News & Updates
Membership Renewals Deadline: March 31
January 16, 2012 - Membership renewals for 2012/2013 are due on or before March 31, 2012. For complete details and instructions for renewing memberships, visit the Membership Renewals page.
New Rules, Amendments Published
December 20, 2011 - The Rules of the Law Society have been consolidated with the amendments passed at the 34th Annual General Meeting of the Law Society. The published version of the Rules is now available under Publications. For more information on the amendments, please refer to the Agenda & Materials from the 34th AGM.
Election of Officers
December 5, 2011 - Following the December 2nd election of the Executive, Caroline Wawzonek and Margo Nightingale, both Yellowknife-based sole practitioners, have been elected as members of the Executive of the Law Society for a term of two years. As such, the 2012 Executive of the Law Society is as follows:
- Cayley Thomas - President
- Caroline Wawzonek - Vice-President
- Margo Nightingale - Secretary
- Kelly McLaughlin - Treasurer
2011 AGM Materials
November 22, 2011 -
The 34th Annual General Meeting of the Law Society of the Northwest Territories will be held on Saturday, December 3, 2011 at 9:00am at the Champagne Room (2nd Floor, 5004 50th Avenue, Yellowknife, NT).
For more information, and to view/download an electronic version of the Agenda and Materials, please visit the 2011 AGM web page.
All members are strongly encouraged to attend.
2011 Election and AGM
September 20, 2011 - Elections for the Law Society Executive will happen on Friday, December 2, 2011. Nominations for the Law Society Executive will be accepted at the Law Society office until Friday, October 28, 2011. The AGM will follow on Saturday December 3, 2011. For more information, please see the Notice on the Notices to the Profession page, or contact the Law Society for details.
Presidents' Dinner
September 13, 2011 - The President of the Law Society, joined by the President of the NWT Branch of the Canadian Bar Association, invite all members to the 6th Annual Presidents' Dinner on Saturday, September 24. Tickets are on sale until Wednesday, September 21. For more details, contact the Law Society office.
2011/2012 Professional Liability Insurance Renewals
May 16, 2011 - Renewals for Professional Liability Insurance are due starting June 17, 2011. Members enrolled in the Law Society's policy have received notice. The notice can also be found on the Notices to the Profession page.
Job Opportunity: Administrative Assistant
May 2, 2011 - The Law Society of the Northwest Territories requires the services of a reliable, self-motivated, mature individual with strong organizational, technical and administrative skills to assume the responsibilities of the Administrative Assistant effective June 13th, 2011.
For more information, visit the Employment Opportunities page.
Membership Renewals for 2011
January 17, 2011 - Membership renewals for 2011/2012 are due on or before March 31, 2011. Members can find all necessary forms and documents on this website. Click here to go to the Renewals page.
Holiday Closure
December 13, 2010 - The Office of the Law Society will be closed for the holidays on Thursday, December 23, and reopened on Tuesday, January 4, 2011.
The Law Society wishes everyone a safe and happy holiday and an exceptional new year.
Territorial Court Sitting Schedule Online
November 30, 2010 - Public versions of the Territorial Court Sitting Schedule (2010 & 2011) are now available on the NWT Courts website:
www.nwtcourts.ca/schedule/tcs.htm
This online format replaces all hard-copy versions sent out to counsel, RCMP, Probation, et cetera.
Proposed New Rules of the Supreme Court (NWT)
November 25, 2010 - Over the last 18 months, the Supreme Court Rules Committee, chaired by the Hon. Justice Vertes, has been reviewing and updating the Rules of Court for the Supreme Court of the Northwest Territories. On November 19, the Committee met with members of the Bar for consultation and feedback. The Committee now invites members to provide comments regarding the proposed rules. Comments and suggestions will be accepted until December 20, 2010, and can be sent directly to Committee Members Sarah Kay and Adrian Wright. Please see the documents below for more information:
- Consolidation Draft of the Rules of Court
- Powerpoint Presentation from the Consultation
- Memo from the CBA-NT Administrative Law Section
2010 Amendments to the Law Society's Rules
November 23, 2010 - Amendments to the Rules are now available for review. Active members have been sent a Notice of Amending Resolutions, as well as the Rule Amendments.
Changes to the Rules include the new Canadian Legal Advisor membership category, in response to the new Quebec Mobility Agreement, and the new Law Student membership status, an initiative launched at the request of the Public Prosecutions Service of Canada. As well, rules implementing mandatory CPD have been developed.
