Registrants expected to be active in class discussions, individual and group exercises
The National Family Law Arbitration Course, which will run over six days in February and March, will introduce participants to the skills, processes and procedures needed for the arbitration of family law disputes in Canada.
The arbitration course utilizes video conference software that enables highly interactive engagement and offers breakout rooms. Registrants will actively participate in class discussions, individual exercises and group exercises.
The course, organized by John-Paul Boyd of John-Paul Boyd Arbitration Chambers in Alberta and British Columbia, Lawrence Pinsky of Taylor McCaffrey LLP in Manitoba and Lorne Wolfson of Torkin Manes LLP in Ontario, gives participants the chance to learn from experienced family law lawyers with arbitration practices in these provinces. Senator Murray Sinclair will also discuss Indigenous traditions and the arbitration of legal disputes, superior court judges from Alberta and Ontario will address the role of the court in arbitration processes, and mental health professionals will explore the effects of domestic violence.
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The first day of the 40-hour course, held on Feb. 5, is dedicated to the introduction to family law arbitration, while the second day on Feb. 6, will explore arbitration agreements and the role of the court in arbitration processes. The third day, held on Feb. 26, will discuss the topic of domestic violence, pre-hearing conferences and interim applications, while the fourth day on Feb. 27 will go over the rules of procedure, evidence and the nuts and bolts of running hearings.
The fifth and sixth days, held on Mar. 19 and 20, will cover the Arbitration Act test and mock arbitration exercises, as well as drafting awards, the issues arising after such awards and the management of an arbitration practice. Each instructional day will go from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. EST.
Registrants who attend all six days and complete the key course requirements will receive certificates of completion. These registrants are expected to accomplish writing exercises, participate in a mock arbitration and show their understanding of their jurisdiction’s arbitration legislation.
The course is accredited by the Law Society of British Columbia, which considers it the equivalent of 40 hours of training in family law arbitration and also approved by the Family Dispute Resolution Institute of Ontario, which treats it as a satisfaction of the course requirements for individuals pursuing an FDRP-Arb certification from the institute.
Registration in the course costs $1,950 for the six days, subject to a discount of $150 for members of the ADR Institute of Canada, Family Mediation Canada, the Family Arbitration and Mediation Law Institute, Mediate BC, the Family Dispute Resolution Institute of Ontario and the Ontario Association for Family Mediation.
The organizers offered an optional pre-course program for lawyers seeking to work as parenting coordinators on Jan. 15, while the same was offered to mental health professionals on Jan. 16.
Interested individuals may download the registration form on the course website to sign up or to obtain payment information.