SURREY BAR ASSOCIATION

Advancing the Practice of Law in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada

Upcoming events

    • Thursday, September 28, 2023
    • Thursday, February 22, 2024
    • 7 sessions
    • Morgan Creek Golf Course - Creekside Room (except for the Advocacy evenings - location TBA)
    • 9
    Register

    All lawyers in the Fraser Region practicing 6 years or less:  

    REGISTRATION FOR 2023 is now FULL!

    See details below to apply for 2024

       

    Partnering with a faculty roster of local judges and experienced counsel, we are pleased to announce our 2023 Surrey “Inns of Court" mentoring program that will be held over 7 evenings commencing September 28, 2023 and continuing monthly until February 22, 2024.  

    The Surrey Inns of Court was established in the long standing inherited English tradition of our profession fostering meaningful and lasting mentoring relationships between junior lawyers and experienced counsel and judges to promote professionalism and competence.   

    Sessions will be held at Morgan Creek Golf Course Creekside Room  and other locations TBA  and will include discussions of topics relevant to newer counsel along with ample time to connect with senior colleagues and members of the bench over dinner and/or canapés. 

    A detailed syllabus will be forthcoming.

    Please note that the IOC sessions build on previous topics and discussions. Participants are expected to attend all sessions where possible.  

    Cost for the entire series of 7 sessions is $485.00. Price includes:

    • meals on five of the evenings and canapés for two evenings
    • 17 hours of CPD credit (including 2 hours of ethics/practice management)
    • SBA membership for the balance of 2023 

    For those with a Legal Aid practice, bursaries of up to 50% may be available by emailing LABC directly. 

    Please note that the current iteration of our IOC is now SOLD OUT.  To be considered for the 2024 IOC, we encourage all interested to download and complete the APPLICATION FORM and return it to Cheryl Stanley.

    *Location of sessions subject to change depending on size of the class and venue availability.

    The 2023 Inns of Court is sponsored by: 




    If your firm, business or organization is interesting in sponsoring the Inns of Court, please contact:

    Cheryl Stanley or Gordon Kabanuk

    SPONSORSHIP LEVELS

    Firms under 10: $500.00

    Firms over 10: $1000.00


    Inaugural Surrey Inns of Court a Resounding Success! 

    In late 2019/early 2020, a group of lawyers and judges in British Columbia’s fastest growing municipality, Surrey, recognized the need to connect the judiciary and senior counsel with the junior bar to provide mentorship and professional development opportunities.  From there the development of the Surrey Inns of Court program quickly took off through a partnership with the Surrey Bar Association and the local judiciary. However, when the COVID-19 pandemic struck and in person training events ceased, the formal Inns program went on hiatus. Not being deterred, the group quickly pivoted and successfully managed to deliver online advocacy training sessions to local lawyers with the help of some experienced presenters. These events were well attended and solidified the need for the Inns program in Surrey.

    When pandemic restrictions eased, the Inns program was revived with the inaugural meeting in September 2022.  From September 2022 to March 2023, a cohort comprised of lawyers under 6 years call from all practice areas met monthly with volunteer mentor Provincial Court judges and senior practitioners for evenings filled with conversation on topics related to legal ethics, practice management, expert witnesses, trial advocacy and professional responsibility.  With the support of the Office of the Chief Judge, participants were also given an opportunity to practice their direct and cross-examination skills in a courtroom setting, afterhours, with the benefit of feedback from a judge and senior lawyer.  Each monthly meeting was designed to stimulate conversation between the mentor judges, senior lawyers, and the participants over a meal in a relaxed and friendly environment. When the program’s 2022 session ended, it was clear that it was a resounding success and filled a need within the local bar. Feedback was provided by the participants:

    “I appreciated the opportunity to practice conducting a cross-examination and direct examination in front of several judges and senior members of the bar.  These mentors took the time to provide meaningful feedback tailored to each participant.  Although the cross-examination and direct examination were based on a criminal law fact pattern, the practical tips that I learned during this session are equally applicable to the civil context.”

    “What I enjoyed most of all was the informal table conversations, where we had opportunities to ask questions and hear from senior counsel and judges, and just get to know them on a more personal level.  A lot of the learning for me happened during those table conversations.”

    “I believe that the collegiality of the Inns of Court Program is a very useful thing for younger lawyers.  A relaxed and friendly environment, and the sharing of a meal with mentors and judges creates an atmosphere that fosters learning on a variety of topics relevant to the practice of law. The fact that a quest speaker/expert presents on a different topic at each dinner also gives insight into how that topic applies in practice.”

