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B.C. Law Society votes against Trinity Western
June 10, 2014 - 10:07pm
I attended the satellite meeting in Nanaimo to register my vote.
https://www.lawsociety.bc.ca/newsroom/highlights.cfm#c3925
Bravo!
That is most certainly true and they will be joined as a party no matter what. It is important to have the Law Society on the proper side of the courtroom and not seated WITH Trinity Western trying to defend discrimination.
Here is part of the speech of the mover of the Motion.
http://thetyee.ca/News/2014/06/11/Trinity-Western-Law-School-Voted-Down/
Why should so-called "progressives" defend something like the Legal Profession Act? Why should lawyers be in charge of governing lawyers and why should lawyers have any say in law school accreditations? I understand wanting to strike a blow for equality. I think Trinity Western is a repugnant institution but surely the best recourse is to encourage students who sign the so-called "covenant" to simply flout the thing. Many will no doubt disagree.
WHo do you think should govern lawyers professional body? Who should govern the professional bodies of Doctors, archetechs, engineers dentist etc etc?
Because it is important for institutions as well as individuals to directly reject prejudice and inequality. It sends the symbolic message that such approaches are not acceptable in our society as a whole. A neutral institution in this case tacitly supports this bigotry.
There are a lot of times where individual action is important, and the only available strategy. But in this case, an organized, collective response by the association underlines fundamental values of fairness which are supposed to form the bedrock of Canadian values. If we want people to take acceptance seriously, the powers that be also have to walk the walk.
I don't really see why anybody should, but I know who it should not be, and that's doctors, archetects, engineers and dentists. They're obviously going to govern their professions in THEIR own interests. For example, it isn't in lawyers' interests to have to compete with every joe schmoe who calls himself a lawyer. The less competition lawyers have the more they can charge. This isn't necessarily in the public interest no matter how selflessly some lawyers may think they are acting.
I don't think graduates of this school deserve to be punished for the school's decision. If the school were democratically run then it might begin to make sense.
But by the same token, the public is also protected by a general assumption of competancy that comes with recognition of professional credentials. It is certainly not impossible that someone could self-teach themselves to this basic competency in Law, but there are quite a few who would not be able to do so. It protects us from charlatanism. If not, sure as the sun rises tomorrow, a lot of less than scrupulous characters would billing themselves as lawyers or doctors, with attendant chaos resulting.
I'll certainly grant you that a degree and recognition in such bodies does not necessarily indicate competence. There are a lot of bad lawyers with degrees. But it does indicate a much higher chance that the skills and knowledge I'd be looking for in going to a lawyer or doctor are present.
No one made them go there. They could have chosen a law school with full accreditation.
Perhaps this is an unfair observation, and if so, I will be swiftly called on it. But my thought would be that any student who goes to this school is fully aware of their bigoted philosophy, likely to share it, and is hoping that they can get the official stamp of approval for it with professional accreditation. In other words, I don't have much sympathy when the prejudiced get screwed for being prejudiced.
This law school has not startred yet so there are no students affected by this decision. If in the future students choose to attend it will be with full knowledge that the Law Socities in BC and some other provinces will not recognize their degree. Students could also get a mail-in "law degree" from an on line site but the Law Society would not recognize that either.
As for lawyers fees I if you think the lawyer is getting the whole fee and doesn't have to pay for rent and utilities and insurance and staff then you don't understand the business end of the equation.
I think that the entire system of education and accreditation primarily benefits those who set the thing up - educational institutions included. It raises their power and prestige and importance, as well as their incomes. I understand the argument about protecting the public from charlatans, but really it just protects the established charlatans from competition. Over 90% of a university education is in most cases a complete waste of time designed to create obedient and uncritical professionals and to empower and enrich those who set the thing up. What would Peter Kropotkin have to say about lawyers deciding who gets to practice law, or teachers deciding who gets to teach?
Boze that is a good debate but could you please open a thread about it. I put this in the activism thread because I wanted to celebrate a small victory against prejudice not debate the merits of professional organizations.
This is the latest from the Law Society.
And best of all:
B.C. government withdraws consent for Christian law school
Merry Christmas!
An excellent second night of Hanukkah gift, albeit a bit tricky to explain to my eight-year old!
Wonderful news - thanks Unionist.
Not so tricky... how can they claim to be a law school if they can't follow the law?
And on issues of orientation and equality and acceptance, I'd say eight year olds are probably a lot more on the ball than most adults.
Very good news.
As has been noted in the thread on the niqab this decision has now been over turned on an adminstrative law basis. The following article does a good job of explaining what I was reiterating in the other thread.
http://thetyee.ca/News/2015/12/11/Trinity-Western-Uncertain-Future/
Wow. Due process works every time.
And when it doesn't, resort to Dirty Tricks.
Trinity Western fight back in court today: Law Society appeals decision
The hateful scions of Trinity Western suffer another well-deserved setback:
Ontario Appeal Court upholds law society’s stand on Trinity Western University
Well done, judiciary, where cowardly governments fear to tread! And may Trinity Western be gathered unto the bosom of their Lord, having passed through the eye of a needle, as soon as is medically feasible!
Yes a good win at the Ontario Court of Appeal, there is no doubt this is going to the Supreme Court of Canada. If we win there then the provinces that have accredited the law school (Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador) will have to change their decision to accredit this homophobic institution and follow the ruling.