The incoming president says addressing these issues will strengthen the legal profession
Asked to share some of her plans for the Canadian Bar Association when she takes the helm as president on Sept. 1, Bianca Kratt identifies three areas of focus: justice system resources, AI, and public trust.
According to Kratt, these represent some of the top issues facing the legal profession today, and addressing them head-on is necessary to strengthen the industry.
“In order to have a resilient legal profession, we need courts that have sufficient resources to function effectively, a responsible approach to new technology such as AI, and we also need full participation of women and lawyers of all backgrounds,” Kratt says.
She adds that “we absolutely need public trust – including confidence that the legal system is fair, that the legal system is accessible to all and independent, and that lawyers will uphold the highest ethical and professional standards in their practice.”
Kratt’s year-long tenure as president of the nation’s largest legal association in the country will involve advocating for more resources in the justice system, continued programming to train lawyers on how to use AI tools ethically and effectively, and rebuilding what she views as the public’s waning trust in the legal system.
“We’re seeing diminishing trust in many institutions, including in the legal system,” Kratt says. “We’re fortunate to have a legal system that's independent and that's committed to the rule of law, but making sure that everyone is held to the same standards is critical, and we need to be active and really engaged to make sure that this remains the case.”
Kratt is a partner at Borden Ladner Gervais LLP’s Calgary office, where she specializes in real estate and commercial matters. She previously served as the CBA’s vice president.
In a statement on Thursday, outgoing CBA President Lynne Vicars said, “Promoting trust in our legal institutions has been my priority over the last year, and it will remain so in the future. I know it will continue to guide the Canadian Bar Association as Bianca Kratt, K.C., assumes its presidency next month.
Vicars added, “I have every confidence that, in this moment of increasing pressure on judges and lawyers, our association will remain a vital bulwark for judicial independence, the independence of the legal profession and the rule of law.”
