Ethics and Well-Being Forum 2026
December 9, 2026 at 10:00am - 12:00pm PCT
Downtown Vancouver and Live-webinar
Ethics and Well-Being Forum 2026
December 9, 2026
Overview
This forum convenes an expert faculty to examine contemporary ethical issues and professional challenges confronting members of the legal profession. The discussion will consider the pressures inherent in legal practice, including demanding workloads, complex client expectations, and the pursuit of professional excellence.
Participants will hear from a bencher of the Law Society of British Columbia and representatives of the Lawyers’ Assistance Program. The session will highlight the supports and resources available to assist lawyers in sustaining a healthy and balanced professional life.
By engaging with these perspectives, attendees will gain a deeper understanding of the connection between ethical competence and well-being, leaving them better equipped to uphold the highest standards of professionalism and to serve their clients with integrity, diligence, and care.
Meet the Faculty
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Managing Partner, Narwal Litigation LLP, Vancouver, BC
Cheryl is a civil litigator, mediator, and the managing partner of Narwal Litigation LLP. She has appeared in all levels of Court in British Columbia. In December 2023, she was appointed King’s Counsel. In addition to car accident and sports & recreation cases, Ms. D’Sa has handled personal injury files arising out of occupier’s liability such as slip and falls. Ms. D’Sa has represented clients with chronic pain, soft-tissue injuries, psychological injuries, orthopedic injuries and numerous other injuries.
Ms. D’Sa has been an elected bencher of the Law Society of British Columbia (LSBC) since May 2020. The benchers function as the board of governors of the LSBC. She is the current Chair of the LSBC’s EDI Committee, and a member of the Credentials Committee and Mental Health Task Force. She is one of two bencher representatives on the Board of Continuing Legal Education of British Columbia, and the bencher representative on Justicia. She is also the BC bencher appointed to the Western Canada Competency Task Force.
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Lawyer Counsellor, Lawyers Assistance Program of BC (LAPBC)
Jeff joined LAPBC in 2024. He has practiced law in Vancouver since 2008 as a trial lawyer in both civil jury and judge alone trials. He has participated with LAPBC as a volunteer since 2009, helping others, making presentations, and participating in groups. Jeff worked on, and completed, a Masters of Arts in Counselling Psychology as his personal injury law practice slowed down. A lifetime learner, he is currently working on Advanced course work. Jeff is also a husband and father of twins who were born in 2016. Jeff has experience in a variety of areas as a lawyer, volunteer, counsellor, student, and parent, including litigation, collaborative family processes, mediation, meditation, therapy, grief, the search for meaning, and navigating complicated systems.
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Executive Director, Lawyers Assistance Program of BC (LAPBC)
Claire Marchant joined LAPBC as Executive Director in 2025. Claire is an enthusiastic, empathetic helper with extensive experience in providing confidential advice on legal ethics, practice management, and lawyer well-being. She is immensely proud to be a lawyer (something she’s known she wanted to be since childhood), and is honoured to support the profession she so admires through LAPBC.
Claire was called to the BC bar in 2013. Prior to practising in BC, Claire was called to the Alberta bar in 2011, following a clerkship at the Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench. Claire practised employment, labour, and privacy law in private practice and in-house environments before joining the Law Society of BC as Practice Advisor & Equity Ombudsperson in 2017. Over her 8 years at the Law Society, Claire’s responsibilities grew, culminating in running the Policy and Practice Advice departments and moving forward a number of important initiatives including expanding well-being resources and establishing a Law Society Rule that enshrines the confidential nature of contacting Practice Advice.
Claire prides herself on being kind, can sometimes be quite silly, and is occasionally funny. When not at work, Claire is most likely to be found on her Peloton bike, working with her husband on their delightful 70s nightmare house, or helicopter parenting her dog.
Registration Form
Program:
Ethics and Well-Being Forum 2026
Date:
December 9, 2026 (10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. PCT)
Location:
UBC Robson Square (800 Robson Street - Classroom level), Vancouver, BC
Registration:
Registration is complimentary for those who have attended (faculty and registrants) a PBLI conference in 2026. For those who have not been faculty or attendees of 2026, the registration fee is $250.00 plus GST of $12.50 totalling $262.50. The fee covers your attendance at the forum (in person or by live webinar). Webinar links will be emailed prior to the event. Seats are limited.
When and Where:
Check-in begins at 9:30 a.m. The program starts at 10:00 a.m. and ends at 12:00 p.m. (PCT). UBC Robson Square is located at 800 Robson Street in Vancouver, BC, and our event will take place on the classroom level. Please visit https://robsonsquare.ubc.ca/find-us/ for directions.
Materials:
The faculty will prepare papers and/or other materials explaining many of the points raised during this program. Materials will be distributed electronically.
Cancellations:
Full refunds will be given for cancellations (less a $60.00 administration fee) if notice is received in writing five full business days prior to the forum (December 2, 2026). After that time we are unable to refund registration fees. Substitutions will be permitted. We reserve the right to cancel, change or revise the date, faculty, content, availability of webinar or venue and transfer in-person registration to webinar registration for this event.
To register by phone:
Telephone us: 604-730-2500
Your Privacy:
We will keep all information that you provide to us in strict confidence, other than to prepare a delegate list containing your name, title, firm and city for our faculty and the program delegates. We do not share our mailing lists with any non-affiliated organization.
Course Accreditation:
Attendance at this course can be listed for up to 2 hours of professional responsibility & ethics CPD credits with the Law Society of BC. For practitioners in other jurisdictions, please check your governing body’s CPD requirements.