Family Law Basics-2010 Update

This book is essential for: lawyers in the first two years of practice or who want a refresher, and articled students.

Current to: October 2010 

Get your practice off to a great start!
In this comprehensive set of course materials prepared for the 2010 CLEBC seminar Family Law Boot Camp 2010, learn the practical nuts and bolts of a family law file. From interviewing the client to papering the deal, see how the new Family Law Rules have affected the conduct of your files. Learn from the experts on such topics as: managing your clients, client interviews, working with the Legal Services Society, disclosure and discovery, and trial preparation. Receive tips and advice that put theory into practice, and learn how to market yourself and develop a practice.

Course Materials Coordinator
Jean-Paul E. Boyd — Aaron Gordon Daykin Nordlinger, Vancouver

CLEBC Program Lawyer
Catherine J. Branch
cbranch@cle.bc.ca

CONTENTS

• taking action: the pros and cons of litigation
• how to develop and maintain a family law practice
• managing your clients—intake and communication: before, during, and after the initial consultation; communicating with clients and lay litigants; managing difficult clients
• client interviews—evaluation and diagnosis: assessing goals, realism and reality testing, legal opinions
• working with the Legal Services Society
• pressing the pause button: surviving a breakup, Kübler-Ross Model, five stages of grief
• the new Supreme Court Family Rules in practice: timeline charts for applications
• judicial case conferences: Rules, practice under the Rules
• chambers practice: the "art" and "science" of chambers advocacy (a primer); tips for dealing with the self-represented litigant; drafting effective affidavits; L.M.U v. R.L.U
• disclosure and discovery: examination for discovery in family law cases
• expert reports: Part 13 of the Supreme Court Family Rules
• the Spousal Support Advisory Guidelines (SSAG): don't be lost in the range or in the (software) details; obtaining reliable and repeatable SSAG calculations
• trial preparation: procedure and pleadings, organizing yourself and the evidence, preparing your client
• resolving the problem - agreements, trials, tools: separation agreements, trials in family law cases; summary trials
• getting paid: collecting the account and dealing with assessment