Canadian Bar Association Podcast Interview with Chief Justice of Canada Richard Wagner

Modern Law: Verdicts and Voices is a monthly podcast produced by the Canadian Bar Association that looks at key legal stories and celebrates the 150th anniversary of the Supreme Court of Canada.

The first episode features an interview with the Chief Justice of Canada Richard Wagner.

It also includes a discussion of the Constitution's notwithstanding clause and an exploration of a Prohibition-era case that continues to have an impact on interprovincial trade, Gold Seal Ltd. v. Alberta.

Newest Episode of Arrêt sur le Droit Podcast from Bar Association of Montreal

Arrêt sur le droit is a French-language podcast whose goal is to help people better understand decisions by the Supreme Court of Canada. 

 It is co-produced by the Bar Association of Montreal and CAIJ (the free legal information portal of the Quebec Bar Association) in collaboration with the Supreme Court of Canada.

The most recent episode deals with the case R. v. Bissonnette, a 2022 Supreme Court of Canada criminal law decision that looked into the constitutionality of a specific sub-section of the Criminal Code that allowed for consecutive life sentences. 

The case arose out of the 2017 mass shooting in a mosque in a Quebec City suburb. 6 worshippers were murdered and five seriously injured by the accused.

Arrêt sur le droit is hosted by Michel Désautels who for years was one of the top current affairs hosts of the public broadcaster Société Radio-Canada. 

Winners of 2024 Canadian Law Blog Awards

The winners of the 2024 Canadian Law Blog Awards (known as the Clawbies) were announced recently.

The Clawbies exist to reward the best and most innovative Canadian blogs, podcasts, videos, legal newsletters, and other forms of online commentary. 

The 2024 Fodden Award recognizing a single, outstanding publication went to Kyla Lee of Acumen Law Corporation in Vancouver:

"At a time when people need courageous voices amplifying their rights and defending their interests, no voice has been stronger or more reliable than criminal defence lawyer Kyla Lee of Acumen Law Corporation in Vancouver. An extraordinarily prolific author and broadcaster year after year, Kyla surpassed even her own high standards in 2024: more than 300 written blog posts, 50 episodes of her “Driving Law” podcast, and 41 editions of her vlog “Cases That Should Have Gone to the Supreme Court of Canada, But Didn’t.” There are well-funded legal media organizations in this country that struggle to match that output. Kyla is the face and voice of legal matters on mainstream radio and TV in British Columbia, speaking directly, accessibly, and informatively to everyday Canadians about the law."

There are awards in many categories.

The Clawbies are organized by Stem Legal, a B.C.-based strategy firm.

Newest Episode of Arrêt sur le Droit Podcast about Governmental Autonomy for Indigenous People

Arrêt sur le droit is a French-language podcast whose goal is to help people better understand decisions by the Supreme Court of Canada. 

 It is co-produced by the Bar Association of Montreal and CAIJ (the free legal information portal of the Quebec Bar Association) in collaboration with the Supreme Court of Canada.

The most recent episode deals with the rights of Indigenous people to self-government.

Arrêt sur le droit is hosted by Michel Désautels who for years was one of the top current affairs hosts of the public broadcaster Société Radio-Canada. 

His guests for this episode are lawyer Caroline Daniel and professor Ghislain Otis.

Canadian Bar Association Podcast on Indigenous Self-government in Child Welfare

The most recent episode of The Every Lawyer, a podcast series of the Canadian Bar Association, features Professor Naiomi Metallic of Dalhousie University in Halifax discussing Bill C-92, an Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families:

"An in-depth look at Bill C-92, an Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families, with Professor Naiomi Metallic, which turns into a broader discussion on legislative reconciliation and the ‘braiding together’ of existing legal orders."

"For those interested in advocacy, Prof. Metallic also makes the case for academia as THE place to change the law, and with it, society (...)"

"Professor Naiomi Metallic, divides her time between practice and teaching at Dalhousie University’s Schulich School of Law where she holds the Chancellor’s Chair in Aboriginal Law and Policy. She was part of the legal team that intervened on behalf of the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society led by Cindy Blackstock, a longtime advocate for child welfare and Indigenous children’s rights. The SCC referenced Prof. Metallic’s article, Aboriginal Rights, Legislative Reconciliation and Constitutionalism (dal.ca) , in their Reference re An Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families, and she is this year’s winner of the CBA’s Ramon John Hnatyshyn Award for Law."

