Canadian Lawyer

VANCOUVER LAWYERS ROCKING AND ROLLING UP THE DOUGH to work and exhausted her assets. "We provide a monthly funding that allows that person to live with a degree of dignity," says Hay. The bulk of the cases deal with substance abuse or some form of mental distress with referrals coming from the Law Society of B.C.'s Lawyers Assistance Program. Hay says a noticeable trend in younger practitioners is the degree of mental problems in the form of stress, anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder. He's not convinced the daily pressures of practising lead to the problems, but may be a contributing factor for individuals predisposed to them. "And, they are often not working in a supportive environment," he says. "Some lawyers are living very well, but there are a lot of lawyers living very small. It's easy to get over extended, disillusioned, and disenchanted." Hay handles 15 to 20 grant applications a year from across the province. The fund operates as emergency funding — often having a cheque out to those in need within 10 days. It is not intended to be insurance coverage for lawyers, who must first have exhausted their own funds before applying. "But we are a benevolent society and we try to not be too rigid," he says. The work by the society has earned it accolades, winning the LAP Hands Helping Hands award, which Hay will accept at the Vancouver Law Courts on June 21. Co-founder and past society board chairman Terry LaLiberte "really deserves the credit for starting it," as he took a concept to reality, says Hay. LaLiberte says he originally heard of the concept of a lawyer's benevolent society through the late lawyer and justice H.A.D. Oliver, for whom he worked in the 1970s. Oliver, from Britain, told of how the society there held black-tie functions that were "extrava- House Arrest is one of the B.C. lawyer bands that compete to raise funds for the benevolent society. (l to r) Judge David St. Pierre, Chiko Misomali, Dan Burnett, Michael Hurst, Meldon Ellis, Jonathan Monk, David Hay. ganzas" raising funds for lawyers in need. The concept didn't take root until the 1990s, however. There had been a number of tragedies — a lawyer upcountry committed suicide leaving a family, another contracted meningitis and was destitute, while an articling student was severely injured in an attack by a client. "It just seemed like it was time for it," says LaLiberte. The seed money of $5,000 came from a Kootenay bar. Urged by the late Al Bates and the CBA-B.C. provincial council, LaLiberte and the judge Gary Cohen were asked to organize it and start further fundraising in 1997. The fund got a boost when Ben Trevino, the LSBC treasurer, passed a member assessment that raised $900,000 to serve as capital with interest given to those in need. The society started staging black-tie events, but they were small fund generators. It wasn't until a concert event occurred that the Battle of the Bar Bands concept clicked with organizers. It took off and funds raised annually have now allowed the society to reinvest monies. "The benevolent society is unique not just in Canada," says LaLiberte, another member of House Arrest. LaLiberte is not aware of any other place where lawyers in bar bands exist or raise funds in a band competition. — JeAN soreNseN jean_sorensen@telus.net www.CANADIAN L a w ye r m a g . c o m M ay 2013 13 rebecca blisseti g etting a piece of the rock for some British Columbia lawyers doesn't mean subscribing to a well-known insurance plan but rather the unique Canadian Bar Association-B.C. Benevolent Society funded by bands of lawyers rocking up funds to the tune of $160,000 a year. "It's an amazing story," says David Hay, a partner with Richards Buell Sutton in Vancouver and grants co-ordinator for the benevolent society. He's also a member of House Arrest, one of the rock bands that includes a provincial court judge and senior bar members. "When we first started playing, we hoped our guitars were in tune and we were just staring at our feet," says Hay. But, the competitive nature of lawyers soon kicked in and the Battle of the Bar Bands was born, with the Vancouver battle — slated for June 7 at the Commodore Ballroom — drawing in 1,000 spectators. Events are also held annually in Nanaimo, Kelowna, and Victoria. In March, House Arrest took the title at the Victoria battle. The dollars generated through such events and a related fund raised $1.39 million to help B.C. lawyers or family members suffering medical hardships. "In the world of sole practitioners, they often have limited means to take care of themselves or their family once they suffer a major reversal of fortune," says Hay. The stories are heart wrenching. "One of our members had her daughter's remains found on the Pickton farm," Hay says, adding the member quit her practice to care for her grandchildren, one of whom was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. The granddaughter succumbed in January. "This was an extraordinary battle by this girl," says Hay, who admits he was awed by the child's courage. Another member was diagnosed with inoperable cancer and during her fight lost her ability

• Cover