5 minute read
UVic Law Faculty News
from January 2023
By Ivan Watson*
The fall 2022 term has proven to be a busy and productive period at UVic Law with a number of new developments for faculty, staff and students.
NEW BOOK ADDRESSES THE CRISIS OF INDIGENOUS OVER-INCARCERATION IN CANADA’S CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM Our J.D./J.I.D. Indigenous Law program director, Dr. David Milward, published his third and latest book, titled Reconciliation and Indigenous Justice: A Search for Ways Forward. It was launched on October 20, 2022 during a special event at the Ceremonial Hall of First Peoples House at UVic. The in- person event featured Dr. Milward, along with a panel of respondents that included law Ph.D. candidate Sabrina Lamanna, Dr. John Borrows and Professor Gillian Calder.
The book explores the lasting fallout from the Indian residential school system in Canada and the history of violence and intergenerational trauma, which are key factors contributing to the current crisis of Indigenous overincarceration in the criminal justice system.
“There seems to be a sort of denial, in large segments of Canadian mainstream society, that residential schools were a thing of the past and there is no longer any ongoing responsibility or connection to the present,” explained Dr. Milward. “A large objective of the book is to prove otherwise.”
The book is available for sale in print and digital versions, through Fernwood Publishing.
DR. VAL NAPOLEON ELECTED CHAIR OF INTERNATIONAL URGENT ACTION FUND Our interim dean, Dr. Val Napoleon, was recently elected chair of the inter-
* Ivan Watson is the communications officer for the UVic Faculty of Law.
national Urgent Action Fund for Women’s Human Rights, after serving for the past three years on the board.
“I’m thrilled—it is an honour to serve with a team of talented and dedicated colleagues,” she said. “The Urgent Action Fund is an organization with incredible reach and impact around the world in support of women and girls. We mobilize people and resources to make an immediate and tangible impact on the safety and security of women and girls around the world, and we defend and advocate for the improvement of women and girl’s rights where the needs are greatest.”
The Urgent Action Fund for Women’s Human Rights is an international organization that partners with women’s movements worldwide to support women’s human rights defenders striving to create cultures of justice, equality and peace and to build the resilience of women’s rights movements globally.
PROFESSOR TED MCDORMAN RETIRES AFTER 37 ACCOMPLISHED YEARS Recently, Professor Ted McDorman retired after an impressive 37 years of distinguished service with UVic Law.
“Ted has inspired countless future lawyers and has made an impact that extends far beyond his teaching at UVic, leaving behind an outstanding legacy,” said Dr. Napoleon. “On behalf of his colleagues, I wish him all the very best as he transitions into retirement and thank him for his years of dedicated service to the faculty, in particular his mentorship of younger colleagues and his commitment to going above and beyond to bring out the best in his students.”
Professor McDorman started teaching at UVic Law in 1985. His research and teaching interests include public international law, international trade law, international ocean and environmental law and private international law.
His regional focus was southeast Asia and northeast Asia. In the 1990s, Professor McDorman was part of a major oceans project centred in Thailand. He was a frequent participant at ocean law workshops and conferences in Korea, Taiwan and China.
He has been a visiting professor at institutions in Thailand, Sweden, the Netherlands and Canada and has over 140 publications in the areas of ocean law and policy, international trade law and comparative constitutional law.
For 20 years, he served as editor-in-chief of Ocean Development and International Law: The Journal of Marine Affairs. He describes his varied and international career opportunities as a case of “one good thing leading to another.”
From 2002 to 2004, and again from 2011 to 2013, he was the academic-inresidence with the Bureau of Legal Affairs in the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade in Ottawa. In the spring of 2007, he was the Fulbright Visiting Chair in Canada-U.S. Relations at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington, D.C.
At one point or another during the past 37 years, he has taught many different courses offered by the faculty, including Canadian Constitutional Law for many years, Canadian Environmental Law and Comparative Asian Law. He also held a cross-appointment with the Department of Geography and was an associate of the Centre for Asia-Pacific Initiatives.
In honour of the many contributions Professor McDorman has made to the faculty and to UVic Law students, a new scholarship has been created in his name. The Ted L. McDorman Entrance Scholarship in Law will help new UVic Law students gain their footing as they begin their studies. This scholarship will ensure his commitment to UVic law students will continue to have an impact here in the faculty.
GEIGER LAW PRACTICE SALES
British Columbia and Alberta
SURREY PRACTICE
This busy practice has been in operation for over 50 years. The present practice mix is RE (including Municipal/Expropriation), Corp/Comm, Wills/Estates, Family Law and Litigation. The sellers have excellent reputations individually and as a firm, and are prepared to assist the buyer with a transition plan that ensures client retention.
TRI-CITIES SOLICITOR’S PRACTICE
This long-established practice would suit a firm wishing to expand to the Tri-Cities area, or a local resident wishing to avoid the commute downtown. Real Estate forms 60% of this practice with the remainder evenly split between Wills/Estates and Corporate/Commercial. The practice is presently turning away work so there is lots of room for expansion.
COMOX VALLEY GENERAL PRACTICE
Over 20 years’ in operation with a mix of Real Estate, Wills/Estates, Family Law and Civil Litigation. Solid and consistent billings. Seller is flexible about transition and willing to mentor a junior lawyer with at least five years' experience.
VANCOUVER BOUTIQUE LITIGATION FIRM: New on market
CALGARY MULTI-LAWYER SOLICITOR’S PRACTICE: contact K. Geiger for details.
CENTRAL ALBERTA GENERAL PRACTICE
This practice started 100 years ago and is located in the historic downtown core of this Central Alberta city. Practice mix is about 50% RE, Wills/Estates and Corporate/Commercial; the remainder is Family law/litigation as well as Commercial litigation. Billings are in the high six figures. The practice boasts fantastic staff and the premises have space for a second lawyer.
CENTRAL ALBERTA GENERAL PRACTICE
2 lawyer practice established in 1984. Consistently billing 8-900K. 70% Solicitor’s work and 30% Family/General Litigation. Trained staff and congenial sellers who are willing to mentor incoming lawyer(s).
