new mental health and wellness resources in this discussion with Claire Marchant, Director of Policy & Practice Support, and Rose Morgan, UX & Content Strategist. We chat about the types of support available, reducing stigma and dispelling some common myths about accessing help. To find out more about all of the services Claire and Rose mentioned in this episode, visit the Lawyer Well-Being Hub on the Law Society's website. Other resources referred to this episode include: The Trauma-Informed Lawyer podcastThe National Study on the Psychological Health Determinants of Legal Professionals in Canada: Phase I ReportThe National Study on the Health & Wellness Determinants of Legal Professionals in Canada: Executive Summary

Conservative Member of Parliament Michael Chong joins host Jon Festinger to talk about the government's use of "orders in council," legal secrecy and the unwritten rule of law on Parliament Hill.  Michael Chong was first elected to Parliament in 2004 and represents the riding of Wellington-Halton Hills. He currently serves as Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs for the Official Opposition. He's previously served in the federal cabinet as President of the Queen’s Privy Council, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister for Sport as well as serving as the chair of several House of Commons standing committees.

Renowned criminal defence lawyer Marie Henein joins host Jon Festinger to talk about the role of lawyers, what influenced her to be a lawyer, and current threats to democracy and the rule of law that are taking place around the world. Marie Henein is a senior partner at Henein Hutchison LLP, recognized in Canadian Lawyer as one of the country’s Top Ten Litigation Boutiques. She has been interviewed on CBC’s The National, written for The Globe and Mail, and is a sought-after speaker. She recently released her memoir Nothing But the Truth, which weaves her personal story with her strongly held views on society’s most pressing issues, legal and otherwise. Marie Henein will be speaking at the Law Society's Rule of Law Lecture on April 4, 2022. For information on the event and how to register, visit our website.

Is everyone equal before the law? In light of the recent surge in anti-Asian racist events in BC, we take this episode to examine how racism was built into our legal system, discrimination in the legal profession and how that impacts everyone.   Dr. Carol Liao joins Andrea Hilland, policy lawyer at the Law Society of BC, and host Jon Festinger for a roundtable chat on racism, equity, diversity and inclusion and the rule of law. Dr. Liao recently spoke about her experience as an Asian lawyer in the Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyer's documentary "But I Look Like a Lawyer." Dr. Carol Liao is an associate professor at the Allard School of Law and the UBC Sauder Distinguished Scholar of the Dhillon Centre for Business Ethics at the Sauder School of Business. In 2021, Carol received the Influential Women in Business Award from Business in Vancouver and was named as one of Canada's Top 100 Most Powerful Women by the Women's Executive Network.

In this new episode, our host Jon Festinger and Michael Lucas, director of policy and planning at the Law Society, take a look back at the first season of Rule of Law Matters and the events that have transpired since the podcast launched in September.  They chatted about how this podcast began, whether the rule of law is a western concept that is applicable world wide, and recent threats to the rule of law in Hong Kong, Poland, Zimbabwe, the United Kingdom, and right here in Canada.  If you want to know more about the rule of law, visit the Law Society's website at lawsociety.bc.ca. If you liked today's episode, please subscribe and leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts. If you have suggestions or comments, please send them to us at [email protected].