Retainer Agreements
Effective Legal Support: Family Law (On-Demand)
About
Faculty
About
Receive tips for managing self-represented litigants and emotional clients, analyze the document production process in a litigation file, learn where to find and properly store shared documents, and more.
This on-demand program was originally presented as an in-person program in October 2017. Total running time is 4 hours, 3 minutes.
Faculty
Chair
Michelle Mackay, Gordon Zwaenepoel
Presenters
Danielle Collins, Latitude Family Law
Shannon Park, Gordon Zwaenepoel
Catherine Spafford, Gordon Zwaenepoel
03/2023
N/A
Effective Legal Support: Civil Litigation (On-Demand)
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Faculty
About
Familiarize yourself with the role of legal support staff in managing civil litigation matters. Engage in an overview of civil litigation actions, including pleadings, applications, questioning, costs, and trial preparation. Analyze relevant sections of the Rules of Court, and learn how they affect litigation matters.
This on-demand program was originally presented as an in-person program in September 2017. Total running time is 3 hours, 15 minutes.
Faculty
Chair
Maureen McCartney-Cameron, Jensen Shawa Solomon Duguid Hawkes LLP
Presenters
Robert Armstrong QC, Calgary Police Service
Christy Elliott, Jensen Shawa Solomon Duguid Hawkes LLP
Erin Runnalls, Gowling WLG (Canada) LLP
Shane Sackman, Law Society of Alberta
Michael Sestito, Bennett Jones LLP
Wilma Shim, Alberta Justice and Solicitor General
Cassandra Sutter, Jensen Shawa Solomon Duguid Hawkes LLP
03/2023
N/A
Family Law Rules of Court and Practice Notes (On-Demand)
About
Faculty
About
Review useful day-to-day tips for Practice Notes 6, 7, 8, and 10. Consider some common rules and procedures of the family law Rules of Court. While not an exhaustive guide, this on-demand program aims to help paralegals address and identify process issues.
Topics relate to starting a family action, resolving family issues, disclosure of information, financial disclosure, judgements and orders, and managing litigation.
This on-demand program was originally presented as an in-person program in January, 2020. Total running time is 51 minutes.
Faculty
Presenter
Rhyannon O’Heron, Gordon Zwaenepoel
03/2023
N/A
Dos and Don’ts When Dealing with Self-Represented Parties (On-Demand)
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Faculty
About
Discover some tips to help lawyers deal with the specific challenges that self-represented litigants pose. Included is a sample introductory letter with a checklist for disclosure and statement of income, assets, and liabilities.
This on-demand program was originally presented as an in-person program in January, 2020. Total running time is 28 minutes.
Faculty
Presenter
Sheena Engel, Masuch Law LLP
03/2023
N/A
Drowning in Disclosure – Some Practical Tips on How to Organize a Family Law File to Stay Sane (On-Demand)
About
Faculty
About
Review practical suggestions on how to organize a file and stay on top of document management, and discover tips that can be implemented even without the aid of an expensive IT system.
Topics include, a discussion of file structures, file naming conventions, and saving emails, attachments, and documents.
This on-demand program was originally presented as an in-person program in January, 2020. Total running time is 42 minutes.
Faculty
Presenter
Lynsey Mincher, Mincher Koeman LLP
03/2023
N/A
Mediation and Arbitration: Shielding Neutrality (On-Demand)
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Faculty
About
Review the role of a legal assistant or paralegal during mediation or arbitration, considering issues from both the intake and requesting perspective. Focus on how assistants play a role in helping the lawyer they work with maintain the impartiality and neutrality they are required to maintain as a mediator or arbitrator.
Discuss pre-, during-, and post- mediation/arbitration concerns, including information collection, conflicts, scheduling, sending formal correspondence and documentation, and more. Materials include quick reference checklists and a sample booking sheet precedent.
This on-demand program was originally presented as an in-person program in January, 2020. Total running time is 17 minutes.
