Membership renewal forms for 2009/10 are now available online. Watch your inbox for a membership renewal email, coming soon. Starting this year, members are required to complete a CPD Plan. You will find an information sheet with the CPD Plan form. Be sure to take advantage of the new “fillable” forms. You may now complete them from your desktop through Adobe Acrobat/Reader. Simply complete the form, print it, sign it and send it to us.

The deadline for membership renewal is March 31, 2009.

TO MEMBERS OF THE BAR

The Senior Judge of the Supreme Court would like to invite all members of the Bar who practice in the field of family law, either exclusively or only as part of their practice, to meet with him and one or two other judges of the court for an informal discussion on procedures for family law cases in the Supreme Court and what practices or initiatives should be considered to facilitate the resolution of family law cases.

The meeting will be at 10 AM on Thursday, March 5, 2009, in the third floor courtroom of the Court House. In order to encourage as much attendance as possible, the regularly scheduled family chambers session will be cancelled for that day.

Justice John Vertes

A Labour & Employment Section Meeting will be held on Monday, February 9, 2009 – 12:00pm in the LSNT Boardroom. Please confirm your attendance by return.

The CBA-NWT Branch Executive and Council will be meeting on Wednesday, February 11, 2009 - 12:00pm in the Boardroom.

The Law Society Executive will be meeting on Thursday, February 12, 2009 - 12:00pm in the Boardroom.

The Northwest Territories Branch of the CBA is holding it's Mid-Winter meeting on Friday, February 13, 2009 - 12:00pm at Fuego International Restaurant. On the agenda is a discussion on the resolutions for the National Mid-Winter Meeting and the presentation of service pins for members. All CBA members are encouraged to attend. Please RSVP your attendance by return or by calling the Law Society.

Also, please be advised that CBA Section reports are due no later than Friday, February 6, 2009.

The Discipline Committee is holding a meeting on Friday, February 20, 2009 – 12:00pm in the LSNT Boardroom. All committee members are encouraged to attend. Those outside of Yellowknife will be able to participate via teleconference. Please confirm your attendance by return.

The CBA National Pensions & Benefits Law Section will present an Update on Pension Reform in Canada on Monday, February 9, 2009 - 10:00am. This online CLE will explore the proposed pension law reforms in Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta and Nova Scotia. The panel of experts will be discussing the governance of funding of pension plans, the future of regulation, increased private sector defined benefit coverage, harmonization, and recommended national legislative or policy changes. Visit the CBA Website for more information and to register.

Alternatively, the CBA-NWT Branch will be providing a portal for this event in the boardroom. Bar members are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity. Please comfirm your attendance by return.

A Special CPD Event will take place on Friday, March 13, 2009, starting at 9:00am in the Upper Level of Fuego International Restaurant.

In the morning session, Brian Olesky of the Law Society of Alberta will be discussing Trust Accounting. All members are encouraged to attend and to bring the individual responsible for doing their accounting.

In the afternoon, Ross McLeod, Practice Advisor with the Law Society of Alberta, will explore Client ID and Verification, as well as Legal Ethics.

Members are encouraged to take advantage of this event. Please RSVP your attendance, as appropriate, by return.

Tax specialists from the firm MacKay LLP Chartered Accountants will be discussing the benefits of a Professional Corporation and will be available to answer any questions you may have with respect to your own personal situation or those of your clients. MacKay LLP tax specialists have many years of experience in the incorporation of professional practices in other jurisdictions. They are bringing this knowledge to the NWT as it makes the change to allow Professional Corporations.

They will:
• demonstrate how the use of a Professional Corporation can defer, and possibly even save you tens of thousands of dollars annually on your income taxes.
• show how family members can be included in the ownership structure to minimize overall taxes.
• illustrate the use of other entities such as family trusts and holding companies to maximize tax benefits.
• discuss the tax tips and pitfalls in incorporating your existing practice.

February 19, 2009 - 2:00 pm

MacKay LLP training boardroom
Communications Building
Suite 301, 5120 49th Street
Yellowknife, NT

Effective February 1, 2009, the Territorial Court Act contains amendments to the Territorial Court Civil Claims Rules. You can find these amended rules at the address below:
http://www.lawsociety.nt.ca/Portals/0/pdf/R-008-2009.pdf