Day 1: Thursday, June 2, 2022
Welcome and Land Acknowledgement (9:00 – 9:10)
Todd R. Bell — Basran Robin & Bell, Vancouver
The Year in Review Update (9:10 – 9:25)
- changes to the law at the appellate level (BCCA and SCC) as well as noteworthy trial decisions
- changes to the law in the areas of property division, spousal and child support, income determination, family violence, dispute resolution, and court procedure
Todd R. Bell — Basran Robin & Bell, Vancouver
Practice in Provincial Court Including Navigating the New Provincial Court Rules (9:25 – 9:50)
- recent changes to the Provincial Court Rules
- urgent applications
- tips for using the new forms
- use of affidavits
- preparing for Case Management Conferences and Trial Preparation Conferences
- live or virtual?
The Honourable Judge Kathryn J. Ferriss — Provincial Court of BC, Surrey
BREAK (9:50 – 10:05)
Understanding and Dealing with the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of the Separation (10:05 – 10:35)
- the good: the healthy healing process
- the bad: when the separation hinders the children
- the ugly: when the separation harms the children and complicates the legal process
Nicole Aubé, PhD, RPsych — Vancouver
BREAK (10:35 – 10:50)
Managing Your Clients: Intake and Communication (10:50 – 11:35)
- assessing clients' emotional states
- screening clients and knowing when to run screaming
- retainers and retainer letters
- managing expectations
- responsibilities for screening for family violence
- top 10 red flags
Nicola D. Allen — Basran Robin & Bell, Vancouver
Kathryn L. Basran — Basran Robin & Bell, Vancouver
BREAK (11:35 – 11:50)
Parenting Coordination, the Process and the Role of Counsel (11:50 – 12:30)
- the process in brief
- the PC agreement/court ordered appointments
- day to day issues being addressed by roster members
- role of counsel
- enforcement
Stephanie L. Fabbro — Hamilton Fabbro, Vancouver
R. Craig Neville, KC — Watson Goepel LLP, Vancouver
LUNCH (12:30 – 1:10)
Moving Forward (1:10 – 1:50)
- assessing options
- mediation
- collaborative law
- negotiation
- commencing proceedings
Nancy J. Cameron, KC — Nancy Cameron Law Corporation, Vancouver
Ian B. Hayward — Hayward Sheppard, Vancouver
BREAK (1:50 – 2:05)
Making the Most of Client Meetings (2:05 – 2:50)
- look for information beyond what your client offers
- keep your client focused
- trust is overrated
- help your client understand the law
- do not sugarcoat the law
- client behavior
- advice
- practical meetings
Kevin J. Heinrichs — Henderson Heinrichs LLP, Vancouver
BREAK (2:50 – 3:05)
Disclosure and Discovery—Timelines and Tools (3:05– 3:45)
- disclosure triggers and ongoing disclosure obligations
- client understanding and awareness
- Family Law Rules
- lists of documents
- examinations for discovery
- interrogatories
Annie C. Kaderly — Aaron Gordon Daykin Nordlinger LLP, Vancouver
Brandon St. Pierre — Aaron Gordon Daykin Nordlinger LLP, Vancouver
BREAK (3:45 – 4:00)
Judicial Case Conferences (4:00 – 4:30)
- preparing yourself and your client
- document preparation
- Family Law Rules
- the scope of JCCs
- disclosure obligations
- effective use of JCCs
- COVID-19 considerations
Meghan J. Selinger — Silver Selinger LLP, Vancouver
Day 2: Friday June 3, 2022
Welcome Back (9:00 – 9:05)
Todd R. Bell — Basran Robin & Bell, Vancouver
Chambers Practice (9:05 – 9:55)
- preparing the notice of application
- affidavits—what to avoid
- without notice orders—short leave and restraining orders
- submissions—presentation and content
Master John W. Bilawich — Supreme Court of BC, Vancouver
BREAK (9:55 – 10:10)
Experts (10:10 – 10:55)
- types of experts: s. 202 and 211 reports, joint, party's own, courts' own, rebuttal
- new contents of experts' reports
Anne Demeulemeester — Silver Selinger LLP, Vancouver
Todd R. Bell — Basran Robin & Bell, Vancouver
BREAK (10:55 – 11:10)
Justifying Your Calculations: Spousal Support and Child Support Guidelines Cases (11:10 – 11:45)
- income calculation for the Advisory Guidelines
- income calculation for the Child Support Guidelines
- understanding the software
- understanding your results
Scott L. Booth, KC — Jenkins Marzban Logan LLP, Vancouver
BREAK (11:45 – 12:00)
Law Society of BC: Professional Conduct Department, Complaints and Investigations, Lawyers Indemnity Fund, Errors in Family Practice (12:00 – 12:45)
- tips to prevent complaints
- responding to the Professional Conduct Department
- LSBC updates and highlights
- tips to prevent allegations of negligence
- when and how to report to the Lawyers Indemnity Fund
Carolyn R. Anderson — Manager, Professional Conduct, Law Society of BC, Vancouver
Megan Swail — Lawyers Indemnity Fund, Law Society of BC, Vancouver
LUNCH (12:45 – 1:25)
On Your Marks, Get Set, Go: Trial and Mediation Preparation (1:25 – 2:10)
- mediation briefs
- judicial case conference briefs
- client preparation
- organizing documents
- witnesses
- experts
- trial management conferences
- opening and closing arguments
Mark R. Slay — North Shore Law LLP, North Vancouver
BREAK (2:10 – 2:25)
Section 8—The FLA Three-step: How Does It Work and How Do We Do It More Effectively? (2:25 – 3:30)
- assessment
- choosing the process: negotiation, collaboration, mediation, med/arbitration, and litigation
- BIOC
- GETTING PAST YES:
- confirming settlement: drafting effective separation agreements, minutes of settlement, and consent orders
- PREPARING FOR NO:
- capacity and process breakdown
Mary E. Mouat, KC — Quadra Legal Centre, Victoria
BREAK (3:30 – 3:45)
Conducting Effective Hearings Before the Registrar (3:45 – 4:25)
- avoiding assessments
- inquiries, assessments, and accounts process and procedure
- settling orders
Master Scott A. Nielsen — Supreme Court of BC, New Westminster
Closing Remarks (4:25 – 4:30)
Todd R. Bell — Basran Robin & Bell, Vancouver