Seminar Partners Archive

Thursday, December 19, 2019
12:00 pm to 1:30 pm (Eastern) 2019-12-19 12:00:00 2019-12-19 13:30:00 America/Toronto Persuasive Legal Writing: Winning with Words Seminar Partners Program - Persuasive Legal Writing: Winning with Words hosted by William Bernhardt Live Video Webcast at SeminarPartners.ca

In this convenient, practical presentation, William Bernhardt, lawyer and New York Times bestselling author of more than forty books, applies the principles of superior legal writing to specific documents designed to persuade. Bernhardt discusses the fundamentals of persuasion, then applies those principles and superior writing skills to factums and other persuasive documents, explaining how each and every section can be strategically executed, considering both text and subtext, to produce a favourable result. Topics include...Read More

Thursday, December 12, 2019
12:00 pm to 1:30 pm (Eastern) 2019-12-12 12:00:00 2019-12-12 13:30:00 America/Toronto Advanced Microsoft Word for Litigators Seminar Partners Program - Advanced Microsoft Word for Litigators hosted by Craig Brody Live Video Webcast at SeminarPartners.ca

You spend a lot of time in front of a computer, and if you’re not sending emails, you’re probably using Microsoft Word. And when it comes to court documents, it’s not just what the documents says that matters, but also how it looks, and whether it complies with the court’s formatting requirements. Don’t invite complaints with missing page numbers, margins that are too small, or a Table of Authorities in the wrong place! Let experienced technology trainer Craig Brody show you the right way to use Microsoft Word to format various documents used in litigation. Craig has more than twenty years’ experience teaching Word commands to law firms. In just 90 minutes, he’ll share essential and advanced functions that every litigator – especially small firm lawyers who don’t have the luxury of support staff – must know! You’ll learn...Read More

Wednesday, December 4, 2019
12:00 pm to 1:30 pm (Eastern) 2019-12-04 12:00:00 2019-12-04 13:30:00 America/Toronto Business Valuation for Lawyers Seminar Partners Program - Business Valuation for Lawyers hosted by Joseph Novello Live Video Webcast at SeminarPartners.ca

Today’s clients demand that lawyers understand how to value a business - whether in relation to a merger or acquisition, shareholder dispute, or an estates or family law matter. The more you understand about business valuation, the better you’ll be able to use your financial understanding to your client’s advantage during negotiations or litigation. This recently updated, 90 minute webinar will help demystify business valuation for the average practitioner. In simple, easy-to-understand language, and using realistic examples, CPA, MBA Joseph Novello will explore reasons to value a business, provide practical tips based on which party you’re representing, and demonstrate commonly accepted valuation methods. You’ll learn...Read More

Thursday, November 28, 2019
12:00 pm to 1:30 pm (Eastern) 2019-11-28 12:00:00 2019-11-28 13:30:00 America/Toronto Use of Checklists in Will Planning Seminar Partners Program - Use of Checklists in Will Planning hosted by Jordan M. Atin Live Video Webcast at SeminarPartners.ca

Learn how to use checklists to improve efficiencies and reduce claims in your wills practice! Drafting wills may seem straightforward, but have you mastered the basic steps from client intake to file closing? Attend this information-packed presentation with leading estates lawyer Jordan Atin and get step-by-step guidance for handling key stages of a will drafting engagement. After attending this program you will: understand why checklists are important; be more aware of the risks of will drafting and ways to protect yourself; appreciate how technology can create a better client experience, and ensure no issues are overlooked; and, have an effective, systematic process for serving will clients. Don’t miss this...Read More

Thursday, November 21, 2019
12:00 pm to 1:30 pm (Eastern) 2019-11-21 12:00:00 2019-11-21 13:30:00 America/Toronto Avoiding Common Problems in Residential Real Estate Closings Seminar Partners Program - Avoiding Common Problems in Residential Real Estate Closings hosted by Lisa Laredo Live Video Webcast at SeminarPartners.ca

