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62565.02With rapid advances in AI and new research technologies, the nature of legal support work is evolving in how assistants and paralegals can elevate the support they provide and grow their professional value. This paper expands upon research fundamentals, with a practice-specific focus on case law. These materials are part of a collection presented at LESA’s Elevating Family Law Practice: Skills for Legal Support Staff program on November 21, 2025.
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62565.01This paper explores how Microsoft Copilot integrates across Outlook, Word, Excel, and Teams to streamline paralegal workflows, from drafting and editing to summarizing and scheduling. Understand the practical benefits and risks of AI in a legal environment, including where it can save time, where caution is needed, and how to use it responsibly. These materials are part of a collection presented at LESA’s Elevating Family Law Practice: Skills for Legal Support Staff program on November 21, 2025.
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62503.06Residential real estate conveyancers can run into challenges with tax issues. This paper explores a variety of issues with GST including the mechanics/accounting of GST, combination properties, GST new housing rebate, and GST searches. It also addresses non-resident vendor issues that can arise under Income Tax Act provisions. These materials are part of a collection presented at LESA’s Conveyancing program in Edmonton on June 17, 2025.
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62503.05Understanding what is needed to close a real estate transaction is fundamental for conveyancing lawyers. In Alberta there are three methods to close: a traditional closing, a title insured closing, and a “Protocol” closing. This paper provides an overview of each, along with a review of mortgage only transactions. These materials are part of a collection presented at LESA’s Conveyancing program in Edmonton on June 17, 2025.
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62503.04Conveyancing lawyers may encounter a number of issues when dealing with rural real estate. This paper addresses surface leases, water and water potability, septic systems, foreign ownership of land, specialized lender issues, and multi-party representation in smaller communities. These materials are part of a collection presented at LESA’s Conveyancing program in Edmonton on June 17, 2025.
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62503.03Conveyancing matters can have peculiar aspects. This paper is intended to help those new to residential conveyancing avoid the most common issues that can cause problems when dealing with mobile homes, remote signings, or trust safety issues. These materials are part of a collection presented at LESA’s Conveyancing program in Edmonton on June 17, 2025.
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62503.02While realtors are involved in the majority of real estate transactions in Alberta, sellers are increasingly seeking to reduce or eliminate real estate commissions on the sale of their properties. In addition, the internet has made it much easier for sellers to market their properties and locate buyers without the assistance of real estate agents. As a result, conveyancing lawyers are increasingly asked to act on private deals and sales of real property between family members where there is no realtor involved. This paper considers the challenges for lawyers that these deals may present. These materials are part of a collection presented at LESA’s Conveyancing program in Edmonton on June 17, 2025.
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62503.01While the preparation of mortgages is often delegated by lawyers to their paralegals or assistants, the lawyer must always review the mortgage instructions to ensure that he or she can fully and accurately report to the lender on the matters identified in those instructions, or whether s/he will need to seek amendments. Lender instructions have increased in scope and breadth over the past number of years, and lawyers are sometimes asked to provide opinions outside their area of expertise, on matters on which they do not have personal knowledge, or to assume responsibility for matters over which they do not have direct control. This paper provides a general discussion of common lender instruction requests and some pitfalls and problems relating to mortgages of which a conveyancing lawyer should be aware. These materials are part of a collection presented at LESA’s Conveyancing program in Edmonton on June 17, 2025.
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62492.01This paper provides an introductory review of common estate litigation matters, including the preparation of materials and overall file management. It also explores a number of precedents that can be used as you encounter each of these issues. This paper was presented at LESA’s Effective Legal Support: Contentious Estate Matters webinar on March 4, 2025.
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62467.02This paper explores relevant Rules of Court and case law and considers evidence that is frequently disclosed and evidence that may be privileged. It also addresses the timing of filing and serving Affidavits of Record. In addition, the paper provides an overview of questioning and how legal support staff can assist in preparing for questioning, ordering and using transcripts, and dealing with undertakings that arise in questioning. This paper is part of a collection presented at LESA’s Civil Procedure for Legal Support Staff program in Edmonton on November 22, 2024.
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62467.03Focusing on the steps traditionally taken by the legal assistant, this paper outlines the major steps to prepare an application in morning chambers as well as via a special application. It also provides strategies, recommendations, and best practices for each major step. This paper is part of a collection presented at LESA’s Civil Procedure for Legal Support Staff program in Edmonton on November 22, 2024.
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62467.04Judicial review is a foundational part of the legal system. This paper explores applications for judicial review, how judicial reviews are started, who is required to be served with originating application for judicial review, what evidence can be filed in a judicial review, what is a certified record of proceedings, and how judicial reviews differ from statutory appeals. This paper is part of a collection presented at LESA’s Civil Procedure for Legal Support Staff program in Edmonton on November 22, 2024.