Faculty
Presenters
Tayla Ashmore, Widdowson Kachur Ostwald Menzies LLP
Miranda Asselstine, Kahane Law Office
03/2023
N/A
A Great and Sudden Change: Changes to the Family Property Act and the Divorce Act in 2020 (On-Demand)
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Faculty
About
This on-demand program informs paralegals about changes to the Family Property Act and the Divorce Act, aiming to equip paralegals with the knowledge needed to provide enhanced service to clients and practical assistance to lawyers in light of legislative changes. The presentation is meant to introduce the changes that will most affect practices on a day-to-day basis.
Topics address terminology changes, definitions, relationship interdependence, property exemptions, client duties and obligations, best interests of the child, parenting orders, contact orders, and relocation.
This on-demand program was originally presented as an in-person program in January, 2020. Total running time is 51 minutes.
Faculty
Presenter
Catherine A. Regier, Pritchard & Co. Law Firm LLP
03/2023
N/A
Exemptions and Cohabiting – Issues Under the New Family Property Act (On-Demand)
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Faculty
About
Explore how the Family Property Act (FPA) that came into force January 1, 2020 affects the requirements for establishing exemptions of pre-relationship assets. Consider how the language of the FPA creates challenges for establishing valuation dates and examines how case law from various jurisdictions have dealt with such issues as a starting point to assess how Alberta courts may move forward in looking at these issues with the implementation of the FPA.
This on-demand program was originally presented as an in-person program in November, 2019. Total running time is 51 minutes.
Faculty
Presenter
Tina Huizinga, Huizinga Di Toppa Coles & Layton
03/2023
N/A
Contributions and Distributions: When Will Courts Consider Unequal Divisions of Matrimonial Property? (On-Demand)
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Faculty
About
Explore how existing Matrimonial Property Act section 8 requirements to divide property in a “just and equitable” manner have been addressed in several major cases from 2018 and 2019. Review section 8 amendments in the new Family Property Act, in effect January 1, 2020, and speculate on what will be considered by the courts and practitioners moving forward as case law continues to evolve.
This on-demand program was originally presented as an in-person program in November, 2019. Total running time is 47 minutes.
Faculty
Presenter
Christopher A. Jackson, Jackson Law
03/2023
N/A
From Kerr to Eternity: An Overview of the New Family Property Act in Alberta (On-Demand)
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Faculty
About
Explore how the Family Property Act (FPA) legislation, which took effect January 1, 2020, brings unmarried couples living together under the same property sharing scheme as married couples.
Discuss adult interdependent partners, relationships of interdependence, domestic and economic units, and joint family ventures; issues related to transition times, declarations of irreconcilability, separation dates, and property sharing; and how the FPA extends requirements to cover certain family law agreements, like cohabitation and separation agreements. The materials also provide an overview of how FPA changes will impact other statutes.
This on-demand program was originally presented as an in-person program in November, 2019. Total running time is 2 hours, 5 minutes.
Faculty
Presenters
Michelle J. Bailey, Moe Hannah LLP
Scot Menzies, Widdowson Kachur Ostwald Menzies LLP
03/2023
N/A
How and When You Can Fix Mistakes: Rectification, Rescission, and Other Tools (On-Demand)
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Faculty
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Review case law and highlight some of the legal tools for fixing mistakes in corporate and commercial documents, including common law rectification, rescission, and some provisions of the Business Corporations Act. The materials also include suggestions for how to deal with mistakes both during the drafting process and after it is completed.
This on-demand program was originally presented as an in-person program in October, 2019. Total running time is 35 minutes.
Faculty
Presenter
MaryAnne Loney, McLennan Ross LLP
03/2023
N/A
Tax Tips and Traps: Charting a Path during the Sale of Business Assets (On-Demand)
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Faculty
About
Review some fundamental asset sale tax concepts to help corporate lawyers understand the basic tax consequences that could arise from the sale. Topics include classification of property, depreciable versus non-depreciable capital property, drafting tips and traps, earn-outs and contingent considerations, restrictive covenants, common tax elections, and hybrid sales.
Comments focus on transactions involving a private corporation selling all the assets used in an active business carried on in Canada.
This on-demand program was originally presented as an in-person program in October, 2019. Total running time is 39 minutes.
Faculty
Presenter
Jeremy L. Comeau, Felesky Flynn LLP
03/2023
N/A
