CLEBC's Inaugural Paralegal Conference 2026

Course Chairs
Stacie Ayukawa — Senior Paralegal, Heinrichs Richards LLP, Vancouver
Michèle Ross — Designated Paralegal, Heinrichs Richards LLP, Vancouver

About the Course Chairs
Stacie Ayukawa is a senior paralegal and joined Heinrichs Richards LLP in 2025. Throughout her career spanning over 18 years, Stacie has practiced in the areas of Family Law and Wills and Estates. Stacie has a Bachelor's Degree from Simon Fraser University, where she majored in Humanities. Prior to commencing her Paralegal Diploma at Capilano University, Stacie was employed as a legal assistant and office manager by a sole practitioner who practiced in family law. Stacie thrives on being well-educated and has a commitment to lifelong learning. With respect to her studies, Stacie was awarded multiple awards, scholarships and distinctions for her academic achievements in the Capilano University Department of Legal Studies. Subsequent to initiating her legal career at a Family and Wills and Estates boutique firm, Stacie went on to obtain a professional designation as an MTI (Member, Trust Institute), as an Estates and Trusts professional. Finally, Stacie pursued and achieved a Master's Degree from Simon Fraser University, from the Department of Graduate Liberal Studies, where she was also recognized with scholarships and a graduate fellowship.

With respect to Family Law, Stacie has experience in alternative dispute resolution and litigation in Provincial and Supreme Court. She lends a compassionate perspective to her clients and values listening to their unique stories. She communicates thoughtfully and analyzes problems thoroughly. In her Wills and Estates practice, Stacie's experience has brought her to explore the drafting of estate planning documents and the complete probate and intestate estate administration process. Stacie has a solid foundation in resolving matters as effectively and efficiently as possible, taking her clients' needs seriously and with a keen eye to organization and detail.

Beyond the office, Stacie volunteers with several organizations that she is passionate about. She regularly chairs and presents at courses for CLEBC in the area of Wills and Estates. She is also involved with the Indigenous Community Legal Clinic where she presents orientations to UBC Law students on Estate Administration. Additionally, Stacie provides workshops for the non-profit organization, Dress for Success Vancouver. Stacie is also affiliated with the Amici Curiae Friends of Court Society where she hosts a community of legal professionals in managing mental health and provides wellness initiatives that are accessible and inclusive.

Michèle Ross is a senior paralegal and joined Heinrichs Richards LLP in 2024. She completed her paralegal education at Capilano University in 2003 and has devoted her 30 year career exclusively to the area of family law.

Michèle has been a designated paralegal since 2012 when the Law Society of BC approved rule changes allowing BC paralegals to perform additional duties under a lawyer's supervision.

Michèle's extensive experience includes all levels of the court system and includes managing all aspects of the process on family files, whether it be litigation or through a collaborative process. She works closely with clients throughout the process and is actively involved in strategizing and implementing solutions. Michèle also plays an active role in resolving disputes at mediation, both as a support to counsel and being able to appear in her capacity as a designated paralegal to represent clients at family law mediations.

In June 2021, Michèle was selected by the BC Supreme Court Civil & Family Rules Committee as one of two paralegals to support the work of the rules committee and offer advice on new projects and rules that may impact British Columbian's access to justice. She continues to sit on that committee.

In addition to Michèle's role as a designated paralegal at Heinrichs Richards LLP, she is appointed by the Provincial Government as a bencher for the Law Society of BC. In her role as a bencher, Michèle is currently the chair of Credentials Committee, vice-chair of the Discipline Processes Task Force, and is on the Executive Committee.

Michèle is a Commissioner for taking Affidavits under the Evidence Act to administer oaths and affirmations and to take affidavits and declarations. She is also a Certified Legal Coach (CLC) having completed training through the Legal Coaches Association.

On March 24, 2022, Michèle was accepted into the Law Society of BC's innovation sandbox permitting her to perform legal services in the area of family law offered without direct supervision including providing legal advice, processing desk order divorces, drafting court documents, negotiating, providing information on amount of child and spousal support, conducting legal research, legal coaching, and representation for matters before the court.

After the enactment of the Legal Professions Act on May 16, 2024, Michèle was appointed by the Ministry of Attorney General on September 17, 2024 to the Regulated Paralegal Working Group (RPWG). The RPWG was established to make recommendations to the Attorney General on what legal services a regulated paralegal should be able to provide to British Columbians.

Michèle is active in the legal community having volunteered, created materials, and presented for CLEBC and TLABC on many occasions.

She is also one of the authors of the "Paralegal Perspective" column which appears in TLABC's publication, the Verdict.

