Call for Participants – Inns of Court – Victoria Wednesday, September 29, 2021

The Inns of Court Victoria is pleased to announce that it will be hosting a 2-hour Zoom webinar on Ethics on September 29^th, 2021.

We will have two panelists for this webinar: Kim Johnson of Jawl Bundon LLP and Michael L. Fox of Daune Morris LLP (an international law firm in the US). We are grateful for their presentations.

Topic:

Both Kim Johnson and Michael Fox will be presenting on the following topics:

1. What are laws? A minimum code of conduct – generally for the common good – which can be understood and complied with by all.

2. What are ethics? From the Greek word “ethos” refer to established standards within a society of how humans ought to interact with each other – e.g. honesty, fairness, etc. – but a somewhat subjective test.   In North America the basis for ethics comes largely from the Constitutions – as over-arching statements of principles.

3. Methods of regulation in the legal industry, accounting industry and medical industry – e.g. self-regulating, co-regulating, independent –  accountants with global  CFA organization with the goal of accurate disclosure in accounting statements, etc. (cf. Enron)

4. Types of legal organization – government – large firm – small firm – independent – does the organization/culture affect ethics?

5. Legal governance model in North America – Code of Conduct – State/Provincial Law Societies/Bar Associations, etc. What do the various Codes say versus what is actually enforced?

6. Globally – laws vary from locality to locality – e.g. state to state, province to province. For instance, in the US litigations (defendants) often want to avoid Texas and Alabama.  What the laws actually say and how the laws are enforced (“you aren’t from around here are you?).

7. Do ethics vary from locality to locality – or is there a common thread? Duty – trust – integrity.  Varying levels of trust – from trusting someone to take out your trash cans when you are on holiday versus trusting someone to look after your children, etc.

8. Ethics from a “micro” level to a “macro” level – e.g. the lawyer’s role in advocating a client’s interest versus the common good?  g. perspective on recent US election litigation.  When does that bright line get crossed and how it is enforced?   If the ends justify the means – when do the means become the ends?

9. Closing remarks – take away from this session? Suggestions for each individual lawyer – as a professional and as a member of the larger community should think about and do – before making a decision.

Professional Development Credits: This course offers up to 2 hours of Professional Development Credits (See “How to get PD Credit” below).

When:  Wednesday, September 29^th, 2021 via Zoom Conferencing

Time: 4:00 in the afternoon

Where: At your location, provided you have internet access

Cost: The cost of the event is $15.00 per person paid by Friday September 24, 2021, to the “Victoria Bar Association”

There are two options to make payment:

1. Pay online through the Inns of Court event page at www.Vicbar.ca (click link)

2. Pay manually by sending a cheque to Anwar Mujtabah at:Crease Harman LLP
   800 – 1070 Douglas Street
   Victoria, BC V8W 2C4
   Phone: 250-388-5421, Ext. 114
   Fax: 250.388.4294
   Email: amujtabah@crease.com

How to get PD Credit

To get the 2 PD Credits, this is the process after the event has completed:

1. Find Law Society “Member Services”

1. Select “Member Portal” and enter your information

1. ‘Login’

1. Under “Education” select “Continuing Professional Development (CPD)”

1. Type the group study name of “Inns of Court” into the “Course/Group Study” name box (leave dates out as this is set up with a date range)

1. In the Course/Group Study box type in ‘Inns of Court”
2. From the Drop down menu select “Inns of Court – Victoria”
3. Select “Inns of Court Victoria Court (36 Credits) Jan.1 – December 31, 2021” or something similar as the name is undergoing a slight change.
4. DO NOT TYPE IN THE NAME OF THIS COURSE WHEN APPLYING FOR CREDITS. YOU WILL NOT FIND IT. YOU DO NOT NEED THE NAME IN ORDER TO CLAIM YOUR 2 HOURS OF CREDIT.
5. Under “Record your CPD hours” type ‘2’

1. Under “Completion Date” type in the date you took the course

1. Select the “Get Credit” Button