Family Litigation Procedures

Curriculum guideline

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Course
OADM 1434
Discontinued
Yes
Course code
OADM 1434
Descriptive
Family Litigation Procedures
Department
Office Administration
Faculty
Commerce & Business Administration
Credits
2.00
Start date
End term
202010
PLAR
Yes
Semester length
15 weeks X 4 hours/week = 60 hours/semester
Max class size
24
Contact hours
Lecture: 3 hours per week/45 hours per semester Lab: 1 hour per week/15 hours per semester
Method(s) of instruction
Online
Learning activities

Communication between instructor and students will be conducted online using WebCT e-mail, discussion, chat utilities, guided practices, assignments, and case studies.  Students will work both independently and collaboratively to learn and apply procedures and tasks carried on in a legal office.  Both learning activities and evaluations will be structured to stress problem solving, accuracy, and working within time constraints.

Course description
This is a BCCampus online provincial course. Family Litigation Procedures introduces the student to the functions and duties of a legal administrative assistant working in a family law practice in B.C. Subjects covered include legal terminology, the applicable provincial and federal statutes, the court system, and the theory and practical application of preparation of legal correspondence, undefended and defended divorces, and separation and marriage agreements.
Course content
  1. Historical Overview: historical developments in family law
  2. Overview: why the family law client is unique
  3. Opening the family law file: sample lawyer’s initial interview notes
  4. The Divorce Act: grounds for divorce, bars to divorce, forms of divorce (undefended, joint, defended), jurisdiction
  5. The Family Relations Act: relief available, importance of provisions concerning division of family property, jurisdiction
  6. Application of the Supreme Court Family Rules
  7. Financial disclosure: Forms F8 and F9
  8. Child support: preparation of the Child Support Affidavit and application of the Child Support Guidelines
  9. Simple calculations of child support amounts
  10. Preparation of the Notice of Joint Family Claim in support of a joint divorce
  11. Preparation of the Notice of Family Claim and related documents in support of an undefended divorce
  12. Preparation of the Response to Family Claim and related documents in support of a defended divorce
  13. The divorce order: preparation, approval by counsel
Learning outcomes

The learner has reliably demonstrated the ability to:

  1. Read and understand the relevant statutory materials, the Supreme Court Family Rules, the Divorce Act, and the Family Relations Act
  2. Identify the distinct applications of the Divorce Act and the Family Relations Act
  3. Recognize the primary relief available under the Divorce Act and the Family Relations Act
  4. Identify the rules on financial disclosure
  5. Calculate basic child support under the Federal Child Support Guidelines
  6. Accurately prepare the course documents required in a joint divorce proceeding
  7. Accurately prepare the court documents required in an uncontested divorce proceeding
  8. Accurately prepare the court documents required to defend a contested divorce proceeding
  9. Transcribe accurately family law correspondence and documents, including marriage and separation agreements, using appropriate and relevant legal terminology
  10. Observe ethical standards with respect to client confidentiality in the completion of all work
Means of assessment
Assignments  40%
Quizzes (3 x10%)     30%
Final Exam  30%
Total 100%
Textbook materials

Textbooks and Materials to be Purchased by Students

 

Course material as determined by BCCampus.

 

.WAV pedal & computer headphones are required for digital transcription activities.

Prerequisites

(OADM 1430 or equivalent) and (OADM 1431 or equivalent).

Corequisites

OADM 1433