Canadian Lawyer

representation and advice they deserve. "Issues like domestic violence are huge in our community, so women should know about restraining orders and the resources available to them." But not everyone is a fan. "Is it too much to expect that immi- grants learn at least one of the official languages," a disgruntled and anonymous blogger sniffed in the Calgary Herald. Besides fielding legal questions on his radio show, Sharma interviews politi- cal and religious leaders from within the South Asian community and beyond. And he steps on toes. "I can't think of a month where I haven't offended somebody," he says with a smile. He has annoyed MLAs, cabinet ministers, the Harper govern- ment, judges, police, at least one Imam, and sometimes it seems the whole city of Calgary. His vigorous fight two years ago to prevent the deportation of Jackie Tran, Raj Sharma isn't shy with his opinions. a man widely linked with Vietnamese gang warfare in Calgary, made Sharma a target in the media and the blogosphere. Sharma relished it. "I got a big kick out of representing Jackie Tran." uNIvERSITy Of ALbERTA LAW cELEbRATES cENTENARy of Appeal Catherine Fraser. Two graduates were also justices on the Supreme Court, Ronald Martland and William Stevenson. Other grads are peppered throughout Canada's legal and political landscape and the long list of notables, including former Alberta premier Peter Lougheed and one-time president of the NHL and Rhodes Scholar, Clarence Campbell. These and hundreds of other graduates were celebrated last month at the T University of Alberta, Faculty of Law's 100th Anniversary Alumni Banquet in Edmonton. The faculty has a similar banquet planned for later this year in Calgary. The faculty's vice dean, the appropriately named Prof. John Law, calls the ban- quets "a nod to the past." The present will be commemorated in June of next year when there will be a special convocation strictly for law graduates. And "tom- morow" will be the focus of a conference on the future of legal education planned for September 2013. There is also a video in the works, historical displays, and possibly a commemo- rative book. "Trust me," says Law, who has been a major player in organizing events. "We've been sifting through boxes of old photos and digitizing them." But the celebration isn't all fun and games. Law believes it's "a good opportunity to take stock of where we are and where we are likely to go." So will there still be a faculty of law in another 100 years? Law believes that "so long as there is a need for lawyers there will be need for a law school . . . but will [the faculty] look like it does today — I don't know." — GE www.CANADIAN Lawyermag.com M A RCH 2012 11 erners_Newsfeed_CL_Mar_12.indd 1 12-02-13 11:18 AM he University of Alberta's Faculty of Law has been around for 100 years and has a lot to celebrate. The current Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Beverley McLachlin is a graduate and so is the Chief Justice of Alberta Court News Feed NEW LSUC GUIDE Lerners' partner Elizabeth Grace helped draft a new guide to the provision of legal services in cases involving sexual abuse claims. Now available at www.goo.gl/MEb9R HELP US GIVE MORE Visit our charity Facebook page and we'll donate $1 for every "Like" to the highlighted charity up to a maximum of $2500 per month. This month is Bond Child and Family Development www.facebook.com/LernersLLP ARBITRATION ADVOCACY Cynthia Kuehl will be sharing her insights with the Advocates' Society on March 2 www.lerners.ca/news:123 But Sharma saves some of his most outspoken shots for his own community. "Fine, I was born in Hamilton, Ont., but it doesn't matter, I'm part of the [South Asian] community and I get to criticize the community. I will call a spade a spade." Sharma's blunt talk on difficult issues sur- rounding multiculturalism and cultural integration has angered some South Asian community leaders and also attracted unwanted friends from anti-immigration groups. But Sharma isn't planning to change his style any time soon. "As a lawyer," he says, "you can't be afraid of offending people. If that means I'll never get a federal appointment, I'll never be a QC, whatever, I don't care. You have to do what you have to do." — GEOFF ELLWAND writerlaw@gmail.com www.lerners.ca

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