LawBytes Podcast on State of Digital Law and Policy in Canada

In his most recent LawBytes podcast, University of Ottawa law professor Michael Geist takes a look at recent federal government digital policy initiatives:

"The Law Bytes podcast focuses intensively on Canadian legislative and digital policy developments and with another Parliamentary year in the books, this week’s episode takes a look back and take stock of where things stand. It features discussion on the implementation of the Internet streaming and news bills (C-11 and C-18) as well as an analysis of the current state of privacy, AI, online harms, and digital tax as found in Bills C-27, C-63, C-69, S-210 and C-27."

Newest Episode of Arrêt sur le Droit Podcast about Good Faith in Contracts

Arrêt sur le droit is a relatively new French-language podcast whose goal is to help people better understand decisions by the Supreme Court of Canada.

It is co-produced by the Bar Association of Montreal and CAIJ (the free legal information portal of the Quebec Bar Association) in collaboration with the Supreme Court of Canada. 

The most recent episode analyzes the Ponce v. Société d’investissements Rhéaume ltée decision (2023 SCC 25, October 27, 2023). The case was about the obligation of good faith imposed on corporate directors when dealing with shareholders.

Arrêt sur le droit is hosted by Michel Désautels who for years was one of the top current affairs hosts of the public broadcaster Société Radio-Canada. His guests for this episode are Paul Martel, a lawyer with Blakes, and Stéphane Rousseau, law professor at the Université de Montréal.

Newest Episode of Arrêt sur le Droit Podcast about Supreme Court of Canada Decisions

Arrêt sur le droit is a relatively new French-language podcast whose goal is to help people better understand decisions by the Supreme Court of Canada.

It is co-produced by the Bar Association of Montreal and CAIJ (the free legal information portal of the Quebec Bar Association) in collaboration with the Supreme Court of Canada.

The most recent episode analyzes the Ward v. Quebec (Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la jeunesse) decision (2021 SCC 43). 

That decision dealt with the limits of freedom of expression in a case involving one of Québec's most famous stand-up comics.

Arrêt sur le droit is hosted by Michel Désautels who for years was one of the top current affairs hosts of the public broadcaster Société Radio-Canada.

LawBytes Podcast on 20th Anniversary of Landmark CCH Copyright Case

In his most recent LawBytes podcast, University of Ottawa law professor Michael Geist talks with Scott Jolliffe, an IP litigator with the law firm Gowlings, about the Supreme Court of Canada decision in CCH Canadian v. Law Society of Upper Canada:

"Twenty years ago today the Supreme Court of Canada released CCH Canadian v. Law Society of Upper Canada, a decision that stands as perhaps the most consequential in Canadian copyright law history as it would firmly establish fair dealing as a users right and serve as the foundation for copyright law in Canada for decades to come. Leading off the hearing several months earlier for the Law Society was Scott Jolliffe, an IP litigator with the law firm Gowlings. Jolliffe was charged with arguing the fair dealing aspects of the case, but it was only at last moment that users right entered the picture. To mark its 20th anniversary, Jolliffe joins the Law Bytes podcast to talk about the CCH case, his strategy and insights from the hearing, and his thoughts on its impact many years later."

Geek in Review Podcast on Love and Legal Tech

The most recent episode of the Geek in Review Podcast co-hosted by Greg Lambert and Marlene Gebauer is available.

Lambert is a former president of the American Association of Law Libraries.

The episode features a talk with Alex Macdonald and Cassie Vertovec who are a couple working in legal tech:

"We kick off our new 'Love & Legal Tech' series this week where we embark on a journey to explore the personal and professional lives of couples in the legal tech industry. We are excited to interview couples who share in the excitement of weaving their professional endeavors into their personal relationships. We think this is going to be a great series where couples get a chance to tell their stories of how they balance what one of our guests describes as 'Work-Life-Integration'."