33rd Annual General Meeting
November 15, 2010 - The 33rd Annual General Meeting of the Law Society of the Northwest Territories will take place at the following date, time and location:
Saturday, December 4, 2010 - 9:00 AM The Champagne Room 2nd Floor, 5004 50th Avenue Yellowknife, Northwest Territories
The Annual General Meeting shall be immediately followed by a meeting of the present and newly elected members of the Executive.
For more information, click here.
2011 Executive Election
November 2, 2010 - Pursuant to the Rules of the Law Society, and following a notice delivered to members on September 14, 2010, an election for the 2011 Executive of the Law Society of the Northwest Territories has been called. (Nominations were accepted until October 31, 2010.)
An election package, including a ballot, envelope, return envelope, nominee information and instructions has been mailed to all active members. Ballots will be accepted no later than election day, December 3, 2010, at 11:00am (MST).
For more information about this election, please contact the Law Society office.
Law Society Office Move
August 10, 2010 - The office of the Law Society of the Northwest Territories has moved to the following location:
4th Floor, Diamond Plaza
5204 - 50th Avenue
Yellowknife, NT X1A 1E2
The Society's mailing address remains as:
PO Box 1298, Stn. Main
Yellowknife, NT X1A 2N9
All contact numbers and emails remain unchanged.
This move comes into effect on Tuesday, August 10, 2010.
Policy Manual Amendment
March 15, 2010 - The Executive of the Law Society has amended Policy II.13, "Information Released on a Certificate of Standing," found in the updated Policy Manual.
To download/view the manual in PDF format, click here or visit the Publications page.
Election seats two more on Executive
October 30, 2009 - As a result of the recent Executive election nomination process, two members were elected by acclamation to the Executive of the Law Society of the Northwest Territories.
Members Erin Delaney and Sheila MacPherson will begin their 2-year term on December 5th, 2009.
Rules Amended: Client Identification
August 12, 2009 - The Law Society Executive has ordered the amendment of the rules regarding Client Identification and Verification. The amendment brings the regulation into line with the national rule while maintaining the context. Of particular note is the definition list of guarantors (by profession). The amendments are available in the PDF below:
Now in Force: Professional Corporations
July 20, 2009 - For several years, the Law Society has been working with the Department of Justice on Professional Corporation Legislation in the Northwest Territories. This legislation was passed earlier this year and recently brought into force.
Those wishing to avail themselves of this legislation are required to complete either form 9.1 or 9.2 as appropriate, as well as Form 9.3 and submit them to the Law Society for consideration.
For your convenience, we have provided links to the Legislation, the Rules and the Forms found on the Society website and GNWT Justice website:
Employment Standards Regulations Amendment
March 25, 2009 - An amendment to the Employment Standards Regulations will come into force April 1, 2009. The amendment states that Sections 7 to 11 of the Employment Standards Act do not apply to the employee and employers of the Licensed Practical Nurses Profession.
The Canada Revenue Agency warns Canadians of mail scam
February 4, 2009 - The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) is warning taxpayers to beware of a recent scam where some Canadians are receiving a letter fraudulently identified as coming from the CRA and asking for personal information. The letter is not from the CRA. A PDF version of the letter is available on the CRA Web site at www.cra.gc.ca/alert.
The letter claims that there is “insufficient information” for the individual’s tax return and that in order to receive any “claims,” they will have to update their records. The letter attaches a form specifically requesting the individual’s personal information in writing, via fax or email, including information on bank accounts and passports. This letter is not from the CRA and Canadians should not provide their personal information to the sender.
All taxpayers should be vigilant when divulging any confidential information to third parties. The CRA has well established practices to protect the confidentiality of taxpayers’ information.
The CRA has notified the proper law enforcement authorities of this scam.
For information about this and other similar scams, or to report deceptive telemarketing activity, visit www.phonebusters.com, send an email to info@phonebusters.com, or call 1-888-495-8501.
Amendments: Legal Profession Act
February 4, 2009 - The Department of Justice (NT) has published amendments to the Legal Profession Act. Download the amendments from the link below:
http://www.justice.gov.nt.ca/Legislation/..\PDF\ACTS\Legal Profession.pdf
2009/2010 Membership Renewal Forms now Available
January 14, 2009 - Accompanying the 2009 Renewal process are two notices:
- Notice to Pay Annual Fees and Assurance Fund Levy
- Notice: Reminder of Section 48 of the Legal Profession Act
Please read the two notices prior to completing the forms. Deadline for the filing of the renewal is March 31, 2009. Please return your completed renewal package, with payment, before that date. You can find all renewal information on the Membership Information page.
