Day 1: Monday, February 3, 2014
Welcome and Introduction
Todd R. Bell — Schuman Daltrop Basran & Robin, Vancouver
So You Want to be a Superstar Lawyer?
- standing out in the crowd
- becoming a family law expert
- building clientele…and confidence
- going the distance
Georgialee Lang — Attorney & Arbitrator, Vancouver-Kelowna-Palm Springs
Managing Your Clients: Client Emotional States
- separation and the grieving process
- helping the distraught client
- dealing with the difficult client
Rebecca St. Clere England, PhD, RPsych — Ward St. Clere Inc., Vancouver
Networking Break
Managing Your Clients: Intake and Communication
- assessing clients’ emotional states
- screening clients and knowing when to run screaming
- retainers and retainer letters
- managing expectations
- top 10 red flags
Nicola (Nikki) Allen — Schuman Daltrop Basran & Robin, Vancouver
Kathryn L. Basran — Schuman Daltrop Basran & Robin, Vancouver
Client Interviews: Evaluation and Diagnosis
- become the prudent skeptic
- assessing goals versus options and range of likely outcomes
- realism and reality testing
- legal opinions
Jane M. Reid — Jenkins Marzban Logan LLP, Vancouver
Networking Lunch
Taking Action
- assessing options
- commencing proceedings
- negotiation and mediation
- collaborative law
Phyllis M. Kenney — Family Lawyer, Vancouver
Steven N. Mansfield — Bayshore Law Group, Vancouver
Parenting Coordination, The Program, and The Role of Counsel
- the program in brief
- the PC agreement/court ordered appointments
- role of counsel
- enforcement
Stephanie L. Fabbro — Hamilton Fabbro, Vancouver
R. Craig Neville — Watson Goepel LLP, Vancouver
Networking Break
Disclosure and Discovery
- disclosure triggers and ongoing disclosure obligations
- client understanding and awareness
- Family Law Rules
- lists of documents
- examinations for discovery
- interrogatories
The Honourable Judge Lisa Wyatt — Provincial Court of BC, Vernon
Sandra L. Dick — Heath Law LLP, Nanaimo
Judicial Case Conferences
- preparing yourself and your client
- document preparation
- Family Law Rules
- the scope of JCCs
- disclosure obligations
- new options for the courts
Jesse L. Desilets — Schuman Daltrop Basran & Robin, Vancouver
Day 2: Tuesday, February 4, 2014
Welcome and Introduction
Todd R. Bell — Schuman Daltrop Basran & Robin, Vancouver
Chambers Practice: How to Avoid Snatching Defeat from the Jaws of Victory
- preparing the notice of application
- affidavits—what to avoid
- without notice orders—short leave and restraining orders
- submissions—presentation and content
Master Heather M. MacNaughton — Supreme Court of BC, Vancouver
Master Shelagh Scarth — Supreme Court of BC, Vancouver
Experts
- types of experts: section 202 and 211 reports, joint, party’s own, courts’ own, rebuttal
- new contents of experts’ reports
Todd R. Bell — Schuman Daltrop Basran & Robin, Vancouver
Lindsey Cruickshank — Schuman Daltrop Basran & Robin, Vancouver
Networking Break
Justifying Your Calculations: Spousal Support and Child Support Guidelines Cases
- income calculation for the Advisory Guidelines
- income calculation for the Child Support Guidelines
- understanding the software
- understanding your results
Scott L. Booth — Jenkins Marzban Logan LLP, Vancouver
Managing Your Clients: Dealing with the Law Society and Errors in Family Practice
- tips to avoid complaints
- responding to the Professional Conduct Department at the Law Society
- tips to prevent allegations of negligence
- when and how to report a claim to the Lawyers Insurance Fund
Carolyn R. Anderson — Law Society of BC, Vancouver
Edna M. Ritchie — Lawyers Insurance Fund, Law Society of BC, Vancouver
Networking Lunch
Trial and Mediation Preparation
- mediation briefs
- client preparation
- organizing documents
- witnesses
Scott L. Booth — Jenkins Marzban Logan LLP, Vancouver
Resolving the Case: Trials, Agreements, and Other Tools
- choosing a resolution vehicle: collaboration, mediation, med/arbitration, litigation
- drafting effective separation agreements, minutes of settlement, and consent orders
- knowing when settlement is impossible
Morag M.J. MacLeod — Barrister & Solicitor, Vancouver
Networking Break
Conducting Effective Hearings Before the Registrar
- avoiding assessments
- inquiries, assessments, and accounts process and procedure
- settling orders
District Registrar Stuart Cameron — Supreme Court of BC, Vancouver