Family Law Drafting Basics 2015


Course Date: April 9, 2015

 

Day 1: Thursday, April 9, 2015

Welcome and Introduction

Kathryn L. Basran — Schuman Daltrop Basran & Robin, Vancouver
Todd R. Bell — Schuman Daltrop Basran & Robin, Vancouver

Pleadings

  • pleadings generally
  • prudent practices
  • drafting guidelines and pitfalls
  • reviewing and amending pleadings
  • useful examples
    • client information form
    • client acknowledgement letter
    • notice of family claim
    • response to family claim
    • counterclaim
    • response to counterclaim
  • other useful court forms
    • certificate of pending litigation
    • Land (Spouse Protection) Act charge forms
    • caveat
    • list of documents
    • notice to admit

Morag M.J. MacLeod Barrister & Solicitor, Vancouver

Affidavit Drafting

  • technical formatting requirements
  • content restrictions and requirements
  • drafting reply affidavits

Kevin J. Heinrichs Henderson Heinrichs LLP, Vancouver
Sonia Kainth Henderson Heinrichs LLP, Vancouver

Networking Break

Parenting Coordination—Drafting for Success

  • legislative framework
  • parenting coordination agreements
  • court order provisions
  • separation agreement provisions

Morag M.J. MacLeod Barrister & Solicitor, Vancouver

Lunch With Featured Speaker

The Honourable Madam Justice Pamela Kirkpatrick Court of Appeal for BC, Vancouver

Drafting Correspondence

  • the basic rules of drafting
    • grammar
    • style
    • layout
  • professionalism in letters, emails, and other correspondence
    • when to use letters vs. emails
    • maintaining collegiality, civility, and courtesy
    • communicating with clients, counsel, and the Court
    • managing correspondence
  • comments on content
    • mandatory, helpful, unnecessary, and inappropriate content
    • settlement proposals
    • without prejudice communications

Jesse L. Desilets Schuman Daltrop Basran & Robin, Vancouver
James A.W. Schuman, QC Schuman Daltrop Basran & Robin, Vancouver

Networking Break

Professional Conduct and Ethics

  • do’s and don’ts in drafting

Carolyn R. Anderson Law Society of BC, Vancouver

Negligence Claims Arising out of Drafting Errors

  • the basics of coverage and reporting to the Lawyers Insurance Find
  • how to avoid the most common drafting mistakes

Megan Swail  Lawyers Insurance Fund, Law Society of BC, Vancouver


Day 2: Friday, April 10, 2015

Welcome Back

Kathryn L. Basran — Schuman Daltrop Basran & Robin, Vancouver
Todd R. Bell — Schuman Daltrop Basran & Robin, Vancouver

Common Drafting Errors and Mistakes

Master Douglas Baker Supreme Court of BC, Vancouver

Drafting Financial Statements

  • form 8: a wish list or an accurate reflection?
  • what information should you obtain from your client?
  • what documents should you request when reviewing the other party’s financial statement?
  • using information in the other party’s financial statement to your advantage
  • avoiding your form 8 being used against you
  • imputing income from expenses shown and how to gross up
  • introduction to calculation of income under s. 16 of the Child Support Guidelines
  • common problems and unusual situations

Sumit Ahuja Lindsay Kenney LLP, Langley
G. C. (Scottie) Scott Peterson Stark Scott, Surrey
Ari  S. K. Wormeli Lindsay Kenney LLP, Langley

Networking Break

Drafting Agreements

  • separation agreements
  • prenuptial agreements
  • cohabitation agreements
  • marriage agreements
  • independent legal advice

Kathryn L. Basran Schuman Daltrop Basran & Robin, Vancouver
Scott L. Booth Jenkins Marzban Logan LLP, Vancouver

Networking Lunch (provided)

View from the Bench

The Honourable Judge Joanne Challenger Provincial Court of BC, North Vancouver

Drafting Orders and Minutes of Settlement

  • the “do’s and don’ts”: practical tips on drafting orders
  • pet peeves of the registrars
  • drafting court orders and minutes of settlement
  • settlement conferences
  • judicial case conferences
  • mediation briefs

Jane M. Reid Jenkins Marzban Logan LLP, Vancouver

Networking Break

Drafting for Ex parte and Urgent Applications

  • the ethical obligations inherent to ex parte applications
  • how to properly advance an urgent issue
  • the “do’s and don’ts” of drafting content for ex parte applications
  • how to say no to your client: don’t risk being the lawyer who cries wolf

Drafting Judicial Case Conference Briefs and Arguments for Short Chambers Applications

  • when are each necessary?
  • when they are, what ought to be included in each and what ought not?
  • doing the cost-benefit analysis for the client

Todd R. Bell Schuman Daltrop Basran & Robin, Vancouver
Eli C. Walker Aaron Gordon Daykin Nordlinger LLP, Vancouver

Closing Comments and Q & A

Kathryn L. Basran — Schuman Daltrop Basran & Robin, Vancouver
Todd R. Bell — Schuman Daltrop Basran & Robin, Vancouver