Advanced Conveyancing Topics for Paralegals and Legal Support Staff 2026


Course Date: June 19, 2026

Full Course Materials
Total: 5h 35min
Total Ethics: 1h 30min
Course Agenda ▼

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

Jessica Hodgins — Program Coordinator, CLEBC, Vancouver
Dick H.K. Chan — Spagnuolo LLP, Coquitlam

Fraud (9:05 – 9:45)

  • practical, analytical tool to mitigate title fraud—helping identify transactional red flags, recognize recurring patterns, and manage risk in day‑to‑day file review
  • strategies to help protect their clients and the practice amid evolving title fraud schemes

Nicole W.S. Phillips — Senior Counsel - Underwriting and Director - Projects and Fraud Mitigation, Stewart Title Guaranty Company, Toronto

Strata Form B (9:45 – 10:20)

  • applicable sections of the Strata Property Act
  • the difference between a Form B and a Form F
  • components of the Form B
  • scenarios that should be immediately drawn to the attention of the lawyer

Jennifer L. Neville — Hamilton & Company, New Westminster
Tristan Shire — Hamilton & Company, New Westminster

BREAK (10:20 – 10:35)

Corporate Matters (10:35 – 11:15)

  • an overview of the various kinds of corporate parties you may encounter in the course of a conveyance
  • high level issues and considerations to keep in mind when working with or across from corporate parties

Gregory Brown — Dentons Canada LLP, Vancouver
Jeff Wong — Dentons Canada LLP, Vancouver

Private Mortgages (11:15 – 12:00)

  • what is a private mortgage
  • institutional vs. non-institutional lenders
  • considerations for undertakings

Timothy J. Lack — Redpoint Law LLP, Vancouver
Colleen Read — Senior Conveyancer, Spagnuolo LLP, Coquitlam

LUNCH (12:00 – 1:00)

GST (1:00 – 1:40)

  • when GST applies in conveyancing transactions
  • GST issues in new construction, assignments, vacant land, commercial property, farms, and mixed-use properties
  • who pays, collects, and remits GST, including issues with non-resident sellers
  • how contract wording affects whether GST is included or payable in addition to the price

Lisa Niro — Bell Alliance LLP, Vancouver

Non-resident Sellers and First-Time Home Buyers' GST (1:40 – 2:20)

  • GST/HST New Housing Rebate—who qualifies, the general rebate process
  • selling Canadian real estate by non-residents—best practices to identify non-resident entities, s. 116 clearance certificate process

Virginia Zhao — Virginia Zhao Tax Law Corporation, Vancouver

BREAK (2:20 – 2:35)

Virtual Signups (2:35 – 3:15)

  • client identification and verification, particularly where face-to-face meetings are impracticable
  • LTSA practice and the use of the "Section 49 affidavit"
  • the Law Society and/or Rules of Court with respect to taking oaths remotely

Nicholas Auld — Spagnuolo LLP, Coquitlam

Lawyers Indemnity Fund Claims (3:15 – 4:00)

  • the Lawyers Indemnity Fund—who we are and what we do
  • practice risks and tips to avoid errors
  • actual Lawyers Indemnity Fund Claims that identify common practice risks and common mistakes that we see

Sherry Kooner — Claims Counsel, Lawyers Indemnity Fund, Vancouver
Marlon T. Song — Claims Counsel, Lawyers Indemnity Fund, Vancouver