CLE Online

Welcome and Introduction

         John-Paul E. Boyd — Aaron Gordon Daykin Nordlinger, Vancouver

How to Develop and Maintain a Family Law Practice

• becoming known as a family law expert
• standing out in the crowd
• identifying and cultivating referral sources
• ensuring client satisfaction

         Dinyar Marzban, QC — Jenkins Marzban Logan LLP, Vancouver

Managing Your Clients: Intake and Communications

• assessing clients’ emotional states
• screening clients and knowing when to run screaming
• retainers and retainer letters
• managing expectations
• top 10 red flags

         John-Paul E. Boyd — Aaron Gordon Daykin Nordlinger, Vancouver


Networking Break

Managing Your Clients: Client Emotional States

• separation and the grieving process
• dealing with the difficult client
• helping the distraught client
   
  Dr. Michael Elterman — Clinical Psychologist, Vancouver

Client Interviews: Evaluation and Diagnosis

• become the prudent skeptic
• assessing goals versus options and range of likely outcomes
• realism and reality testing
• legal opinions
  
  Todd R. Bell — Schuman Daltrop Basran & Robin, Vancouver
  Annie C. Kaderly — Aaron Gordon Daykin Nordlinger, Vancouver

Legal Aid: Working with the Legal Services Society of BC

• scope and limitations of services
• billing LSS
• working with the LSS family law website

Linda M. Thiessen — Legal Services Society, Vancouver

Lunch (on your own)

Taking Action

• assessing options
• commencing proceedings
• negotiation and mediation
• collaborative law

Todd R. Bell — Schuman Daltrop Basran & Robin, Vancouver
Phyllis M. Kenney — Barrister & Solicitor, Vancouver

Pressing the Pause Button

• refocusing, regrouping and retrenching
• referrals to parenting counseling and parenting courses
• referrals to financial planners
• other sources of non-legal assistance

Ronald J. Smith — Smith, Peacock, Kelowna

Functioning Use of the Rules and the Tools: The New Rules in Practice

Mr. Justice Brian M. Joyce — Supreme Court of British Columbia, Chilliwack
Jeffrey A. Rose, QC — Mortimer & Rose, Vancouver

Networking Break

Judicial Case Conferences

• preparing yourself and your client
• document preparation 
• the New Rules
  • the scope of JCCs
  • disclosure obligations
  • new options for the courts 

         Robert J. Smith — Smith, Peacock, Kelowna

Discussion & Questions

DAY 2

Welcome and Introduction

         John-Paul E. Boyd — Aaron Gordon Daykin Nordlinger, Vancouver

Chambers Practice: The Art & Science of Advocacy

• the New Rules
  • which documents?
  • what timelines and deadlines?
• drafting the notice of application
• drafting affidavits
• putting your client's best foot forward: the do's and don'ts of chambers practice

G. C. (Scottie) Scott — Peterson Stark Scott, Surrey

Disclosure and Discovery

• disclosure triggers and ongoing disclosure obligations
• client understanding and awareness
• the New Rules
  • lists of documents
  • examinations for discovery
  • interrogatories

Lisa Holmes Wyatt — Pushor Mitchell, Kelowna
Sandra L. Dick — Heath Law LLP, Nanaimo

Networking Break

Experts

• the New Rules
  • types of experts: section 15 report, joint, party's own, courts' own, rebuttal
  • new contents of experts' reports

George W. Gordon — Aaron Gordon Daykin Nordlinger, Vancouver
Jeffrey A. Rose, QC — Mortimer & Rose, Vancouver

• dealing with client complaints
• dealing with the Law Society

Carolyn Anderson — Law Society of British Columbia, Vancouver

Lunch with a Mentor: "The Ups and Downs of a Family Law Practice"

Justifying Your Calculations: Spousal Support and Child Support Guidelines Cases

• income calculation for the Advisory Guidelines
• income calculation for the Child Support Guidelines
• understanding the software
• understanding your results

Scott L. Booth — Jenkins Marzban Logan LLP, Vancouver
John-Paul E. Boyd — Aaron Gordon Daykin Nordlinger, Vancouver

Trial and Mediation Preparation

• proceedings
• mediation
• client preparation

Scott L. Booth — Jenkins Marzban Logan LLP, Vancouver

Networking Break

Resolving the Problem: Agreements, Trials and Other Tools

• trial: knowing when settlement is impossible
• choosing a settlement vehicle
• drafting effective separation agreements, minutes of settlement and consent orders

          G. C. (Scottie) Scott — Peterson Stark Scott, Surrey
          Lisa Holmes Wyatt — Pushor Mitchell LLP, Kelowna

Collecting the Account and Dealing with Assessment