CLEBC is delighted to welcome Keith Reimer and Laura Best as the new chairs of our Immigration Issues in Depth course. Read our Q+A with Keith and Laura to learn more about changes to the course, emerging issues in immigration law, and why you should join us on December 1, 2017 at Immigration Issues in Depth 2017.
How/why did you decihttp://www.cle.bc.ca/onlinestore/productdetails.aspx?cid=1430de to take on the role of being the new chairs of this course?
K: I was excited to be asked to take on the role of being one of the new chairs of Immigration Issues in Depth. Immigration law issues are very “human” issues and immigration law is an area of law that clearly reflects a society’s values. I have been lucky enough to practice in the area for much of my career, and I welcome the chance to listen to others in the area and to discuss with them current issues in immigration law.
L: Immigration Issues in Depth offers an opportunity to hear from various stakeholders and key decision makers in the field. I have come to understand that immigration law is highly intersectional. I am looking forward to being part of a course that will bring together academics, representatives from the Immigration and Refugee Board and the Federal Court, and government and private bar counsel together for a day of learning and collaboration.
Are there any changes/differences in the course that we can expect compared to previous years?
K+L: This year’s course focuses on understanding immigration law issues from new and different perspectives. We will be keeping aspects of the course that attendees have found useful in the past, including the update on administrative and immigration law jurisprudence and a presentation by Immigration and Refugee Board members on developments and trends at the Board. This year, faculty will also address immigration law issues from other lenses, including that of international law, Aboriginal law, and prison law. In addition, faculty will talk about media and other non-legal tools available to counsel to assist their clients.
What are some emerging immigration law issues/trends that will be addressed at this year’s course?
K: Faculty will address a number of immigration law issues including privacy concerns for counsel crossing the Canada–US border.
L: Faculty will also discuss recent developments and key decisions from Federal Court, the Federal Court of Appeal, and the Supreme Court of Canada that are expected to influence immigration trends for 2018.
Why should your colleagues in the BC legal community attend this year’s course?
K+L: Our hope as chairs is that everyone who attends the course will leave at the end of the day with a broader perspective on some of the current immigration law issues, an understanding of what future trends they can expect, and an expanded set of tools to assist their clients.