LCLA Library Staffing
The LCLA Law Library has now reopened. The library is currently being staffed from 8:30 AM to 4:15 PM, with all necessary precautions being taken to keep everyone safe.
LCLA AGM – Aug. 13, 2020
Please mark your calendars for the Lincoln County Law Association AGM to be held on Thursday, August 13 at 5:00 via zoom.
Details and materials will be distributed in the near future.
July 7, 2020 – FOLA Real Estate Update – LRO Closures
In an effort to keep real estate lawyers updated with the ever-changing situation, we have further information to be shared with the real estate lawyers in your association.
LRO Closures
The Director of Titles has announced the closure of all 54 Land Registry Offices to the public effective October 13, 2020. This means that Friday, October 9, 2020 will be last day the Land Registry Office counter service will be available. Further details can be found in his letter to FOLA here.
If and when we receive further information of interest to the real estate bar, we will pass it along.
Stay up to date with FOLA’s real estate information at https://fola.ca/real-estate-law.
Merredith MacLennan and Eldon Horner
FOLA Real Estate Co-Chairs
Please note: The information provided herein is of a general nature only and is not intended to provide legal advice.
2021 Trial Sittings Dates
Please note the Civil and Family Trial Sittings in 2021 have been set for the following dates:
Long Trial Team Sittings (reserved for all trials that require 15 days or more):
- March 22, 2021
- October 4, 2021
Hamilton Sopinka – 3 weeks each (civil)
- February 8, 2021
- May 10, 2021
- September 13, 2021
- November 15 , 2021
Kitchener – 3 weeks each
- January 25, 2021
- April 6, 2021
- September 7, 2021
- November 8, 2021
St. Catharines – 3 weeks each
- January 18 , 2021
- May 17, 2021
- October 12, 2021
Welland
- March 29, 2021 – 3 weeks
- June 14, 2021 – 2 weeks
- November 22, 2021 – 3 weeks
Zoom Tips and Tutorials
Please find below a list of links providing you with information on the use of the Zoom video platform. The links give information ranging from basic use, to more advanced features and keyboard shortcuts, depending on your needs.
https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/206618765-Zoom-video-tutorials
https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/205683899-Hot-Keys-and-Keyboard-Shortcuts-for-Zoom
https://www.howtogeek.com/669467/zoom-keyboard-shortcut-and-how-to-use-them/
https://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/tips-for-using-zoom/
Effective Immediately: Reduced Counter Services at St. Catharines and Welland courthouses
NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC – COUNTER SERVICES
The health and wellbeing of court occupants and all Ontarians who access the courthouse is a priority.
Do not come into the Courthouse in person if you have been advised by Public Health or your doctor or the Ontario Ministry of Health (MOH) website to self-isolate due to possible exposure to the coronavirus (COVID-19).
All users of this courthouse are advised to consult the MOH website for the latest information on COVID-19 at: Ontario.ca/coronavirus
If you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms or to determine whether you should isolate yourself or seek medical assistance, call Telehealth at 1-866-797-0000 or your local public health unit for assistance and direction, before attending the courthouse.
COUNTER SERVICES
Effective March 18, 2020, and until further notice, counter services will be offered between 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
ONLINE FILING
Please note that online filing is available for Small Claims Court, Civil, and Family Court matters. For more information, please visit:
https://www.ontario.ca/page/file-small-claims-online (Small Claims Court)
https://www.ontario.ca/page/file-civil-claim-online (civil)
https://www.ontario.ca/page/file-divorce-application-online (family)
FAMILY MEDIATION AND INFORMATION SERVICES
All onsite family mediation and information services are being suspended until further notice. Parties are encouraged to contact service providers to discuss services being offered remotely, including online or by phone.
