Roster Events

Child Welfare Law Training – Southern Alberta
June 25, 2021

This training session for will explore the many facets of child welfare law.

Who can attend: LAA staff lawyers, LAA roster lawyers in southern Alberta.

Registration closed

Agenda

Time
8:30 – 8:40 a.m.

Topic
Welcome Remarks

Speakers
John Panusa, LAA President and CEO
Andrea Doyle, Legal Aid Alberta

Time
8:40 – 9:30 a.m.

Topic
Child Welfare 101

• Understanding the basics
• Statutory timelines
• How to count days
• Who is a guardian under CYFEA?
• Disclosure
• Best Practices
• Mediation

Speakers
Vita Houlihan, Legal Aid Alberta
Michelle Protsch, Legal Aid Alberta

Time
9:30 – 9:40 a.m.

Wellness break

Time
9:40 – 10:45 a.m.

Topic
Initial Custody

• How to effectively conduct an Initial Custody Hearing?
• An Act Respecting – How to use this legislation in the context of ICHs

Speakers
Carla Hopfner, Legal Aid Alberta

Time
10:45 – 10:55 a.m.

Wellness Break

Time
10:55 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Topic
Assessments

• Why and when are they are needed
• What type PPA vs. neuro psych
• Negotiating terms re: Assessments,
• What to look for in an Assessment
• How to cross-examine the expert

Speakers
Dr. Jim Tittemore
Kara Irwin
Jennifer Shaften Q.C.

Time
12:00-12:30 p.m.

Lunch break

Time
12:30 – 1:15 p.m.

Topic
Must-read caselaw

Resources for clients

• Connections
• First steps
• PCAP/P-CAP- E – McMann

Speakers
Stuart Mair

Lauren Raymore
Carrie Lawson
PJ Lumley
Angela Knee
Sharon Dockrill

Time
1:15 – 2:15 p.m.

Topic
Child Welfare Trials

• How to effectively conduct a child welfare trial
• Preparing your client to testify
• Cross examination of child welfare workers
• Private Guardianship Applications
• Negotiating Terms: How to properly enter a Consent on the record and obtaining written instructions
• Ways to resolve and when to focus on negotiating post PGO access

Speakers
Vanessa Cork, Legal Aid Alberta
Michelle Lee, Legal Aid Alberta

Time
2:15 – 2:30 p.m.

Health break

Time
2:30 – 3:00 p.m.

Topic
Section 35.1 Reviews – Applications by a Former Guardian

• S. 35.1 Reviews of a PGO
• Disclosure in S. 35.1 applications

Speakers
Charles Easton, Legal Aid Alberta

Time
3:00 – 4:00 p.m.

Topic
Panel Discussion

Speakers
Judiciary:
Assistant Chief Judge Cornfield
Judge Ailsby
Director’s Counsel:
Elizabeth Iredale
Parent’s Counsel:
Raj Laroiya, Legal Aid Alberta
Child’s Counsel:
Julie Hart

Time
4:00 – 4:05 p.m.

Topic
Closing remarks

Speakers

Andrea Doyle, Legal Aid Alberta

Event inquiries
[email protected]