Access to Justice Week is October 28th – November 1st, 2024

Access to Justice Week brings together stakeholders in the legal community to develop meaningful, public-centred solutions that advance systemic change in the justice system. This week is an opportunity to learn about new initiatives, connect with diverse partners and explore critical access to justice issues from different perspectives. The theme for Manitoba’s fourth annual Access to Justice Week is Increasing Impact: Collaboration, Change, and Capacity Building. Together, the Faculty of Law, the Law Society of Manitoba, and the Manitoba Bar Association will offer four free, engaging virtual events open to the legal community and to the interested public. The events and registration links are as follows:

• Monday, October 28, 2024
  Supporting the Work: How New Lawyers Are Being Trained to Overcome A2J Barriers
• Tuesday, October 29, 2024
  Educating and Advocating in Manitoba Prisons
• Wednesday, October 30, 2024
  Victim Impact Statements and Community Impact Statements
• Thursday, October 31, 2024
  Family Law Services: Pathways to Healthy Separation

Supporting the Work: How New Lawyers are being Trained to Overcome A2J Barriers – Monday

Monday’s event will feature panelists from the Faculty of Law and the Manitoba Bar Association’s Young Lawyers and Internationally Trained Lawyers sections who will discuss legal supports are now becoming available for clients of diverse backgrounds including cultures, languages and faiths. The three host organizations will address what they are doing to train diverse lawyers who can help these diverse clients.

Register for Supporting The Work: How New Lawyers Are Being Trained to Overcome A2J Barriers

Panelists:

• Mercedes Ayala, Mitousis Lemieux Howard (Co-chair, MBA’s Young Lawyers’ Section) (Moderator)
• Chidera Anadi-Mbanefo, Cam’s Law Office (Co-chair, MBA’s Internationally Trained Lawyers Section)
• Laurelle Harris, K.C., University of Manitoba, Faculty of Law
• Kayleigh Lafontaine, University College of the North
• Ayodeji Olunlade, Restall & Restall LLP  (Co-chair, MBA’s Internationally Trained Lawyers Section)
• Stephanie Bauch, Mitousis Lemieux Howard (MBA’s Young Lawyers’ Section)

Educating and Advocating in Manitoba Prisons – Tuesday

Tuesday’s event is geared to practicing lawyers and students, and will present an overview as to what different organizations are doing, parole and record suspensions, resources for clients who are, or may be, incarcerated, and provide an overview of issues related to prison libraries and literature in provincial prisons.

Register for Educating and Advocating in Manitoba Prisons

Panelists:

• Allison Fenske, The University of Manitoba, Faculty of Law (Moderator)
• Leif Jensen, University of Manitoba Community Law Centre
• Marc Kruse, The University of Manitoba, Faculty of Law
• Elizabeth McCandless, The University of Manitoba, Faculty of Law
• Kirsten Wurmann, Manitoba Law Library, Manitoba Library Association

Victim Impact Statements and Community Impact Statements – Wednesday

Wednesday’s webinar on Victim Impact Statements and Community Impact Statements, will feature insights from both Crown and Defense perspectives. This session will explore the powerful role these statements play in the justice system, highlighting some examples of how they can be used at sentencing hearings in Manitoba. Learn how these statements can give voice to both individual victims and affected communities.

Register for Victim Impact and Community Impact Statements

Panelists:

• Kathrine Basarab, Manitoba Justice, Public Prosecutions
• Caleigh Glawson, Brodsky Amy & Gould
• Monique St. Germain, Canadian Centre for Child Protection Inc.

Family Law Services: Pathways to Healthy Separation – Thursday

The panel members for this presentation represent three different provisions of family legal services.  Our three presenters from the Community Legal Education Association, Family Resolution Services and Legal Aid Manitoba will provide an explanation of the different pathways through the separation process and options available to avoid or at least reduce the conflict and stress of a traditional lawyer / court dispute.   Members of the public are invited to join us to learn what is involved in the separation process and what alternatives might suit each person’s particular situation.

Register for Family Law Services: Pathways to Healthy Separation

Panelists:

• Nina Holatova, Community Legal Education Association
• Michael Williams, Manitoba Justice, Family Resolution Services
• Peter Kingsley, KC, Legal Aid Manitoba

*Each of these programs offers 1.5 hours of CPD to members of the Manitoba legal profession, all of which may be reported as EPPM (Ethics, Professionalism, Practice Management) hours.

Story submitted by Faculty of Law.