Tuesday, June 13, 2006

CBA: Podcast on Podcasting

I admit it: listening to podcasts has become part of my regular routine. There are some legal podcasts:
Conversations in Law
May it Please the Court
Legalese
Law School Podcast
The Legal Underground
Washington College of Law
Then there are the educational podcasts:
podictionary
commandN
Finally, there is even a podcast dedicated to the Oilers (who are on the verge of elimination):
Edmonton Oilers Podcast
If you want to add your voice to the chorus of podcasters, the CBA has aptly produced a podcast on how to get into podcasting. If any readers out there decide to start a new venture, let me know and I'll add it to my routine.

Monday, June 12, 2006

Profile: Barb Jackman

On Sunday, the stern gaze of Barbara Jackman could be found on every street corner that donned a box with the Toronto Star. The recent events in Canada regarding terrorism and immigration has thrust the legal work of Ms. Jackman into the limelight.

The front page headline of "The Other War" is followed by a lengthy article, entitled “Counsel for the Untouchables”. Ms. Jackman is described as a “activist-lawyer” and the journalist gives a good biography of Ms. Jackman, touching on a few seminal cases and her family background. Here are a few excerpts:
For alleged terrorists fighting deportation, Jackman is Toronto's go-to lawyer. She has spent decades taking on clients most other counsel won't touch, no matter how disturbing the allegations against them might be. Those who know her say she's committed to human rights principles and fair treatment for all.
Jackman is also renowned for taking on complicated, un-sexy legal issues that might take a decade or more to work through the courts.
This week Jackman takes another step toward clarifying the law as she joins a team of lawyers at the Supreme Court to fight against a section of the immigration legislation that gives the federal government power to deport non-citizens deemed a threat to national security.
Paul Copeland, who recently received the Sidney B. Linden Award from Legal Aid Ontario, gives some personal insight:
"Barb knows more law than I'm ever going to know," says Toronto lawyer Paul Copeland. "Her work is dense, complicated."
Queen's Law professor Sharryn Aiken adds:
Aiken calls herself a "Barb fan." When she was in law school in the 1980s, "anybody with an interest in immigration or refugee law knew that Barb Jackman was where it was happening."

"She never forgets that it's about the people. There's no ego there."
I would like to add my own experience. First, I wholeheartedly agree with both Mr. Copeland and Professor Aiken. Barb, as we called her in class, taught Immigration and Refugee Law with Geri Sadoway at Queen's last year and, as a student, it was a great experience.

As an instructor, Barb was laid-back, organized and she listened to every question intently. As she was teaching various aspects of the field, she would add personal anecdotes from the cases that she has argued - often at the SCC. She gave us broad flexibility and guidance in our research but she also had high expectations. More than anything, I would reiterate Sharry's comment: no ego. It was refreshing to meet a successful lawyer with a sharp legal mind who is both humble and lacks pretense. Another immigration lawyer based on Winnipeg, Alastair Clarke, has a website with more information about immigration law.

For those of you at UofT Law, Barb will be teaching National Security, Human Rights and Non-Citizens next fall.

Saturday, June 10, 2006

[Language] Gap Between Professions

Friend: I just lied to protect someone. You won't tell anyone will ya? You're like my lawyer, right? And you're bound by confidentiality.
Me: Well, if you would like me as your lawyer, you'll have to give me a retainer.
Friend: A retainer? You mean like a thing that straightens your teeth??!!

Friday, June 09, 2006

Rock, Paper, Scissors

A Queen's student sent this over the listserv and I thought it was worth repeating:

Judge orders lawyers to play game
Faced with the inability of two bickering attorneys to resolve even the most innocuous scheduling questions without his intervention, a Florida federal judge yesterday ordered the two to meet on the steps of the federal courthouse and resolve their latest quarrel by playing "one (1) game of 'rock, paper, scissors.' "
That is too funny.

Sunday, June 04, 2006

Stanley Cup Playoff Predictions

Tomorrow, the Oilers will faceoff against the Canes the Stanley Cup. By all accounts, it should be an entertaining series with strategic plays and end-to-end action.

Here are some predictions from around the Net ;)
Al Strachan: Oilers in 5
NHL 2006 Simulation: Canes in 7
Warren Kelly: Oilers in 6 "Sorry about the jinx, Oilers fans."
Carl Steward: Oilers in 6
Kevin Gibson: Oilers in 6
Dave Langevin: Canes in 6
Charlynn Smith: "Oilers will win"
My prediction: Oilers in 7

And the last word:
Two easy predictions for the NHL Stanley Cup finals between the Edmonton Oilers and Carolina Hurricanes: the TV ratings will be microscopic in most of the U.S. and the hockey will be terrific.
The puck drops at 8:00PM EST. GO OILERS!

Saturday, June 03, 2006

UofT Faculty Blawg

I was poking around the Net today, trying to find more CDN law student blawgers out there, and I noticed that the "Featured Blog" on Blawg.org is the UofT Faculty Blawg. I clicked my way over to their baby blue blawg and discovered that their site was created in February, 2006. Maintained by 8 profs at UofT, they write on many topics, including Constitutional Law and Current Events.

Below the first posting, on February 9, 2006, they give us an incling of why they decided to start a blawg:
We'd like to use this Faculty Blog to foster debate and discussion on issues that we find interesting.
I say: way to go! I hope other faculties across Canada will follow suit (and I sincerely hope that the ubiquitous we-can't-follow-what-the-uoft-is-doing attitude won't get in the way).

Incidentally, I'm quite annoyed that Blawg.org does not include any CDN law student blawgers on its site. It includes links to blawgers from across the US, but it has yet to include any links to us folks up north (and that includes Alaska). Another blawg can be found here.

Free OBA student membership

Personally, the best thing from OBA membership are the 2 Sections. I've been receiving newsletters from my 2 sections for the last year and I find the articles to be extremely useful - especially because they are on areas of law that are interests of mine.