MORAG MACLEOD is a senior family litigator, certified family law mediator and arbitrator, and parenting coordinator in private practice in Vancouver. She chairs the Family Law Litigation Group of the Trial Lawyers Association of BC, is the Vice President of the BC Parenting Coordinators Roster Society, and is a Fellow of the International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. She is a frequent CLEBC presenter on family law topics, a contributing author to various CLEBC publications, a member of the Editorial Board of the Family Law Sourcebook, and chair of the popular TLABC Family Listserv.
How and why did you get involved with CLEBC?
Decades ago (literally) I worked on a paper for CLEBC on the Court’s Contempt Power with a former colleague. It was a great way to really focus on a legal topic of interest and learn something in depth. I have continued to do CLE volunteer work as a way to keep current, contribute to the profession, and work with the truly engaged colleagues who populate CLEBC.
What are you are currently working on (or have most recently worked on) with CLEBC?
In the past year I have done a lot related to the implementation of the Family Law Act and, most recently, took up Georgialee Lang’s vacated spot on the Family Law Sourcebook Editorial Board. I hope I’ll get a call from Todd Bell about the next Family Law Basics course which he chairs.
What has been your most memorable CLEBC experience?
I think my favourite experience was co-chairing the FLA presentation in 2013 and the 2014 guardianship update with Mary Mouat, KC. She is an outstanding member of our profession and we had a blast on both courses.
What’s the most valuable piece of advice you have received?
You get out of things what you put in.
What advice would you give newcomers who are interested in working in the legal profession?
This is a great profession full of amazingly capable and generous people. If you want a challenging and rewarding way to make a difference while making a living, this is it.
What has been the most rewarding part of your career?
Helping people and their kids reclaim peace.
Other than law, what are you passionate about?
My husband’s guitar playing and photography.
What are some of your favourite legal resources? (blogs, websites, etc.)
CLEBC’s practice specific publications, the wikibook JP Boyd on Family Law, and Epstein & Madsen’s This Week in Family Law newsletter.
Anything you’d like to shamelessly promote? (favourite charity, social cause, etc.)
The BC Cancer Society and the Alzheimer’s Association – please give ’til it hurts.