    “The Surrey Inns of Court program was a phenomenal opportunity to connect with other members of our profession, and to pick the brains of some of Surrey’s senior counsel and members of the Bench. While each session was full of practical information, having an opportunity to practice direct/cross examination (and receive feedback) in front of a Judge was an invaluable experience - we so rarely get a “test run” in our profession!”

    “Coming out of COVID, it was such a pleasure to be able to connect in person with colleagues around my year of call. It was also great to have guest judges and speakers attending both to share their knowledge and perspective, but also to make the courtroom a little less intimidating. It was a good and low-stakes environment to ask questions without being worried about being judged or messing something up mid-trial.”

    Because of its success, the decision was made to carry on with the Inns program and a call for expressions of interest to the local bar has been made for the 2023-2024 season. Thank you to all who volunteered their time to enrich the learning of the participants and build the collegiality of the bench and bar in Surrey!




    • Thursday, September 28, 2023
    • 5:30 PM
    • Tuesday, January 23, 2024
    • 8:30 PM
    • Morgan Creek Golf Course - Creekside Room
    • 60
    Register

    SURREY INNS OF COURT - DINNER PURCHASE  (JUDGES)

       

    Cost of each dinner for Judges is $40.00.






Past events

Thursday, September 21, 2023 SBA Fall Get-Together
Thursday, June 22, 2023 SBA Summer Get-Together at Township 7
Friday, June 02, 2023 CBA(BC) 18th Annual Battle of the BAR BANDS
Thursday, May 25, 2023 A conversation with the Honourable Mr. Justice S. David Frankel
Friday, May 19, 2023 Tour of Surrey Pretrial Services Centre
Thursday, April 27, 2023 Tour of Surrey Pretrial Services Centre
Tuesday, April 11, 2023 SBA Virtual Lunch & Learn - US Border Issues
Thursday, February 09, 2023 SBA Annual Winter Mingler
Wednesday, December 07, 2022 SBA AGM
Thursday, November 03, 2022 SBA Annual Bench & Bar Dinner 2022
Wednesday, October 19, 2022 Ethical Considerations for Every Lawyer
Thursday, October 06, 2022 SBA Annual Fall Mingler
Monday, October 03, 2022 Elizabeth Fry Presentation
Thursday, September 29, 2022 Surrey Inns of Court Faculty Only Dinner Purchase
Thursday, September 29, 2022 Surrey Inns of Court
Friday, September 09, 2022 Pro Bono Going Public 2022- Local Free Legal Advice-A-Thon
Friday, June 17, 2022 Welcoming Ceremonies for Judges S. Sidhu and E. Hughes
Friday, June 10, 2022 SBA Annual Spring Mingler
Monday, June 06, 2022 Ethical Considerations for Every Lawyer
Friday, May 20, 2022 Welcoming Ceremonies for Judges A. Davis and E. Duncan
Friday, April 01, 2022 Farewell "Get Together" for RAJ Hamilton
Thursday, March 03, 2022 Surrey Inns of Court - Civil & Family Law Advocacy
Friday, November 26, 2021 Virtual Lunch & Learn - Drug Treatment Court Vancouver
Tuesday, November 23, 2021 SBA AGM 2021
Thursday, November 04, 2021 Surrey Inns of Court - Direct Examination
Friday, May 07, 2021 Virtual Lunch & Learn with Access Pro Bono
Thursday, April 29, 2021 Surrey Inns of Court - Cross Examination
Monday, March 01, 2021 Lunch & Learn - New Prov. Ct. Family Rules
Wednesday, November 04, 2020 SBA AGM 2020
Tuesday, September 08, 2020 SBA AGM - Rescheduled
Tuesday, June 30, 2020 4th Annual WCBA Golf Tournament *Cancelled*
Wednesday, June 24, 2020 SBA AGM & Summer Social *Postponed*
Thursday, June 11, 2020 Bringing employees back to work? Key employment law considerations!
Friday, May 29, 2020 CBA(BC) 18th Annual Battle of the BAR BANDS *CANCELLED*
Wednesday, April 29, 2020 SBA Annual Bench & Bar Dinner 2020 *POSTPONED*