You may also be able to find information at:
Community Legal Education Ontario: cleo.on.ca
Steps to Justice: stepstojustice.ca
Legal Aid Ontario: legalaid.on.ca
LCLA Library staffing
Due to the Covid-19 situation, the Law Library will be unstaffed until further notice. Staff will be working offsite, and may be reached via email at library@thelcla.ca. Library staff will have access to Quicklaw, Practice Advisor, Wrongful Dismissal Database and Lawyers’ Daily, and will be able to assist with research. We will post any updates on the LCLA website.
Legal Aid Ontario – Additional Family Duty Counsel Services – effective November 18, 2019
As you are well aware, on July 7, 2019, Legal Aid Ontario implemented service changes across the province in order to align their operations to their provincial funding allocation for 2019. Earlier this afternoon, FOLA was advised that following a period of monitoring LAO services, they have adapted services as required and, as a result, they determined that there is now capacity to provide some additional family duty counsel services.
As such, effective November 18, 2019, duty counsel will provide these additional services:
- Procedural advice to anyone appearing without their own lawyer in first appearance court or case conference.
- Assistance with child protection matters for financially eligible clients in jurisdictions where clients are unable to retain lawyer in a timely manner.
- Assistance with consents, as long as negotiations have been completed and the issues are eligible for duty counsel services.
- Assistance with second case conferences, for those who financially qualify for legal aid and the issues are eligible for duty counsel services.
The attached documents outline additional services which will now be available. The provision of these additional services will be subject to local practise and duty counsel capacity. Some services may not be available at every location.
Substantive legal advice and assistance remains limited to those who financially qualify for legal aid. Please do forward this to all members who work with Legal Aid.
CLIENT-Service-Guide_DC-family-services-resumed-18Nov2019_EN
MAG notice regarding civil justice reforms
Good afternoon – earlier today, MAG sent us the following notice to all in the legal profession:
On January 1, 2020, important civil justice reforms will come into effect. The reforms were introduced through:
- A regulation filed on October 23, 2019 to increase the Small Claims Court monetary jurisdiction (O. Reg 343-19 amending O. Reg. 626/00 pursuant to the Courts of Justice Act, s.53(1)).
- A regulation filed on October 23, 2019 to amend civil court rules relating to Simplified Procedure (O. Reg 344-19 amending the Rules of Civil Procedure pursuant to the Courts of Justice Act).
- Bill 100, the Protecting what Matters Most Act (Budget Measures) 2019, which passed on May 29, 2019 (amends s.108 of the Courts of Justice Act by eliminating civil jury trials in Simplified Procedure actions)
Please also note that a regulation filed on October 23, 2019 amends the Rules of the Small Claims Court court forms relating to garnishment proceedings (O. Reg 345-19). The court forms are available on the CSD court forms website.
This information can also be found on FOLA’s website.
Katie W. Robinette
Executive Director
Re: Overnight arrests by video
We had a meeting on Friday September 27th with a majority of stakeholders to see how the revised changes to Bail was going. The project appears to be working by reducing the number of prisoners being brought to the court house but what we did identify, was a work flow issue.. The end result will be that we will be switching SB2 and SB3.
Effective Monday October 21st, All Bail matters will be moved into SB2 Starting at 930 am, where the video suite is located and will deal with overnight arrests, video from the various Detention centres and regular bail matters, if I can describe them as that.
Case Management Court will be moved into SB3 with a 900 am start and once Case Management Court has been completed it will become a Bail Assist Court with IPBC taking priority on Mondays and Thursdays at 130 pm.
It is believed that this will assist Court Support Staff with Docket and Information preparation and ensure that proper breaks are given throughout the day.
Signage and the information counter on the first floor will be prepared to advise the public of these changes.
I will be preparing revised Protocols for both SB2 and SB3 and hopefully have them distributed by weeks end.
Also please feel free to share this message with anyone else who would have an interest in this matter.
Thank you,
Bruce
H.W. Bruce W PHILLIPS,
Local Administrative Justice of the Peace Niagara
SB2 Case Management Video Bail Best Practices Protocol 20191021