Canadian Bar Association Podcast Episode on AI Use at PricewaterhouseCoopers

The most recent episode of Modern Law, a Canadian Bar Association podcast hosted by Yves Faguy, features a conversation with Amanda Chaboryk and Alex Hawley from PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) on how their firm incorporates artificial intelligence tools into the organization's work:

"In the field of law, there are several crucial areas where generative AI demonstrates considerable promise – namely in the efficiencies it can create in contract generation, document review, legal research, and predictive analytics. So it’s expected to become an indispensable productivity tool across the legal profession The question then arises: how can this technology be effectively integrated into a legal practice or department? (...)"

"Last year, PwC announced an exclusive partnership with the legal startup Harvey, a platform built on AI technology from OpenAI."

Canadian Bar Association Podcast Episode on State of AI Regulation in the U.S.

The most recent episode of Modern Law, a Canadian Bar Association podcast hosted by Yves Faguy, features a conversation with Boston-based privacy expert Woodrow Hartzog about the regulation of artificial intelligence:

"We've been talking a lot about AI on the podcast and on CBA National, and one of the issues that keeps coming up is the challenge for a country like Canada in selecting the right approach to regulating AI risk. "

"It's not as if there's a single model out there. The EU is trying to set the gold standard for the world, much as it did with its GDPR privacy regulation. The US is contemplating various bills, but for the most part, it is applying existing laws and regulations through regulators like the Federal Trade Commission, the Consumer Financial Protection Board, and the US Department of Justice. These agencies have been instructed by the White House's executive order in October to follow eight guiding principles for AI safety. Meanwhile, China's approach is to ensure that all information generated by AI aligns with the state's interest. All are key players to watch as we try to understand where the future of global AI governance is headed. And today, we are going to take a closer look at a perspective coming from the US."

"International privacy expert Woodrow Hartzog discusses the state of AI regulation in the U.S., his thoughts on the global dynamics at play, and his concerns surrounding the normalization of surveillance and our reliance on half-measures to save us from the potential harms of AI."

Winners of 2023 Canadian Law Blog Awards

The winners of the 2023 Canadian Law Blog Awards (known as the Clawbies) were announced on New Year's Eve.

The Clawbies exist to reward the best and most innovative Canadian blogs, podcasts, videos, legal newsletters, and other forms of online commentary. 

The 2023 Fodden Award recognizing a single, outstanding publication went to the Blogue du CRL:

"This year, we are excited to be honouring one of the country’s longest-running and most successful group blogs: Blogue du CRL, published by the Jeunne Barreau de Montréal’s Research and Legislation Committee."

"For well over a decade, Blogue du CRL has been the go-to current awareness tool for Quebec professionals, publishing an ample and steady stream of case summaries and legislative developments."

"The scale of the blog is huge, with more than 50 volunteer writers, and also featuring case summaries from SOQUIJ and occasional contributions from Jeune Barreau’s other committees."

There are awards in many categories.

The Clawbies are organized by Stem Legal, a B.C.-based strategy firm.

Nominations Open for 18th Annual Canadian Law Blog Awards

The nomination period for the 18th annual Clawbies is now open. 

The Clawbies, or Canadian Law Blog Awards, exist to reward the best and most innovative Canadian law-related blogs, social media accounts, podcasts, and newsletters:

"Rule #1: Our 'humble Canadian' rule: don’t nominate your own publication or project for a Clawbie. It doesn’t work that way. The only surefire way of getting your work on our radar is to give props to other commentary authors. Follow this rule and we’ll take a look at your work too!"

"Rule #2: Nominate up to three digital publications or authors via blog post or tweets (using the hashtag  #clawbies2023). They must be freely available at no cost. Be sure to include a brief explanation of why you think those authors deserve an award!"

"Nominations will be accepted until the end of day on Friday, December 15th, 2023. Then stay tuned, because this year’s winners will be announced on New Year’s Eve."

Geek in Review Podcast Interview on AI Tool Development at Lexis

The most recent episode of the Geek in Review Podcast co-hosted by Greg Lambert and Marlene Gebauer is available.

Lambert is a former president of the American Association of Law Libraries.

The episode features a talk with  ⁠Jeff Pfeifer⁠ and ⁠Serena Wellen⁠ from LexisNexis about the development of AI tools for the legal industry over the past year:

"Pfeifer and Wellen give us an insider’s view of what it took to bring their ⁠Lexis+ AI⁠ tool to the market and the balance between speed to market and getting solid customer guidance on what they need in a legal-focused Generative AI tool. Between the initial version released to a select group of customers and the current version, the product grew from an open-ended chat interface into more of a guided resource that helps users on creating and following up on prompts. As with most AI tools created in the past year, there is still more potential as more and more customers use it and give critical feedback along the way."

