A2J Week News
Minister's statement on Access to Justice Week
David Eby, Attorney General, has released the following statement to recognize Access to Justice Week, Jan. 24 to Jan. 30, 2021:
“As we mark Access to Justice Week, we have a chance to reflect on how far we’ve come over a very challenging 12 months.
“When COVID-19 hit the province early last year, the courts and government moved quickly to limit the impact on British Columbians while following public health advice to maintain access to justice under our ‘new normal.’
“We’ve made significant changes as a result of the pandemic, from adjusting courtrooms for physical distancing to introducing new technologies to resolve cases virtually. We’ve seen rapid – and much needed – transformation in our courts, with new systems for virtual filings and hearings so people have more options to resolve their issues.
“This change is not limited to our courts. Over the last three years, we’ve increased funding for legal aid by $26 million to give more British Columbians access to legal advice and representation, and to reduce court backlogs.
“Alongside this, we’ve expanded a new family law early resolution and case management model – first launched in Victoria – to Surrey. This will help those with family law matters get the services and supports they need to resolve their disputes more quickly and, where possible, outside of the courtroom. The results in Victoria have been dramatic for families who see results faster and more efficiently so they can move on with their lives.
“We’ve also made progress on our commitment to address the over-representation of Indigenous peoples in the criminal justice system. Working in partnership with the Provincial Court, local First Nations and the local chartered Métis association, in December we announced the opening of the Williams Lake Indigenous Court – the seventh dedicated Indigenous Court in British Columbia. An eighth Indigenous Court will open in Hazelton this year. The Province’s independent prosecution service also recently announced new and revised policies for Crown counsel after consultation with BC First Nations Justice Council, Métis Nation BC and BC Corrections, to combat over-representation of Indigenous peoples as part of their Indigenous Justice Framework.
“In addition, three Indigenous justice centres have been created in Merritt, Prince George and Prince Rupert in partnership with the BC First Nations Justice Council. These centres are part of a broader BC First Nations Justice Strategy that was launched in March 2020. They are helping to improve access to justice and offering culturally appropriate legal advice and supports to ensure better outcomes for local Indigenous communities.
“I would like to give thanks to staff at B.C. courts and those at my ministry who have come together to find innovative solutions to address the challenges presented by COVID-19. Without their dedication, these reforms would not have been possible. Our work to increase access to justice for British Columbians continues as we embark on a new year with some groundbreaking changes ahead for our justice system.”
David Eby, Attorney General, has released the following statement to recognize Access to Justice Week, Jan. 24 to Jan. 30, 2021:
“As we mark Access to Justice Week, we have a chance to reflect on how far we’ve come over a very challenging 12 months.
“When COVID-19 hit the province early last year, the courts and government moved quickly to limit the impact on British Columbians while following public health advice to maintain access to justice under our ‘new normal.’
“We’ve made significant changes as a result of the pandemic, from adjusting courtrooms for physical distancing to introducing new technologies to resolve cases virtually. We’ve seen rapid – and much needed – transformation in our courts, with new systems for virtual filings and hearings so people have more options to resolve their issues.
“This change is not limited to our courts. Over the last three years, we’ve increased funding for legal aid by $26 million to give more British Columbians access to legal advice and representation, and to reduce court backlogs.
“Alongside this, we’ve expanded a new family law early resolution and case management model – first launched in Victoria – to Surrey. This will help those with family law matters get the services and supports they need to resolve their disputes more quickly and, where possible, outside of the courtroom. The results in Victoria have been dramatic for families who see results faster and more efficiently so they can move on with their lives.
“We’ve also made progress on our commitment to address the over-representation of Indigenous peoples in the criminal justice system. Working in partnership with the Provincial Court, local First Nations and the local chartered Métis association, in December we announced the opening of the Williams Lake Indigenous Court – the seventh dedicated Indigenous Court in British Columbia. An eighth Indigenous Court will open in Hazelton this year. The Province’s independent prosecution service also recently announced new and revised policies for Crown counsel after consultation with BC First Nations Justice Council, Métis Nation BC and BC Corrections, to combat over-representation of Indigenous peoples as part of their Indigenous Justice Framework.
“In addition, three Indigenous justice centres have been created in Merritt, Prince George and Prince Rupert in partnership with the BC First Nations Justice Council. These centres are part of a broader BC First Nations Justice Strategy that was launched in March 2020. They are helping to improve access to justice and offering culturally appropriate legal advice and supports to ensure better outcomes for local Indigenous communities.
