CLE Online

Welcome and Land Acknowledgement

Laura A. Best — Embarkation Law Corporation, Vancouver
Brett J. Nash — Department of Justice Canada, Vancouver

Jurisprudence Update: Administrative and Immigration Law

• review of key Federal Court, Federal Court of Appeal, and Supreme Court of Canada immigration, refugee and citizenship decisions in 2019
• discussion of recent developments in other areas of the law that may impact immigration, refugee, and citizenship law practice
• trends, highlights, and lowlights in recent jurisprudence and what is expected in 2020

Laura A. Best — Embarkation Law Corporation, Vancouver
Professor Cristie Ford — Peter A. Allard School of Law, University of BC, Vancouver
Darren McLeod — Legal Counsel, IRB, Vancouver
Banafsheh Sokhansanj — Department of Justice Canada, Vancouver

Break

The Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada

• updates from the IRB
• Q & A session with the IRB

Becky Chan — Acting Coordinating Member, Refugee Protection Division, Western Region, IRB, Vancouver
Paula Faber — Acting Assistant Deputy Chairperson, Refugee Appeal Division, Western Region, IRB, Vancouver
Alice Tang — Assistant Deputy Chairperson, Immigration Division, Western Region, IRB, Vancouver
Linda Taylor — Assistant Deputy Chairperson, Immigration Appeal Division, Western Region, IRB, Vancouver

Networking Lunch (provided)

Legislative and Policy Updates

• caregiver program
• changes to the Immigration Refugee Protection Act
• previously undisclosed family members
• options for vulnerable workers and persons
• biometrics/entry and exit regulations
• College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants Act

Jocelyne Mui — Department of Justice Canada, Vancouver
William Tao — Edelmann & Company Law Corporation, Vancouver

Federal Court Practice Primer

• best practices and common pitfalls in Federal Court citizenship, immigration, and refugee proceedings
• view from the registry, new practitioner, and experienced counsel

Amanda Dunn — Federal Court Registry, Vancouver
Helen Park — Department of Justice Canada, Vancouver
Kay Scorer — Scorer Law Corporation, Vancouver

Break

Resolving Ethical Dilemmas

• incompetence of counsel allegations
• working with consultants
• limited retainers
• unbundling of legal services

Moderator: Laura A. Best — Embarkation Law Corporation, Vancouver
Adrienne Denham — LeBeau Law Corporation, Coquitlam
Sandra E. Weafer — Department of Justice Canada, Vancouver

View from the Bench

• immigration workload and scheduling
• recent and ongoing cases of note

The Honourable Paul Favel — Federal Court, Ottawa