While many residential real estate closings go as planned, there are some problems that can delay or even thwart a closing. From last-minute financing troubles to disagreements about the fine print, these deal-busters present significant risks for buyers and sellers, and for their lawyers. Can you recognize them before they spell trouble for you? Do you have the knowledge and skills you need to safely save or terminate a transaction that falls apart? This practical, 90 minute webinar will highlight common - and not-so-common - issues that can lead to catastrophe. Using real-world examples, experienced real estate lawyer Lisa Laredo will identify and explain problems that jeopardize real estate closings, and offer...Read More

Tuesday, November 12, 2019
12:00 pm to 1:30 pm (Eastern) 2019-11-12 12:00:00 2019-11-12 13:30:00 America/Toronto Finding & Using Social Media Evidence Seminar Partners Program - Finding & Using Social Media Evidence hosted by Jason Wadden & Sarah Stothart Live Video Webcast at SeminarPartners.ca

Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat. With so much of our lives playing out online, your clients almost certainly have a social media presence. And courts are taking notice, with many litigants paying steep prices for careless social media posts. So what steps should we, as lawyers take, to find and use social media evidence, and what advice should we offer clients to address the growing admission and consideration of social media evidence by the courts? This new 90 minute program with Toronto litigators Jason Wadden and Sarah Stothart will explore recent treatment of social media in a wide range of cases, and offer practical advice for counseling clients on social media use. Topics include: identifying relevant social media evidence...Read More

Thursday, November 7, 2019
12:00 pm to 1:30 pm (Eastern) 2019-11-07 12:00:00 2019-11-07 13:30:00 America/Toronto Overcoming Procrastination: Rid Your Practice of Last-minute-itis! Seminar Partners Program - Overcoming Procrastination: Rid Your Practice of Last-minute-itis! hosted by Ann Gomez Live Video Webcast at SeminarPartners.ca

Struggling with last-minute-itis? You’re not alone! Procrastination can rear its ugly head for everyone, including successful lawyers. While putting things off may provide immediate relief, the long-term effects of procrastination can have a disastrous impact on your practice, reputation, relationships, financial situation, and overall health. Attend this new, 90 minute webinar with Toronto productivity consultant Ann Gomez and learn the subconscious reasons why we procrastinate, and gain practical strategies on how to manage this natural tendency. After just 90 minutes, you will: identify your procrastination triggers; appreciate how the imposter syndrome and information overload contribute to procrastination...Read More

Thursday, October 24, 2019
12:00 pm to 1:30 pm (Eastern) 2019-10-24 12:00:00 2019-10-24 13:30:00 America/Toronto Clear & Effective Communications with Colleagues, Clients & Staff Seminar Partners Program - Clear & Effective Communications with Colleagues, Clients & Staff hosted by Irwin Karp Live Video Webcast at SeminarPartners.ca

Good communication skills are essential for a successful and rewarding practice. They can help us progress in our careers, enhance our effectiveness as advocates, and make our interactions more satisfying and productive. The duty to communicate effectively is so important it’s even enshrined in the Rules of Professional Conduct – and for good reason! The hectic pace of litigating, deal-making, and advising means we don’t always remember to communicate as well as we should with clients, colleagues or our own staff. Our cryptic notes, hurried questions, instructions without context, and tardy communications can lead to unhappy clients, staff who don’t feel valued, and a reputation among colleagues for rushed or incomplete work. Join lawyer and leading legal productivity expert Irwin Karp and...Read More

Thursday, October 17, 2019
12:00 pm to 1:30 pm (Eastern) 2019-10-17 12:00:00 2019-10-17 13:30:00 America/Toronto Digital Assets: Estate Planning & Administration Seminar Partners Program - Digital Assets: Estate Planning & Administration hosted by Dan Nelson Live Video Webcast at SeminarPartners.ca

