ARCTIC OBITER

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4 | ARCTIC OBITER THE DIRECTOR’S CHAIR Season’s Greetings 2009 will soon be a thing of the past. Even though I know this is going to happen, panic always sets in for me about the 15th of the December as I contemplate what needs to be done at the office before we close for the holidays, and at home in preparation for the holidays. All of this simultaneous with the darkest of days and a deep freeze that has hit with a vengeance. But, in that, at least we are not alone. The time for procrastination is over. If I do not want to start the new year with a longer “to do” list than necessary, it is time to ignore the sleep deprivation and other distractions, focus and strike off as many items as I can. It has been a busy year with the following being just some of the highlights: The changes to the Legal Profession Act with respect to discipline were implemented, as was the legislation permitting Professional Corporations. Linda Whitford Our rules underwent significant review and amendment and all resolutions received approval at the Annual General Meeting on December 5th. The draft minutes of the AGM, the resolutions and the reports are available for your review on the website. Communication was a priority this year and the web site has undergone two revisions with more fine-tuning to come. The Arctic Obiter is now a monthly electronic publication which is receiving positive reviews from the membership as are the weekly e-bulletins which have replaced the myriad of e-mails we used to send. Membership Applications for both full and RAC continue to hold steady and between January 1 and November 24, 2009, the Law Society received applications for 56 Full Memberships, 45 Restricted Appearance Certificates and four Students‐at‐law. All but two RAC applications, which were subsequently withdrawn, were processed and approved. and the discussion will continue in 2010 as we seek input on appropriate sanctions for those persons who do not comply with the requirement. The Trial Advocacy Program at the end of September was a resounding success and planning for 2011 has already begun. On the off years, we are contemplating a day long CLE program that will appeal to all of our members. In June the Society hosted the Court of Appeal Judges at a Bar-B-Q at CFNA; and in September Justice Ian Binnie (and his wife Susan) for a CLE and the President’s Dinner; followed by the Christmas Dinner and Dance earlier this month. In May and October, Law Societies across Canada met under the FLSC umbrella to discuss issues of mutual concern and interest. While our geographic locations and size differ, the work and challenges of each Society are remarkably similar as we fulfill our mandate to govern in the public interest. 2010 will see a renewed focus on Recruitment and Retention and Mobility. The Territorial Mobility Agreement [TMA] is due to expire on December 31, 2011. Between now and then, we will have to make a decision to continue on as is, sign on to the National Mobility Agreement or go back to the way it was before the TMA was signed. If you are interested in participating in these deliberations, please let us know. Volunteers are key to the Society and their participation, time and effort is very much appreciated. If you have not already submitted your “Volunteer Sheet”, please do so as soon as possible so we can continue the business at hand. With that, I will wish you all a safe, happy and healthy holiday season. Our office will reopen on the 4th of January, 2010. Continuing Professional Development became a requirement
DECEMBER 2009 | 5 MEMBERSHIP SPOTLIGHT SHIRLEY A. WALSH Born and raised in N e w f o u n d l a n d , Shirley obtained her bachelor of commerce degree from Memorial University in 1999. She then enrolled at the University of New Brunswick for her bachelor of laws (earning it in 2002), and returned home to practice law. She joined Davis LLP in Yellowknife in 2007 and quickly immersed herself into the legal community. As a CBA member, she chairs the CBA-NT Young Lawyers Section, and now sits as the National Chair for the Law Day 2010 Committee. She was elected to the Law Society executive in 2008, and became president one year later. Shirley’s practice focuses on corporate and commercial law, providing advice on corporate governance issues and real estate transactions. She also travels throughout the Territories to provide clients with legal advice. Shirley is also a member of the Law Society of Nunavut. NEW MEMBERS THE LAW SOCIETY WELCOMES 6 NEW MEMBERS : Darwin Hanna CALLISON & HANNA VANCOUVER, BC Jacques-Benoit C. Roberge DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, CANADA YELLOWKNIFE, NT Tracy N. Bock LEGAL SERVICES BOARD YELLOWKNIFE, NT Jennifer C. P. Schweitzer PUBLIC PROSECUTION SERVICE OF CANADA CALGARY, AB Brook Land-Murphy WHITEHORSE, YT Ramona Sladic DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, CANADA YELLOWKNIFE, NT MEMBERSHIP STATS Active Residents: 126 Active Non-Residents: 255 Inactive Members: 78 Total Membership: 459 (Restricted Members: 80) Thank you, CIBC! Emerald Murphy, Chair, Law Foundation of the NWT RESPONSE FROM “YOUR TRUST ACCOUNTS AND THE LAW FOUNDATION” (PAGE 9, ARCTIC OBITER, NOVEMBER 2009) A day after the November issue of Arctic Obiter was published, we received news from Mr. Doug Snodgrass, Manager of the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC), that CIBC will now give interest of a minimum of 0.25% on trust accounts. Mr. Snodgrass apparently went to bat after he saw the article about trust account interest rates in the November edition of the Arctic Obiter. Congratulations to Mr. Snodgrass for persuading his employer to change its policy on trust accounts in the North. Scotiabank and Royal Bank should take a leaf from Mr. Snodgrass' book.
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