LawCast BC
Episodes
How AI is powering legal research at CanLII
23 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
CanLII is harnessing the power of artificial intelligence to help simplify and optimize legal research with its new AI research tool, Search+. The too...
How threats from the US highlight our history of colonization in Canada
09 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When US President Donald Trump began threatening to make Canada the country’s 51st state, Canadians reacted with anger, outrage and a renewed sense ...
Helping families navigate divorce and separation
05 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Divorce and separation can be one of life’s most stressful events, especially for families with children. It not only has legal implications, but ca...
Meet Gigi Chen-Kuo, the Law Society’s new CEO/Executive Director
16 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of LawCast BC, we are pleased to introduce you to the Law Society’s new Chief Executive Officer/Executive Director Gigi Chen-Kuo. We...
Black History Month: Celebrating excellence in the Black legal profession
04 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Every February, people across Canada participate in Black History Month events and initiatives that honour the legacy of Black people in Canada and th...
A conversation with Orange Shirt Society speaker Hank Adam
27 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ahead of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, we were honoured to speak with Hank Adam, an intergenerational residential school survivor spe...
AI and the practice of law
05 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools such as Chat GPT continue to make headlines. Numerous industries, including the legal one, are already f...
Addressing harassment, discrimination and bullying in the legal profession
02 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Discrimination and harassment, including sexual harassment, in the workplace are serious problems in society, and the legal profession is not immune t...
Indigenous reconciliation and cultural safety
08 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we are going to talk about one of the most critical areas the Law Society is addressing – meaningful Indigenous reconciliation and ...
When lawyers need help: navigating mental health resources
13 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A national survey was published last year on the state of legal professionals’ mental health. More than half of respondents in BC reported experienc...
The Rule of law, legal secrecy and the unwritten rule of law on Parliament Hill
07 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Conservative Member of Parliament Michael Chong joins host Jon Festinger to talk about the government's use of "orders in council," leg...
A conversation with Marie Henein on the role of lawyers in our society
10 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Renowned criminal defence lawyer Marie Henein joins host Jon Festinger to talk about the role of lawyers, what influenced her to be a lawyer, and curr...
Racism, equity, diversity and inclusion and the rule of law
17 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Is everyone equal before the law? In light of the recent surge in anti-Asian racist events in BC, we take this episode to examine how racism was built...
Rule of law news: a year in review
15 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this new episode, our host Jon Festinger and Michael Lucas, director of policy and planning at the Law Society, take a look back at the first seaso...
The role of prosecutors in criminal justice and the rule of law
24 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
What exactly does a prosecutor do? And whose interests do they represent? Senior prosecutor Christopher McPherson, QC walks us through the role and du...
COVID-19 and returning to "normal"
03 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We welcome Micheal Vonn to talk to us about COVID-19 and returning to the new "normal." Micheal is Chief Executive Officer of PHS Community ...
Judges and the rule of law
20 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Supreme Court of BC's Justice David Crossin shares with us his insights on the role of judges and the courts in protecting our...
Authoritarianism, closer to home
25 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We invite the Honourable Irwin Cotler back to speak about the impacts of authoritarianism, closer to home.Professor Cotler talked about recent event...
Privacy and the rule of law
28 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
On International Data Privacy Day on January 28, we bring you this special episode, featuring remarks from lawyer Richard Peck, QC at our previous Rul...
COVID-19 and the rule of law, part 2
07 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Edmonton health lawyer Tracey Bailey and host Jon Festinger examine our rights and freedoms in the midst of a pandemic. Tracey walked...
COVID-19 and the rule of law, part 1
16 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Earlier this year, BC ombudsperson Jay Chalke and his office found that two orders the BC government made in response to the pandemic were unlawful. ...
The rise of authoritarianism and assaults to the rule of law, part 2
10 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
We welcome back renowned international human rights lawyer the Honourable Irwin Cotler to discuss several examples of what authoritarianism looks like...
The rise of authoritarianism and assaults on the rule of law, part 1
25 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, renowned international human rights lawyer Professor Irwin Cotler warns against the rise of authoritarianism in countries around the ...
Lawyer independence and the rule of law
03 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
President Craig Ferris and Jon Festinger discuss what it means for lawyers to be independent, why lawyers must represent their clients’ interests, a...
What is rule of law vs. rule by law?
14 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
What is the difference between the rule of law versus rule by law? Dr. Catherine Dauvergne talks to us about why the rule of law is a difficult concep...
Introduction to the rule of law
16 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Craig Ferris, QC, president of the Law Society, and host Jon Festinger, QC kick off the series by explaining why the Law Society is launching this pod...