We interact with digital assets hundreds of times a day - from the photos and videos stored on our smartphones and computers, to our social media accounts, downloaded music, and loyalty points. Some of these assets add significant financial value to our estate while others have purely sentimental value, but all can easily slip through the cracks. Do you have the knowledge to ensure that your client’s digital assets are managed in accordance with their wishes? This exciting new webinar with experienced estates lawyer Dan Nelson will explain the rules that govern this new and rapidly growing asset class, address how to gain control of them after death, and offer strategies to effectively incorporate digital assets into estate planning documents. You will learn...Read More

Thursday, October 10, 2019
12:00 pm to 1:30 pm (Eastern) 2019-10-10 12:00:00 2019-10-10 13:30:00 America/Toronto Biases, Blind Spots & Ethics: How Good Lawyers Go Astray Seminar Partners Program - Biases, Blind Spots & Ethics: How Good Lawyers Go Astray hosted by Dr. Larry Richard Live Video Webcast at SeminarPartners.ca

Because lawyers represent the interests of others, our profession has grown up with a deep and serious commitment to ethical behavior. However, the way ethics is taught in most law schools makes two assumptions that run contrary to what we know about human behavior: (a) most courses emphasize what not to do; and (b) most teaching is focused on avoiding intentional ethical violations. In this exciting, new webinar, Dr. Larry Richard, a lawyer-psychologist who studies lawyer behavior, explains the flaws in these two assumptions, and offers several principles and practices to help us foster ethical behavior. Dr. Richard explores the cognitive toll that...Read More

Thursday, September 19, 2019
12:00 pm to 1:30 pm (Eastern) 2019-09-19 12:00:00 2019-09-19 13:30:00 America/Toronto Defeating Digital Distractions in Your Law Practice Seminar Partners Program - Defeating Digital Distractions in Your Law Practice hosted by Jon Krop Live Video Webcast at SeminarPartners.ca

Modern technology can feel addictive – because it is! Smartphones, apps, and social media platforms are precision engineered to grab our attention and keep us coming back. We’d like to think that as lawyers, we’re immune to screen addiction, but we’re not. Instead our phones put us on call 24/7! We waste time, attention, and energy on unimportant information and interactions, increasing our stress, and reducing our efficiency and ability to fulfil our professional duties. So how do we reclaim our focus from digital distraction? Join us for this fun, highly practical webinar and learn how to use your digital devices so they enhance, rather than erode, your productivity...Read More

Thursday, September 12, 2019
12:00 pm to 1:30 pm (Eastern) 2019-09-12 12:00:00 2019-09-12 13:30:00 America/Toronto Taxation of the Average Estate Seminar Partners Program - Taxation of the Average Estate hosted by Lynne Butler Live Video Webcast at SeminarPartners.ca

Thinking about building an estates practice? Don’t forget the tax! Estate law and tax law issues can be very complex. Learn skills and gain confidence in this basic level course designed to introduce common taxation issues that most lawyers will encounter when assisting clients with estate planning or advising an executor in an estate administration. The program is geared towards lawyers who are new to estate and taxation practice, or who don’t specialize in estate taxation. Using examples from her own practice, experienced estates and trusts lawyer Lynne Butler will touch on essential steps that need to be taken after the death of an individual, as well as some ideas for tax planning before death. The presentation will...Read More

Thursday, July 18, 2019
12:00 pm to 1:30 pm (Eastern) 2019-07-18 12:00:00 2019-07-18 13:30:00 America/Toronto Estate Planning for Blended Families Seminar Partners Program - Estate Planning for Blended Families hosted by Rachel Blumenfeld & Marni Pernica Live Video Webcast at SeminarPartners.ca