Monday, April 20, 2020 Ethics In Practice & Community: Surrey *POSTPONED*
Friday, April 17, 2020 Conversations in Practice Management *POSTPONED*
Friday, March 27, 2020 CPA/SBA Fun Night at the Races *Postponed*
Wednesday, March 04, 2020 Challenges At the Border - Free CPD
Wednesday, January 29, 2020 SBA Annual Winter Mingler
Thursday, December 12, 2019 Christmas Coffee @ Surrey Court
Friday, November 29, 2019 Surrey Courthouse Staff Christmas Party
Friday, November 15, 2019 Impaired Driving Update and ASD/Breathalyzer Demonstration
Wednesday, November 13, 2019 Free Criminal Law CPD
Wednesday, September 25, 2019 Back to Work "Get Together"
Wednesday, September 04, 2019 Pro Bono Going Public - Local Free Legal Advice-A-Thon
Thursday, June 27, 2019 Free Ethics CPD
Tuesday, June 25, 2019 3rd Annual WCBA Golf Tournament
Thursday, June 06, 2019 SBA AGM & Summer Social
Thursday, May 23, 2019 WLF Spring Mingler
Wednesday, May 15, 2019 Free Criminal Law CPD
Thursday, May 09, 2019 Annual Spring Mingler
Wednesday, April 24, 2019 Free Criminal Law CPD
Thursday, April 04, 2019 SBA Annual Bench & Bar Dinner 2019
Tuesday, March 12, 2019 Ethics In Practice & Community
Sunday, March 03, 2019 CPA/SBA Networking Hockey Event - THIS SUNDAY!
Thursday, February 14, 2019 Free Criminal Law CPD
Thursday, January 17, 2019 SBA Annual Winter Mingler
Monday, January 07, 2019 Welcoming Ceremonies for Judge Trudy Macdonald and Judge David Albert
Wednesday, December 19, 2018 Last Minute CPD!
Monday, December 03, 2018 Free Criminal Law CPD
Thursday, November 22, 2018 Free Ethics/ Practice Management CPD
Monday, October 29, 2018 Free Criminal Law CPD
Thursday, October 25, 2018 SBA Annual Bench & Bar Dinner
Wednesday, September 19, 2018 Criminal Law CPD
Thursday, September 13, 2018 Back to Work "Get Together"
Wednesday, September 05, 2018 Pro Bono Going Public - Local Free Legal Advice-A-Thon
Wednesday, August 15, 2018 Criminal Law CPD
Friday, August 03, 2018 Welcoming Ceremony For Judge D. Jahani
Tuesday, June 26, 2018 2nd Annual WCBA Golf Tournament
Thursday, June 07, 2018 Criminal Law CPD
Wednesday, May 30, 2018 Criminal Law CPD
Thursday, May 17, 2018 Welcoming Ceremonies for Judge Dawn E. Boblin and Judge Mark R. Jette
Thursday, May 10, 2018 Annual Spring Mingler
Friday, March 02, 2018 ASD CPD
Thursday, January 18, 2018 Winter Mingler
Wednesday, July 12, 2017 First Annual Westminster County Bar Golf Tournament
Thursday, March 30, 2017 SBA Annual Bench & Bar Dinner
Thursday, February 23, 2017 Lawyers as Employers CPD & Mingler
Friday, February 17, 2017 The Intersection of Criminal & Family Law
Thursday, January 26, 2017 SBA Annual Winter Mingler
Wednesday, November 16, 2016 Billing Strategies Part II
Thursday, October 06, 2016 SBA Lawyers' Night Out!
Thursday, September 15, 2016 SBA Young Lawyers "Welcome Back From Summer"
Wednesday, September 14, 2016 Welcoming Ceremony for Judge Wolf
Tuesday, June 21, 2016 SBA AGM
Thursday, June 16, 2016 SBA Annual Golf Classic
Thursday, May 05, 2016 SBA Annual Spring Mingler
Friday, April 22, 2016 SBA Young Lawyers - Bowling Night!
Friday, April 08, 2016 SBA Annual Bench & Bar Dinner
Thursday, April 07, 2016 Welcoming Ceremony for Judge Chettiar
Thursday, March 03, 2016 SBA Young Lawyers Event
Thursday, December 03, 2015 SBA Young Lawyers Event
Wednesday, December 02, 2015 Billing Strategies
Wednesday, November 18, 2015 SBA Annual Winter Mingler
Thursday, October 01, 2015 SBA Young Lawyers
Thursday, September 24, 2015 SBA Annual Golf Classic
Wednesday, August 26, 2015 Citizenship Lunch & Learn
Tuesday, June 16, 2015 SBA AGM
Thursday, June 11, 2015 SBA First Annual Spring Mingler


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