Articles 2024

Today
Today

Understanding Cultural Sensitives through a Trauma-Informed Lens

  • June 01, 2023
  • Shaunna Kelly

This article explores some preconceived notions and hopefully draws on the need for cultural competence in the workplace. The concepts discussed are transferrable to multiple settings: the courtroom, meeting rooms, interviews and even emails. The need to be culturally sensitive should have a broad application and applies to all professional interactions. Specific examples focus on Indigenous practitioners, but there are transferrable concepts that apply to all groups of people.

Aboriginal Law, Student Forum

Conversion Therapy Ban in Canada: a year in review

  • May 31, 2023
  • Jose Garcia-Bonilla

Conversion therapy has been banned in Canada for just over one year. When the ban was introduced, it was heralded as a historic win in protecting 2SLGBTQ+ communities and was generally well-received by the public and advocacy groups. This article provides background information surrounding the criminalization of conversion therapy in Canada and explores some of the criticisms of the ban one year after its implementation.

Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Law, Student Forum
photo of award winner, Deepa Mattoo

Deepa Mattoo: Centering the Voices and Lived Experiences of Communities that are Underserved and Discriminated Against

  • May 30, 2023
  • Myra Sivaloganathan

From a young age, Deepa Mattoo, this year's recipient of the OBA Award of Excellence in the Promotion of Women's Equality, knew that she wanted to pursue law. She marvelled at the power of law to be a force of change, particularly the law’s ability to challenge the systemic issues of misogyny, oppression, and violence that were pervasive in communities that surrounded her. 

Women Lawyers Forum, Student Forum

Re Sandhu and the Role of Capacity Assessments in Court

  • May 19, 2023
  • Nick Esterbauer, Hull & Hull LLP

This article reviews a recent BC Supreme Court case that revisited the principles to be considered when the court determines whether or not to order a capacity assessment in a guardianship proceeding; further, the article provides guidance for requesting and/or conducting effective capacity assessments.

Elder Law, Student Forum
OBA Civil Litigation Section Insider: Unconscious Bias

OBA Civil Litigation Section Insider: Unconscious Bias

  • May 11, 2023
  • Adil Abdulla

This issue attempts to raise awareness of unconscious bias, and to broaden the conversation about what it can include. It features interviews with lawyers Solomon McKenzie, Alicia Windsor and Nadia Zaman, as well as an anonymous interview and four anonymous stories, that provide real-life examples of unconscious bias and how it affects the targets and those not directly targeted. Finally, there is an article from FACL (BC) summarizing their extensive resources on unconscious bias.

Civil Litigation, Student Forum