Blended families have come a long way since the Brady Bunch of the 1970’s. Today’s second (or third or fourth) marriages raise complex legal, financial and practical issues for families - and for their lawyers! Balancing the interests of the surviving spouse with those of children from prior marriages can be challenging for even the most experienced practitioner. Do you have the skills you need to meet the needs of this growing client base? This convenient, 90 minute webinar with experienced Toronto estates lawyers Rachel Blumenfeld and Marni Pernica will examine essential estate-planning tools lawyers can use to minimize disputes and protect the interests of all involved. After taking this course you will...Read More

Thursday, June 20, 2019
12:00 pm to 1:30 pm (Eastern) 2019-06-20 12:00:00 2019-06-20 13:30:00 America/Toronto Testamentary Capacity & Undue Influence in Estate Planning Seminar Partners Program - Testamentary Capacity & Undue Influence in Estate Planning hosted by Mark Weintraub, K.C. Live Video Webcast at SeminarPartners.ca

Will challenges are often based on claims that the testator lacked the capacity to execute a will, or that the will was the result of undue influence. These are not easy matters to assess, especially with new clients for whom you have no frame of reference. As a practitioner, you must assume that the will you are drafting could be contested, and take clear steps to rule out issues of incapacity and undue influence, and build a record documenting your conclusions. This exciting new webinar featuring experienced estates counsel Mark Weintraub, Q.C. will review your duties when taking will planning instructions, offer practical techniques you can use to evaluate capacity and undue influence, and discuss how to better help or decline to help a prospective client, while protecting your practice from claims of negligence. By the end of the program you will...Read More

Thursday, June 13, 2019
12:00 pm to 1:30 pm (Eastern) 2019-06-13 12:00:00 2019-06-13 13:30:00 America/Toronto The Science of Better Lawyering Seminar Partners Program - The Science of Better Lawyering hosted by Laura Mahr Live Video Webcast at SeminarPartners.ca

Most of us accept that law can be a stressful vocation. But did you know that practicing law - more than most professions - fortifies our negativity bias? Our lawyer brains are trained and paid to stay alert to what could go wrong. And constantly focusing on what might go wrong can negatively impact our cognitive function, focus, and ability to relate to others - the exact competencies clients require of us. Fortunately, we can alter the physiology of our brain. By implementing some basic mindfulness practices, we can shift our attention towards the positive and become more productive, effective and ethical lawyers, with more to offer to our clients and ourselves. In this inspiring new webinar, lawyer and mindfulness trainer Laura Mahr will share simple strategies to...Read More

Thursday, May 23, 2019
12:00 pm to 1:30 pm (Eastern) 2019-05-23 12:00:00 2019-05-23 13:30:00 America/Toronto Executor Duties, Beneficiary Rights, and Your Role Seminar Partners Program - Executor Duties, Beneficiary Rights, and Your Role hosted by Lynne Butler Live Video Webcast at SeminarPartners.ca

The relationship between you and your client, who is acting as executor, can be complicated - especially when disputes arise between the executor and beneficiaries. While the question as to whom you owe a duty when representing an executor - who, in turn, owes duties to the beneficiaries - may be answered in law, successfully navigating that relationship in practice requires a little expert guidance. This new, 90 minute program with experienced estates lawyer Lynne Butler will explore common questions about the responsibilities and powers of executors, and the rights of beneficiaries, with a focus on how counsel for the executor can avoid controversy! Among the subjects Lynne will address are...Read More

Thursday, May 9, 2019
12:00 pm to 1:30 pm (Eastern) 2019-05-09 12:00:00 2019-05-09 13:30:00 America/Toronto Superior Legal Writing: Every Word Matters Seminar Partners Program - Superior Legal Writing: Every Word Matters hosted by William Bernhardt Live Video Webcast at SeminarPartners.ca

The greatest skill any lawyer can possess is the ability to write clearly, concisely, and convincingly. Good writing skills will not only improve the results you obtain, but will also enhance your reputation, and improve your relationships with judges, other lawyers and clients. William Bernhardt, lawyer and New York Times bestselling author of more than forty books tells lawyers what they need to know to succeed on the printed page, based upon personal experience, interviews with judges and lawyers, and a lifetime of writing. Bernhardt uses...Read More

