Family
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April 11, 2024
Ottawa unveils affordability measures to aid ‘first-time’ homebuyers, mortgage-strapped owners
The Trudeau government is proposing measures aimed at assisting “first-time” buyers to save for a home as well as helping cash-strapped owners hang on to their mortgaged homes.
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April 11, 2024
B.C. introduces legislation on legal profession reform; law society, bar association opposed
The B.C. government has unveiled long-promised legislation to bring lawyers, paralegals and notaries under the umbrella of one regulator. But the provincial law society and bar association have both come out swinging against the proposals, saying they would erode the independence of the legal profession.
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April 11, 2024
Eclipse of tradition: AI’s ascendancy in the legal era | Maria Mahmoudian
In recent years, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into the field of law has revolutionized legal practice, reshaping how legal professionals approach research, document analysis and decision-making. From enhancing efficiency to improving accuracy, AI technologies have brought about significant changes that have both benefited and challenged legal practitioners worldwide.
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April 11, 2024
A plea for civil discourse in high-conflict parenting disputes | Gary Joseph
NOTICE TO THE FAMILY LAW BAR: I am not and will not be a vessel through which hateful, demonizing accusations will be channelled in high-conflict parenting disputes. Please join me on this side of the issue.
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April 10, 2024
Saskatchewan expanding law student placements in name of access to justice
In efforts to increase access to justice in rural, underserved areas, Saskatchewan is expanding “practical learning placements” for College of Law students willing to travel. According to an April 1 news release, the province’s government is investing $100,000 in “new practical learning opportunities” for students at the University of Saskatchewan’s College of Law — provided they are willing to “work in different communities for the term of their placements.”
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April 09, 2024
Federal Court approves estimated $817M settlement in veterans’ disability benefits class action
The Federal Court has approved a settlement agreement of up to $817 million regarding a class action concerning the underpayment of certain disability benefits administered by Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC).
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April 09, 2024
Yukon gets feedback on sex assault response team
Sex assault victims and other “stakeholders” in Yukon are calling on the territory’s government to boost the promotion of victim resources, increase the number of safe houses and develop a “clear policy” for the use of evidence collection kits. These are just a few recommendations made to the Yukon government after it had requested feedback on plans to expand its Sexualized Assault Response Team (SART) to rural communities within the territory.
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April 09, 2024
Two new judges appointed to B.C. court
British Columbia appointed Mandy Klein and Sabena Thompson to the provincial court, a news release from the Ministry of the Attorney General announced.
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April 09, 2024
Importance of proper execution of domestic contracts under Ontario’s Family Law Act
The impact of COVID has facilitated the lives of family law practitioners. We dress casually if and when we go to the office, only putting on a jacket and tie for court Zoom appearances. No longer do we have to engage process servers to wait in endless court lines to file court materials — this is now done electronically through CaseLines. Often, we do not meet our clients in person, preferring the flexibility and informality of office meetings via the Internet. The transition in practice over the past four years has been remarkable.
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April 08, 2024
N.S. Appeal Court releases annual report, 2023
Around a third of those appearing before Nova Scotia’s top court last year were self-represented — an increase from the year before. This is just one of the stats detailed in the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal Annual Report for 2023. Released on April 2, this is the court’s second update of its kind.