“I would like to give thanks to staff at B.C. courts and those at my ministry who have come together to find innovative solutions to address the challenges presented by COVID-19. Without their dedication, these reforms would not have been possible. Our work to increase access to justice for British Columbians continues as we embark on a new year with some groundbreaking changes ahead for our justice system.”
Access to Justice Week is Approaching!
By Robert Bauman | January 13, 2021
Mark your calendars – the week of January 24th to January 31st, 2021 has been proclaimed Access to Justice Week in the province of British Columbia!
Access to Justice Week is an opportunity to engage with the access to justice movement taking place in British Columbia and beyond. It is a great way to start the New Year, learning about inspiring changes we can make to improve the justice system by putting its users at the centre of our decisions and processes.
This year, perhaps more than ever, is a time to consider how to innovate within the justice system. Covid-19 has had a major impact on access to justice, while at the same time presenting opportunities to create a long-term, positive impact. I have been so impressed with the resilience and creativity of lawyers, self-represented litigants, judges and government to find ways to keep going in the face of the immense challenges.
An example of this is the excellent work that the Provincial Court and the Ministry of Attorney General are doing in trying out, in Victoria and Surrey, a new approach to family law disputes. The disputes, when appropriate, are diverted early on to the Justice Access Centres for mediation (online during the pandemic) and referral to other legal and non-legal services. This is a way to reduce, in the pandemic, the need for in-person family law hearings before a judge. More importantly, in the longer term it serves children and families by de-escalating conflict and increasing their capacity to deal with their issues collaboratively.
Access to Justice Week will include a number of events hosted at the province’s three law schools. You can check the Access to Justice Week website to find out more. New events will be posted and updated on an ongoing basis, so check back later too, and feel free to tweet about it.
Also, I encourage legal professionals to tune into Transforming Legal Practice: Lawyers Increasing Access to Justice on January 27, 2021. This event will feature a panel of BC lawyers who have transformed their practices to better meet the legal needs of their clients in a cost-effective way. The keynote speaker will be Rebecca Sandefur, Arizona State University professor and American Bar Foundation fellow.
I hope everyone working in the justice system finds time to think about access to justice this month, and to do something yourself to mark Access to Justice Week. Is there a change, big or small, that you’ve been thinking might improve people’s interactions with the justice system? Access to Justice Week is an opportune time to begin to implement your ideas.
And if you already have an access to justice project on the go, please share your story. We especially want to hear how you are applying the A2JBC approach: being user-centred, collaborative, experimental and evidence-based.
By Robert Bauman | January 13, 2021
Mark your calendars – the week of January 24th to January 31st, 2021 has been proclaimed Access to Justice Week in the province of British Columbia!
Access to Justice Week is an opportunity to engage with the access to justice movement taking place in British Columbia and beyond. It is a great way to start the New Year, learning about inspiring changes we can make to improve the justice system by putting its users at the centre of our decisions and processes.
This year, perhaps more than ever, is a time to consider how to innovate within the justice system. Covid-19 has had a major impact on access to justice, while at the same time presenting opportunities to create a long-term, positive impact. I have been so impressed with the resilience and creativity of lawyers, self-represented litigants, judges and government to find ways to keep going in the face of the immense challenges.
An example of this is the excellent work that the Provincial Court and the Ministry of Attorney General are doing in trying out, in Victoria and Surrey, a new approach to family law disputes. The disputes, when appropriate, are diverted early on to the Justice Access Centres for mediation (online during the pandemic) and referral to other legal and non-legal services. This is a way to reduce, in the pandemic, the need for in-person family law hearings before a judge. More importantly, in the longer term it serves children and families by de-escalating conflict and increasing their capacity to deal with their issues collaboratively.
Access to Justice Week will include a number of events hosted at the province’s three law schools. You can check the Access to Justice Week website to find out more. New events will be posted and updated on an ongoing basis, so check back later too, and feel free to tweet about it.
Also, I encourage legal professionals to tune into Transforming Legal Practice: Lawyers Increasing Access to Justice on January 27, 2021. This event will feature a panel of BC lawyers who have transformed their practices to better meet the legal needs of their clients in a cost-effective way. The keynote speaker will be Rebecca Sandefur, Arizona State University professor and American Bar Foundation fellow.
I hope everyone working in the justice system finds time to think about access to justice this month, and to do something yourself to mark Access to Justice Week. Is there a change, big or small, that you’ve been thinking might improve people’s interactions with the justice system? Access to Justice Week is an opportune time to begin to implement your ideas.
And if you already have an access to justice project on the go, please share your story. We especially want to hear how you are applying the A2JBC approach: being user-centred, collaborative, experimental and evidence-based.
Click on the image to read the full proclamation