Wednesday, May 1, 2019
12:00 pm to 1:30 pm (Eastern) 2019-05-01 12:00:00 2019-05-01 13:30:00 America/Toronto How to Deal with Conflicting Perceptions of Reality: Tips for Lawyers Seminar Partners Program - How to Deal with Conflicting Perceptions of Reality: Tips for Lawyers hosted by Nina Meierding Live Video Webcast at SeminarPartners.ca

As lawyers we encounter conflicting perspectives of reality every day. It happens in estates, family, criminal, employment, business, and other areas of law. We see it when documenting relationships, during negotiations, and in litigation. Clients, parties, opposing counsel, and colleagues sometimes hold on to their positions and their versions of the facts - even in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary. In this advanced presentation, lawyer, professor and internationally acclaimed conflict resolution expert Nina Meierding will explore how people develop very different perspectives of what has happened, what is right, and what is fair. You’ll learn how we each create, reinforce and remember our own realities, and specific reasons why it is so difficult for people to acknowledge they have made a mistake even when all the “facts” are against them. Using examples from a variety of practice areas and legal settings...Read More

Wednesday, April 17, 2019
12:00 pm to 1:30 pm (Eastern) 2019-04-17 12:00:00 2019-04-17 13:30:00 America/Toronto Avoiding Negligence Claims in an Estates Practice Seminar Partners Program - Avoiding Negligence Claims in an Estates Practice hosted by Gillian Fournie & Joanna Lindenberg Live Video Webcast at SeminarPartners.ca

Malpractice claims against wills and estates practitioners have steadily increased over the last decade, with inadequate fact investigation and lawyer/client communication failures being the top reasons complaints are made. Lawyers who draft estate planning documents are under more scrutiny than ever as the largest wealth transfer from one generation to the next begins. Mistakes can be found at every turn, from failure to have a working knowledge of tax, real estate, and family law, or misunderstanding a client’s unique, and often complex, family dynamics and asset ownership. Lawyers new to estates law and non-specialists who dabble in wills, trusts, and estates in addition to their regular practice must be particularly diligent to meet the standard of care. Among other things, drafting lawyers owe a duty of care not only to their clients, but third parties as well. Fortunately...Read More

Thursday, April 11, 2019
12:00 pm to 1:30 pm (Eastern) 2019-04-11 12:00:00 2019-04-11 13:30:00 America/Toronto Understanding Financial Statements Seminar Partners Program - Understanding Financial Statements hosted by Joseph Novello Live Video Webcast at SeminarPartners.ca

Having a basic knowledge of financial statements is crucial for every well-rounded lawyer. The more you understand about financial statements, the better you’ll be able to counsel clients with confidence, and use your financial understanding to your client’s advantage during negotiations or litigation. Attend this this newly updated program and learn how to understand the basic structure of a financial statement and identify its key components. You’ll work through sample balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow statements, including examples for...Read More

Thursday, April 4, 2019
12:00 pm to 1:30 pm (Eastern) 2019-04-04 12:00:00 2019-04-04 13:30:00 America/Toronto Time Management for Lawyers: Work Smarter, Not Harder Seminar Partners Program - Time Management for Lawyers: Work Smarter, Not Harder hosted by Cami McLaren Live Video Webcast at SeminarPartners.ca

How many times have you reached the end of your workday and asked yourself "What did I accomplish today?" Most lawyers feel ineffective and out of balance more often than we want to admit. We think if we just work harder, things will fall into place. But working harder isn’t the solution. We need to change the way we approach time management. This new, 90 minute webinar with lawyer and certified performance coach Cami McLaren will introduce you to a different and more effective way of viewing time and time management, and offer specific changes you can implement right away to improve the way you use your time, decrease your stress, and increase your productivity. From understanding what is and is not currently working for you, to learning how to schedule your time and use to-do lists more effectively, Cami will teach you...Read More

