Montreal, June 8, 2018 – Éducaloi is proud to host the 7th edition of the Clarity Conference, an international symposium held every second year and dedicated to improving clarity in legal communication. Éducaloi will be welcoming hundreds of participants from Quebec and around the world at the Hyatt Regency Montreal from October 25 to 27, 2018 to promote and discuss effective plain language in law — a key factor in improving access to justice.
The Right Honourable Richard Wagner, Chief justice of Canada, will be the guest of honour and kick off the event at the opening cocktail. This will be followed by two days of training sessions under the theme “Plain Language in Modern Times.” The conference will feature 80 unique workshops, talks, discussion panels and plenary meetings on the use of plain language in law. Topics will include progress for justice systems, legal education for the public, socioeconomic development and technology. This is the first time the Clarity conference will be held in both English and French.
Éducaloi’s executive director, Me. Ariane Charbonneau, is extremely pleased that Clarity has asked her team to organize the 2018 edition. “Clarity’s mission coincides well with our third area of focus — developing plain legal language expertise in the community,” she explained. “Through international initiatives and by sharing information, we help individuals better understand the law. Participants from varied backgrounds (legal and financial professionals, non-profit organizations, judges, students and professors) are making valuable contributions to our collective effort to change current practices and encourage the use of plain language in law well beyond the boundaries of this conference.”
“This is an incredible opportunity to access rich content, share knowledge with professionals from different fields and discuss pressing issues including the need for standards in plain legal language,” stated Clarity president Eamonn Moran. Distinguished speakers, plain-language practitioners, judges and university professors will share their experience and expertise on various related topics.
The program will be finalized in mid-August and will include these speakers:
- Christopher Balmford – plain-language specialist, founder of Words & Beyond (Australia)
- Yves Boisvert – journalist and legal and political columnist, LaPresse+ (Canada)
- Éric Kavanagh – full professor at Université Laval’s École de Design (design school) (Canada)
- Joe Kimble – professor emeritus, Western Michigan University Cooley Law School (USA)
- Me. Robert Leckey – dean, full professor and Samuel Gale Chair, McGill University Faculty of Law (Canada)
- Marianne Sterner – linguistic consultant, Sveriges Riskank (Sweden)
A preliminary list of speakers is available on the website.
This event is made possible thanks to support from several partners, including the Department of Justice Canada, Justice Québec, le Centre d’accès à l’information juridique (CAIJ), Tourisme Montréal, l’Autorité des marchés financiers, la Chambre des notaires du Québec and SOQUIJ. Opportunities for financial partnering arrangements are still available. To learn more about the conference program or to register, visit www.clarity2018.org
About Éducaloi
Éducaloi is at the forefront of the movement to improve access to justice in Quebec. A registered charity founded in 2000, it informs and educates citizens about the law with plain-language legal information tools and educational resources. Éducaloi’s funders include the Barreau du Québec, the Chambre des notaires and SOQUIJ, as well as provincial and federal departments of justice and the Ministère de l’Éducation et de l’Enseignement supérieur du Québec. It also generates revenues from consulting services, project funding and an annual fundraising campaign.
About Clarity
Clarity is a professional association that promotes plain language in law on an international scale. With more than 500 members, Clarity is the largest organization of its kind. Its members consist of judges, lawyers, government representatives, researchers, professors, non-governmental organizations and business people—all convinced of the benefits of plain legal language. Clarity has official representatives in 50 countries as well as a team of devoted volunteers who promote plain language over formal legal terminology.
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For additional information, please contact:
Laurence Bodjrenou
Communications Adviser
514-954-3408, ext. 3661
laurence.bodjrenou@educaloi.qc.ca