Faculty
Katie Armitage — Legal Counsel, Ministry of Attorney General, Justice Services Branch, Policy and Legislation Division, Victoria
Courtney Burnett — Designated Paralegal, Kane Shannon & Weiler LLP, Surrey
Candace Cho, KC — Principal Lawyer, Onyx Law Group, Vancouver
Renee Collins, RRM — Quantum Mediation, West Vancouver
Christopher Drinovz — Partner, Kane Shannon & Weiler LLP, Surrey
Stephanie Goldminc — Designated Paralegal, Jamal Law Group, Vancouver
Michelle Haigh — President and Senior Licensed Paralegal, Precision Paralegal Services, Calgary
Brandon D. Hastings — Partner, Northpoint Legal LLP, Vancouver
Shahnaz Jamal — Founder and Principal, Jamal Law Group, Vancouver
Meghan Maddigan — Vice Chair, Workers' Compensation Appeal Tribunal, Richmond
Shawnee Monchalin — Legal Counsel, BC Human Rights Tribunal, Vancouver
Gilda Philps — Senior Paralegal, Onyx Law Group, Vancouver
Maryanne Prohl — Director, Risk Management, Lawyers Indemnity Fund, Vancouver
Sarah Richardson — Paralegal, Boughton Law Corporation, Vancouver
Rose Shawlee — Lawyer, Boughton Law Corporation, Vancouver
Mark L. Tweedy, KC, C.Med., C. Arb — Mark Tweedy Mediation + Arbitration, Vancouver

Click here for full faculty bios

Course Introduction and Land Acknowledgement (9:00 – 9:05)

Jessica Hodgins — Programs Coordinator, CLEBC, Vancouver
Mary Kingston — Programs Production Manager, CLEBC, Vancouver
Stacie Ayukawa — Senior Paralegal, Heinrichs Richards LLP, Vancouver
Michèle Ross — Designated Paralegal, Heinrichs Richards LLP, Vancouver

Plain Language Writing for Paralegals: Clearing the Fog (9:05 – 9:50)

• how to harness the structure, language, and tone of your writing to help you be understood
• readily available tools to sharpen your writing

Meghan Maddigan — Vice Chair, Workers' Compensation Appeal Tribunal, Richmond

Automation and Utilizing Technology in Today's Law Practice (9:50 – 10:30)

• pain points as opportunities: design thinking, systems thinking, continuous improvement in legal workflows
• tech tips for a more productive law office
• practical considerations: workflow fit, confidentiality, data residency

Brandon D. Hastings — Partner, Northpoint Legal LLP, Vancouver

BREAK (10:30 – 10:45)

The Ontario Regulation Experience (10:45 – 11:25)

• building a scalable paralegal practice
• why regulation matters
• insights from Alberta and BC's Innovation Sandbox

Michelle Haigh — President and Senior Licensed Paralegal, Precision Paralegal Services, Calgary

Practice Pitfalls and LIF's Role (11:25 – 12:15)

• the types of claims LIF gets
• actual LIF claims revealing the most common mistakes made and top tips to avoid these mistakes
• recent frauds, what to look out for

Maryanne Prohl — Director, Risk Management, Lawyers Indemnity Fund, Vancouver

NETWORKING LUNCH (provided to in-person registrants) (12:15 – 1:15)

Keynote Address: BC's New Legal Professions Act: Tomorrow's Options and Opportunities for Today's Paralegals (1:15 – 2:00)

• why government chose to modernize legal regulation
• why introduce a new category of legal service provider
• what the new Act means for paralegals—multiple options and pathways

Katie Armitage — Legal Counsel, Ministry of Attorney General, Justice Services Branch, Policy and Legislation Division, Victoria

Cultural Competency (2:00 – 2:30)

• what cultural competency really means
• cultural competency in the client experience

Shawnee Monchalin — Legal Counsel, BC Human Rights Tribunal, Vancouver

BREAK (2:30 – 2:45)

BREAKOUTS (choose one; the two in red will be streamed online for those attending via webinar) (2:45 – 3:40)

Family Law Considerations in Estate Litigation (in-person only)

Candace Cho, KC — Principal Lawyer, Onyx Law Group, Vancouver
Gilda Philps — Senior Paralegal, Onyx Law Group, Vancouver

Balancing Stress and Wellbeing in Paralegal Life: A Conversation

• • a dialogic discussion identifying the pressures of paralegal practice in contemporary society
  • how two paralegals build resilience and prevent potential burnout in their careers
  • a look into measures of sustainability in the paralegal profession

Stacie Ayukawa — Senior Paralegal, Heinrichs Richards LLP, Vancouver
Courtney Burnett — Designated Paralegal, Kane Shannon & Weiler LLP, Surrey

Preparing for Mediation/Arbitration

Renee Collins, RRM — Quantum Mediation, West Vancouver
Mark L. Tweedy, KC, C.Med., C. Arb — Mark Tweedy Mediation + Arbitration, Vancouver

Inside the Practice: Lawyers and Paralegals on What Really Works (3:45 – 4:30)

Moderator: Michèle Ross — Designated Paralegal, Heinrichs Richards LLP, Vancouver
Courtney Burnett — Designated Paralegal, Kane Shannon & Weiler LLP, Surrey
Christopher Drinovz — Partner, Kane Shannon & Weiler LLP, Surrey
Stephanie Goldminc — Designated Paralegal, Jamal Law Group, Vancouver
Shahnaz Jamal — Founder and Principal, Jamal Law Group, Vancouver
Sarah Richardson — Paralegal, Boughton Law Corporation, Vancouver
Rose Shawlee — Lawyer, Boughton Law Corporation, Vancouver

Closing Comments (4:30 – 4:35)

Stacie Ayukawa — Senior Paralegal, Heinrichs Richards LLP, Vancouver
Michèle Ross — Designated Paralegal, Heinrichs Richards LLP, Vancouver