Thursday, March 28, 2019
12:00 pm to 1:30 pm (Eastern) 2019-03-28 12:00:00 2019-03-28 13:30:00 America/Toronto Microsoft Outlook for Lawyers Seminar Partners Program - Microsoft Outlook for Lawyers hosted by Craig Brody Live Video Webcast at SeminarPartners.ca

Microsoft Outlook is probably the second most important tool for lawyers after Microsoft Word. Most of us rely on it to process our emails, manage our contacts, organize our schedules, set up our meetings, and handle our to-do list. But without a little expert guidance, this powerful information manager can easily distract and overwhelm even the most organized practitioner. Attend this convenient, 90 minute webinar with legal technology trainer Craig Brody and learn how to make better use of Outlook’s numerous and often overlooked functions in four key areas - Mail, Calendar, Contacts, and Tasks. Using simple, easy to understand on-screen examples, Craig will show you how to...Read More

Thursday, March 7, 2019
12:00 pm to 1:30 pm (Eastern) 2019-03-07 12:00:00 2019-03-07 13:30:00 America/Toronto Recent Developments in the Law of Privilege Seminar Partners Program - Recent Developments in the Law of Privilege hosted by Peter Sankoff Live Video Webcast at SeminarPartners.ca

Privilege issues permeate every lawyer's practice, whether transactional or litigation-focused. Knowing when privilege does and does not apply, understanding the scope and reach of the privilege, and the circumstances in which waiver applies, and implementing best practices for invoking and preserving the privilege require an awareness of recent cases and how real-world privilege scenarios play out. Lawyers unfamiliar with these evolving principles put their clients and themselves at risk. This program examines key areas in the law of privilege where there have been significant recent developments. Noted author and award winning law Professor Peter Sankoff will...Read More

Tuesday, March 5, 2019
12:00 pm to 1:30 pm (Eastern) 2019-03-05 12:00:00 2019-03-05 13:30:00 America/Toronto Bill C-46: Canada’s New Impaired Driving Laws Explained Seminar Partners Program - Bill C-46: Canada’s New Impaired Driving Laws Explained hosted by Ian Savage & Dylan Finlay Live Video Webcast at SeminarPartners.ca

Bill C-46, known as the Impaired Driving Act, came into force on December 18, 2018. The Act is the companion legislation to Bill C-45, The Cannabis Act, which legalized possession of marijuana for personal use in Canada. The Impaired Driving Act makes significant and controversial changes to federal alcohol and drug impaired laws, including permitting roadside screening of suspected drug impaired drivers, introducing new drug related driving offences, and allowing for mandatory alcohol breathalyzer testing. Almost overnight, how lawyers prosecute and defend those charged with impaired driving offences, has changed. Join defence lawyers Ian Savage (Alberta and Saskatchewan) and Dylan Finlay (Ontario) for this convenient, 90 minute primer on what recent reforms to Canada’s impaired driving laws mean for...Read More

Thursday, January 31, 2019
12:00 pm to 1:30 pm (Eastern) 2019-01-31 12:00:00 2019-01-31 13:30:00 America/Toronto Drafting Simple Wills Seminar Partners Program - Drafting Simple Wills hosted by Jasmine Sweatman Live Video Webcast at SeminarPartners.ca

Whether for a client, relative, or friend, sooner or later many lawyers will be asked to draft a will. You follow your old Bar Admission materials with a few online updates you’ve found, and all is well, right? Wrong. Drafting even a basic will can be a difficult and time-consuming task, requiring specialized knowledge and skill. While you don’t have to be an expert, you do need a general understanding of the technical and human aspects of will drafting, and essential estate and gift tax laws, and income tax laws. This new short course with experienced estates lawyer Jasmine Sweatman is designed for early career lawyers or those new to will drafting. In just 90 minutes, Jasmine will explain how to...Read More