Rod Snow of Whitehorse assumed the presidency of the 37,000-member Canadian Bar Association (CBA) on Aug. 17, at the Closing Luncheon of the Canadian Legal Conference in Niagara, and at that time became the first CBA president to hail from North of 60.
"I hope to bring a Northern perspective on national issues such as access to justice and legal aid," says Rod Snow, a partner in the Davis LLP Yukon Office. "Based on my experience of 17 years in the north and more than 25 years as a partner in a national law firm, I know we can do more to improve access to justice for individuals with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)."
Mr. Snow is keenly aware of issues that affect lawyers practicing across Canada. "I know that lawyers everywhere are under pressure from a confluence of factors such as globalization, technological change, and the fallout from the recent recession to adapt and do more for less. These kinds of issues will be my priorities."
A strong advocate for membership in CBA, Mr. Snow will promote the CBA's new Skilled Lawyer Series, to be rolled out this fall, and the Partnership Toolkit, released at the CBA Canadian Legal Conference in Niagara. "Our research shows that young lawyers are looking for accredited, affordable and accessible skills-based training in an interactive format," says Mr. Snow. "The concept of a skills development package puts the CBA on the leading edge in delivery of professional development (PD) in this country."
The CBA Partnership Toolkit explores the many aspects of this very important milestone in a young lawyer's professional life. Mr. Snow is a strong proponent of the CBA's ongoing work on conflicts of interest. Current work on this initiative involves the use of engagement letters.
Mr. Snow received his LL.B in 1976 from Dalhousie University before completing an LL.M. on a NATO Fellowship at the University of Washington in Seattle. He was called to the Bar of B.C. in 1979, to Yukon in 1993, and to Nunavut in 2009. He practices at Davis LLP in Whitehorse as a corporate and M&A solicitor, with emphasis on mining, aboriginal and environmental law. Recognized as a leader in his field, he is the author of several articles and a sought-after speaker on both mining and aboriginal law.
Mr. Snow received the chain of office from outgoing President Kevin Carroll, Q.C., on Tuesday, Aug. 17, at the closing luncheon.