Staying on top of things: the importance of continuing professional development

Topic: Family Law April 8, 2016 by Carol Cochrane

This weekend (April 8th and 9th) over 150 local family law lawyers will be meeting at the 25th Annual Institute of Family Law to obtain their quota of required continuing professional development hours, to network and socialize with their colleagues and most importantly, to stay on top of the changes and emerging trends in the always-evolving field of family law.

The Law Society of Upper Canada requires all lawyers to obtain annually at least twelve hours of continuing professional development:   three hours relating to professional responsibility, ethics and/or practice management and at least nine substantive hours.  The Law Society requires all lawyers to fulfill such minimum requirements each year in order to ensure that all persons who practice law in Ontario meet standards of learning, professional competence and conduct appropriate for the legal services they provide.  Attending at conferences such as the Family Law Institute demonstrates practitioners’ commitment to the public we serve and to always be reminded of the need for competent and ethical services to be provided as officers of the Court.

This year’s Agenda appears to be one of the best we have seen in many years.  Topics range from Elder Law to compensation for assault in a Family Court proceedings,  to the very complex issues of taxation and family trusts.  Registrants will receive the benefit of hearing from Chief Justice Heather Smith, recently appointed local Justices Shelston and Doyle and a number of other esteemed members of the Bench (and Bar).

I have the distinct honour of moderating a panel on the often contentious issue of spousal support.  Panel members are our local Justice Jennifer Blishen, Justice Deborah Chappel of Hamilton and Justice George Czutrin, Senior Justice of the Family Court.

Next week, I will share some highlights from the programs at the Family Law Institute.  Stay posted!

[ssba]