"In addition to Lexis+ AI, LexisNexis has now launched two additional AI products – ⁠Lexis Snapshot⁠ and ⁠Lexis Create⁠. Lexis Snapshot summarizes legal complaints to help firms monitor litigation. Lexis Create brings AI capabilities directly into Microsoft Word to assist with drafting and research while lawyers are working on documents."

University of Toronto Podcast Course on the Charter of Rights

I recently came across Charter: A Course podcast, a series of classes about Canadian constitutional law and litigation.

"In each episode, we highlight the accomplishments of U of T Law’s faculty and alumni involved in leading constitutional cases and issues. Each episode also includes a 'Practice Corner,' where we talk about the ins and outs of what it means to be a constitutional litigator."

"Whether you are a law student, a lawyer, or just an interested person, we hope that you learn about an aspect of constitutional law and litigation that interests you in our podcast."

The series was created by the David Asper Centre for Constitutional Rights at the University of Toronto and is now in its 3rd season.

Canadian Bar Association Podcast Episode on Latest Supreme Court of Canada News

The most recent episode of Modern Law, a Canadian Bar Association podcast hosted by Yves Faguy, features a conversation with Nadia Effendi of the law firm BLG:

"Mary Moreau of Alberta has been tapped to fill the vacancy left by Russel Brown on the Supreme Court. Nadia Effendi gives us some background on Justice Moreau and what her nomination means.  Effendi also discusses the Supreme Court’s latest rulings in the IAA reference, Mason v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration), La Presse inc. v. Quebec, as well as upcoming hearings in AGC v. Power, Yatar v. TD Insurance, and Attorney General of Ontario, et al. v. Mike Restoule. She also weighs in on the SCC’s decision to produce plain-language summaries of oral decisions."

Podcast Series Five Tech Law Cases Everyone Should Know

Law firm McCarthy Tétrault LLP has created a podcast series called Five Tech Law Cases Everyone Should Know:

"Hosted by Connor Bildfell, Five Tech Law Cases Everyone Should Know takes a closer look at five groundbreaking court cases that have shaped Canadian tech law. From de-indexing websites, to internet defamation, to data breach class actions, these cases cover a wide range of tech law issues. Throughout the podcast, leading practitioners offer their insights and experience to help you understand how these cases have been applied on the ground level."

The cases are:

• Google v. Equustek: do Canadian courts have the power to make injunctive orders with worldwide effects across the internet?
• Jones v. Tsige: a case about the tort of intrusion upon seclusion in the digital era
• SOCAN v. CAIP: can internet intermediaries be held liable for copyright infringement by users?
• Crookes v. Newton: can sharing a hyperlink to defamatory third-party content triggers liability under Canadian defamation law?
• Setoguchi v. Uber:  can a data breach, without any actual loss, trigger liability via a privacy class action?

New Podcast Series on Canadian Criminal Justice System

 University of British Columbia (UBC) law professor Benjamin Perrin has launched a new podcast series entitled Indictment: The Criminal Justice System on Trial.

Th UBC Law School interviewed professor Perrin about the series:

"The search for a new approach to criminal justice is the driving force behind Indictment: The Podcast, launched today by Perrin. In each episode, he invites listeners to hear from guests who have first-hand experience with the criminal justice system – including victims of crime and people who have been incarcerated."

"The podcast is the prelude to Perrin’s forthcoming book, Indictment: The Criminal Justice System on Trial, which takes a closer look at why tough-on-crime approaches have failed, and brings forward innovative ideas from around the world that Perrin says could help create a new and better criminal justice system. Indictment was chosen as one of Indigo’s 'most anticipated books' of fall 2023."

A list of all the episodes. 

Canadian Bar Association Podcast Episode on What Generative AI Means for the Legal Profession

The most recent episode of Modern Law, a Canadian Bar Association podcast hosted by Yves Faguy, features a conversation with Jordan Furlong about what generative AI means for the profession.

Jordan Furlong is an analyst and forecaster for the legal sector, focused on the most important trends shaping the provision of legal services and the formation and regulation of lawyers.