Tuning Up Your Law Firm: Best Practices for Solicitors 2024

Course Chairs
Timothy J. Lack — Redpoint Law LLP, Vancouver
Michael A. LeBeau — LeBeau Law, Coquitlam
Alisha O’Neill — Wilson Rasmussen LLP, Surrey

About the Course Chairs
Tim Lack has been the responsible lawyer for over 8,000 real estate transactions, acting for banks, credit unions and many other institutional and private lenders. His work with private lenders is extensive and he has been asked to provide expert opinions on private lending issues for litigation lawyers. He has lectured on several occasions to other lawyers on this subject.

On the real estate side of his practice, Tim has been involved in residential and commercial conveyancing, land assemblies, office and industrial leasing, including landlord and tenant disputes. As part of his real estate development work, Tim has counselled clients from acquisition, through development and to final sales on condo projects, including mixed use and hotel developments.

Tim represents hundreds of clients in all areas of business and commercial deals and is well experienced in the issues surrounding the purchase and sale of businesses.

Finally, his wills and estates practice continues to grow and Tim prides himself on providing delicate and trusted advice to his clients in this area of law.

Michael LeBeau brings more than a decade of experience in BC real estate and Canadian immigration law. His reassuring manner will put you at ease and his experience will help you achieve your goals. Michael graduated from UBC School of Law in 2007, after having received the academic Prize for Achievement in Immigration Law. He articled at one of Vancouver's premier immigration law firms and, in December 2007 he joined the team at UBC's Centre for Intercultural Communication and was a teaching assistant and occasional instructor for the Certificate in Immigration: Laws, Policies and Procedures.

Michael founded LeBeau Law in May 2008 and has built a strong and steadfast reputation in both immigration law and real estate. Michael is a member of the Law Society of BC and of the CBA, Immigration and Real Property Sections. Michael lives in Coquitlam with his wife and precocious young son.

Alisha O'Neill’s practice includes a variety of land matters such as residential and commercial real estate transactions, secured lending, commercial leasing, and land development. Alisha is also a part of our corporate group, assisting our business clients with general corporate matters and corporate reorganization work.

Alisha enjoys being a part of her clients' personal and business milestones and appreciates the value in having someone support them through their transactions from beginning to end, and beyond.

Her background working as a legal assistant for Wilson Rasmussen before attending law school affords her a wealth of unique experience instrumental to her transaction-heavy practice, which she looks forward to sharing with you.

Faculty
David J. Bilinsky — Barrister & Solicitor (Retired), Vancouver
Larry S. Blaschuk — Registrar of Land Titles, Land Title and Survey Authority of BC, New Westminster
Barbara K. Buchanan, KC — Practice Advisor, Conduct and Ethics, Law Society of BC, Vancouver
Bo Carter — Clark Wilson LLP, Vancouver
Malcolm B. Funt — Bojm, Funt & Gibbons LLP, Vancouver
Roger Holland — Singleton Urquhart Reynolds Vogel LLP, Vancouver
Nolan R. Hurlburt — Dentons Canada LLP, Vancouver
Shahnaz Jamal — Jamal Law Group, Vancouver
Derek C. LaCroix, KC — Executive Director, Lawyers Assistance Program of BC, Vancouver
Scott S. Morishita — Rice Harbut Elliott LLP; President, Canadian Bar Association, BC Branch, Vancouver
Maryanne Prohl — Director, Risk Management, Lawyers Indemnity Fund, Vancouver
Ali Sodagar — Sodagar & Company Law Corporation, Vancouver  
Tony Spagnuolo — Spagnuolo & Company LLP, Coquitlam
Roberta J. Stewart — HSJ Lawyers LLP, Prince George
Karanbir Thind — Clark Woods LLP, Coquitlam
Ron Usher — Commissioned Notary Public, R.I., General Counsel and Practice Advisor, The Society of Notaries Public of BC, Vancouver
Max E. Wolinsky — Coal Harbour Law, Vancouver
Eli Zbar — Arora Zbar LLP, Vancouver

Click here for full faculty bios

• an exploration of AI, its role in law, and its impact on legal procedures
• implications of AI on data security and algorithmic bias
• evolving practical standards in conjunction with technology
• exploring proactive collaboration between legal professionals and technologists

• cultivating a process-oriented approach to technology implementation in your firm
• what is a tech stack and why do you need one?
• what to think about before changing or augmenting your tech stack
• pricing your tech stack: are you overpaying?

• practical tips on how to avoid burnout
• resources available when you need help
• identifying early warning signs