CLE Online

Day 1: Thursday, March 1, 2018

Welcome and Introduction

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

Nausea and Jubilation: Drafting Fails and Drafting Wins

• examples of writing disasters taken from case law
• examples of tight, clear writing winning the day
• thoughts to make you feel sick right now

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

Pleadings

• pleadings generally
• prudent practices
• drafting guidelines & pitfalls
• reviewing & amending pleadings
• useful examples

o client information form
o client acknowledgment letter
o notice of family claim
o response to family claim
o counterclaim
o response to counterclaim

• other useful court forms

o certificate of pending litigation
o Land (Spouse Protection) Act charge forms
o caveat
o list of documents
o notice to admit

Nikki L. Charlton — Farris, Vaughan, Wills & Murphy LLP, Vancouver

Break

Affidavit Drafting

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

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

Parenting Coordination — Drafting for Success

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

Geeta Gill — Hamilton Fabbro, Vancouver

Networking Lunch (Provided)

Drafting Correspondence

• the basic rules of drafting

o grammar
o style
o layout

• professionalism in letters, emails and other correspondence

o when to use letters vs. emails
o maintaining collegiality, civility, and courtesy
o communicating with clients, counsel and the court
o managing correspondence

• comments on content

o mandatory, helpful, unnecessary and inappropriate content
o settlement proposals
o without prejudice communications

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

Break

Professional Conduct and Ethics

• overview of Professional Conduct Department
• common complaints about drafting and how to avoid them
• responding to complaints

Carolyn R. Anderson — Law Society of BC, Vancouver

Negligence Claims in Family Law Practice

• types of errors in family law practice
• how to avoid common drafting errors

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

Day 2: Friday, March 2, 2018

Welcome and Introduction

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

Tips for Avoiding Common Drafting Errors

Master Sandra J. Harper — Supreme Court of BC, Vancouver

Drafting Financial Statements

• form 8 (SCBC) and form 4 (PCBC) a wish list or an accurate reflection
• what information must you obtain from your client
• 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 or form 4 being used against your client
• brief overview of imputing income from expenses shown
• consequences of inadequate and late financial disclosure
• common problems and unusual situations

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

Under the Covers

• claims and activities that the LSBC insurance program compulsory policy covers
• risks the compulsory policy doesn’t cover, such as trust shortages caused by fraudsters and thieves
• commercial liability insurance products that help protect you from those risks

Coran Cooper-Stephenson — Claims Counsel, Lawyers Insurance Fund, Law Society of BC, Vancouver
Maryanne Prohl — Claims Counsel, Lawyers Insurance Fund, Law Society of BC, Vancouver

Break 

Drafting Agreements

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

Scott L. Booth — Jenkins Marzban Logan LLP, Vancouver
Lindsey A. Cruickshank — Schuman Daltrop Basran & Robin, Vancouver

Networking Lunch (Provided)

View from the Provincial Court Bench

The Honourable Judge Robin McQuillan — Provincial Court of BC, Port Coquitlam

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 (and when to use them)
• settlement conferences
• judicial case conferences
• mediation briefs

Meghan J.Selinger — Hamilton Fabbro, Vancouver

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 Remarks 

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