[display_podcast]
Today’s podcast features two interviews. First, part 1 of 2 with Jason MacLean on corporate social responsibility (CSR)
Jason MacLean on Corporate Social Responsibility
Jason MacLean is an Associate in the Litigation Group at the Toronto office of Osler, Hoskin & Harcout LLP. He is one of the contributors to the new book Corporate Social Responsibility – A Legal Analysis. He also writes for CSR Law, a new blog covering developments in corporate social responsibility law.
Today’s show features Part One of Omar Ha-Redeye’s two-part interview with MacLean. He discusses the precautionary principle, environmental stewardship, and some of the arguments against CSR. MacLean argues that embracing the precautionary principle can create a competitive advantage for corporations. In the long run, he believes that corporations that embrace environmental stewardship will succeed in the market, whereas companies that fail to disclose environmental risks to employees, shareholders, and customers will run into business and legal challenges.
Next week, we will feature Part Two of the interview, in which MacLean discusses the evolution from book to blog as well as impact of the Supreme Court’s decision in BCE Inc. v. 1976 Debentureholders, 2008 SCC 69.
Michael Litchfield on Access to Lawyers in Rural British Columbia
Also on today’s show, we speak with Michael Litchfield from the Canadian Bar Association, BC Branch about the Rural Education and Access to Lawyers (REAL) Initiative. This initiative is taking a multi-faceted approach to promoting access to legal services in rural communities using techniques including:
- funding summer student placements in rural BC;
- providing financial and promotional support for marketing of regions to law students and lawyers;
- providing support for students interested in practicing in small communities; and
- providing support for law firms and practitioners with recruitment, hiring, and retention.
So far, the REAL Initiative has helped to create and fill 11 summer student positions in rural BC.