March 3, 2022
Welcome New Law Society of Alberta Bencher, Ronald A. Sorokin
Ron received a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Toronto (1987) and LLB (1991) from the University of Alberta. He articled and has spent his entire career with Witten LLP (formerly Witten Binder). He became a partner in 1998 and was managing partner from 2010-2020. His practice focuses on commercial real estate and commercial transactions, and he has been repeatedly recognized by both Lexpert and Best Lawyer.

Ron participates as Civil Duty counsel. He has been a panelist at several Legal Education Society of Alberta (LESA) courses and has chaired a number of seminars including a seminar for Advanced Commercial Real Estate at the Banff Refresher Course on Real Estate. He has been an active member of the CBA, as a current member and past chair of the Commercial Property section, as a member of the CBA Engagement Task Force, and as a past member of the Creditor Rights and Business sections.

For several years, Ron has been a weekly driver volunteer for Meals on Wheels; an active member and contributor to the YMCA; an active participant and leader contributor to the United Way; a volunteer at the Food Bank; and a supporter and participator in Habitat for Humanity builds. Throughout his professional career, he has and continues to serve as pro bono counsel and as a board member for several not-for-profit organizations and charitable foundations.

For more information on the Board, please visit our website.
February 2022 Bencher Recap Video
In our February 2022 edition of the Board Recap video, Law Society of Alberta President, Ken Warren, QC, and President-Elect, Bill Hendsbee, QC, discuss:

  • the change in leadership at the Bencher table;
  • changes to committee assignments and upcoming priorities of our three strategic committees: Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, Lawyer Competence, and Policy and Regulatory Reform; and
  • an update on the Innovation Sandbox.
Accelerated Practice Readiness Education Program (PREP) 2022

CPLED first offered Accelerated PREP during the summer of 2021 to a small cohort of Alberta students after receiving feedback that students experienced challenges in balancing competing priorities between the bar admission program and their articles. Firms have also reported that students who participated in the first offering of Accelerated PREP arrived prepared and confident on day one of their articles.

The Accelerated PREP format contains the same content as the standard PREP but requires students to attend online full-time for 14 weeks. This means students complete their entire PREP before beginning their articling term.

With this new option, it is important to note that students who take the accelerated format are still required to complete a minimum of eight months articling. The 14 weeks of Accelerated PREP does not count towards the articling term.

As part of CPLED’s commitment to excellence, it will limit Accelerated PREP registration this year to a soft launch of four cohorts of Alberta students, allowing for the delivery of a high-quality program that meets the needs and expectations of their stakeholders.

The 2022 Accelerated PREP will run from May 30 to Sept. 2. Registration will open online on Wednesday, April 20 with limited enrolment, and it will operate on a first come, first served basis.

For more information about the program and the registration process, visit the CPLED website.
The HELP Toolkit: Identifying and Responding to Family Violence for Family Law Legal Advisers Now Available
The HELP Toolkit: Identifying and Responding to Family Violence for Family Law Legal Advisers is now available on the Department of Justice Canada website.

The toolkit provides practical guidance to help legal advisers identify and respond to family violence in their family law cases. The “HELP” approach is based on new and existing research on:

  • family violence in the family law context;
  • the current practices and needs of legal advisers in relation to identifying and responding to family violence with family law clients; and
  • the needs of family law clients who have experienced family violence.

The development of the HELP toolkit was supported by many people across the country, including experts in family law and family violence, legal advisers, frontline service providers, the Canadian Bar Association’s Family Law Section and the Federation of Law Societies of Canada. 
Court Announcements
Court of Queen's Bench


Subject to any issues arising in particular matters between the date of this announcement and the date of a hearing that may require an adjournment due to COVID-19 issues affecting that particular hearing, the court schedule for the week commencing March 7, 2022 will proceed as outlined in the full announcement.


On Feb. 26, 2022, the Government announced that effective March 1, 2022, it would proceed to step two of its plan to lift virtually all of its pandemic restrictions.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, courthouses across the province have been operating under restrictions designed to ensure the safety of all participants. Given the unique position of the Courts, where persons who attend are often compelled to do so, and where vulnerable segments of the population attend, there is an ongoing need to continue with the restrictions and policies presently in place until further notice. Learn more.
Upcoming Events
Visit the Upcoming Events page for a full list of events.