Join thousands of lawyers who benefit from our accredited, live, weekly webinars in increments of time designed to fit today’s busy schedules. For over a decade, our high quality courses led by expert teachers have helped lawyers like you enhance their understanding of important topics and refine their skills from work, home, or the road. You can watch our webinars on your computer, tablet or smartphone.
Browse our upcoming courses below to find the webinars right for you, and start completing your continuing professional development requirement today! All of our courses are backed by excellent customer service and our satisfaction guarantee.
As society struggles to reduce the spread of COVID-19, working from home has become the new normal for lawyers, paralegals, and other legal staff. And it only takes about a week to realize that working from home occasionally is not the same as continuing our practices from home now. Why? Because the framework, structure, and people in our offices were still in place when we used to work from home occasionally - only we were missing. Working from home under today’s extraordinary and extraordinarily stressful circumstances is fundamentally different. Figuring out the most important things to do as we reinvent our lives and our legal practices - and actually getting the most important things done to the best of our ability in these circumstances - is more essential than ever. Join lawyer and time management expert Meg Spencer Dixon...Read More
Alcohol opens the door to a wide range of legal liability issues. From bars whose primary business is serving alcohol to private clubs and event venues that obtain special occasion alcohol permits, high exposure for liquor liability is the cost of commercial enterprise. But what about the neighbour hosting a BBQ or an employer’s work party? Does the law hold social hosts to the same standard of responsibility as it does with commercial hosts? What circumstances increase or reduce liability? This program is designed to educate lawyers about the fundamentals of liquor liability law in Canada. Experienced personal injury lawyers Morgan Martin and Chet Wydrzynski will use recent cases and hypothetical fact scenarios to discuss the broad range of circumstances under which liquor liability can arise, and steps all hosts can take to protect themselves, their guests and third parties. You will learn...Read More
The extraordinary circumstances created by COVID-19 have left many lawyers struggling to figure out how to get clients’ wills executed, where the physical requirement for witnessing cannot be met. This timely, highly practical program featuring experienced estates lawyer Lynne Butler provides a review of the requirements for valid execution of wills across Canada, and the issues arising from current social distancing and quarantine measures, and how they might be addressed. Among other topics, Lynne will discuss...Read More
The disruption to workplaces resulting from COVID-19 has been profound. Employment law specialists and general practitioners alike are inundated with questions about how to continue business operations, while protecting employees and limiting the spread of the virus. Travel bans, mandated closures, self-isolation and new government programs are creating novel territory for both employers and employees. This timely, highly practical webinar with experienced employment law lawyer David Whitten will explore...Read More
Canada is facing an unprecedented economic slowdown as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. As borders close, businesses shutter, and supply chains are disrupted, many lawyers are fielding daily, sometimes hourly, calls from anxious clients unable to fulfil their contractual obligations. From commercial leases to manufacturing targets to service agreements, businesses and individuals are all asking the same questions. Can I rely on the Force Majeure provision in my contract to excuse performance? What if my contract doesn’t have a Force Majeure clause? In this timely, highly practical webinar, experienced commercial litigator Heather Devine explains...Read More
While some lawyers have always dreamed of working remotely, others never wanted it, and aren’t prepared for the responsibility. Almost overnight, many in the profession started using home PCs, on home networks, and saving client documents on those computers, and even on personal cloud storage. Is that data safe from cybersecurity threats? Do you have the tools to protect clients’ confidential information, as required? In this timely and highly practical webinar, lawyer and legal technology expert Paul Unger discusses the ethical and malpractice pitfalls of working remotely, and how to address them. You’ll learn about full disk encryption, email encryption, home wireless router...Read More
Commercial leasing has been one of the hardest hit sectors by the COVID-19 pandemic. As another month’s rent becomes due, landlords are seeing a massive surge in new requests from tenants for rent relief. But rent concessions require a delicate balance of providing meaningful assistance to the tenant so they can survive short-term financial difficulties, while still allowing the landlord to meet a myriad of its own ongoing obligations. This timely, highly practical presentation addresses negotiating a rent relief agreement in a commercial tenancy, from both the landlord and tenant perspectives. Commercial lawyers Devin Itterman and Alixandra Stoicheff explore key considerations when negotiating rent relief, options for structuring concessions, and practical tips for preserving the landlord and tenant relationship. By the end of the program you’ll better understand general principles relating to defaults in commercial leases, and have new tools, including sample clauses, for negotiating rent relief. Topics include:...Read More
COVID-19 is creating a tsunami of family law issues. Physical distancing, school closures, health concerns, and lost income are raising questions for previously separated families, now confused about how to navigate access, parenting and support arrangements. Already troubled families, suddenly forced into close quarters and socially isolated, are struggling to avoid new sources of conflict and reporting increases of family violence. And suddenly fragile marriages, unable to survive the strains of the pandemic, are headed towards divorce, with a view to optimal valuation dates. With access to courts restricted, in-person meetings eliminated, and privacy in short supply, family law lawyers are facing a host of novel challenges. This new, 90 minute webinar with experienced family law lawyers Leisha Murphy and Alex Boland will address some of the most FAQ about the impact of COVID-19 on family law, best practices for helping clients move forward in this uncertain time, and what the future may hold for family law, once life is “back to normal”. Topics include:...Read More
The death of a parent – in particular the last parent – is a difficult time that can reopen old wounds and exacerbate long-standing rivalries between siblings. Despite a parent’s best intentions, feelings of unfairness, poor communication, and ambiguities in estate documents can lead to costly, emotional, and very public litigation. Fortunately, many of these disputes can be anticipated and even avoided. In this entertaining presentation, veteran estate mediator and litigator Charles Ticker offers fresh insights on how and why these disputes happen, and shares straight-forward planning, drafting and estate administration advice to avoid conflicts, and manage them when they arise. Drawing on a blend of psychological research and real-life cases from his own practice, as well as noted celebrity estates, Charles shares common scenarios all estate practitioners will recognize, and best practices to...Read More
Pretrial is over and your case didn’t settle. Now what? Most everything we do as lawyers can be reduced to a series of steps that not only help us achieve our goals, but also avoid oversights along the way. This exciting new short course will provide an overview of key tasks for counsel to perform when preparing for trial. Experienced litigator Michael Lesage will walk you through the process of gathering, revisiting, and assembling your evidence for presentation to a judge or jury. You’ll gain concise statements of law and important practice pointers to help you...Read More
Think you’ll never have a case that attracts media attention? Think again! Interest by modern media publishers in legal matters extends far beyond criminal and regulatory prosecutions. Today’s lawyers are contacted by reporters about workplace investigations, unusual family and estates litigation, consumer complaints, real estate and zoning matters, landlord and tenant disputes, and more. However, since dealing with the media is not something normally taught in law school, many lawyers resist interacting with the press and overlook the benefits of positive media relations, including ensuring your client receives fair treatment in the court of public opinion, building your practice, and showing your expertise. In this timely and highly practical program, award-winning former journalist Tamara Cherry will discuss the necessity, benefits and practicalities of working successfully with today’s media. You will learn...Read More
Whether in response to an employee complaint or allegation, to improve employee relations, or to reduce potential exposure, most employers, will, at some point, need to conduct a workplace investigation. Knowing how to handle and analyze an investigation efficiently and effectively is critical to giving an employer the factual findings on which it may take appropriate action and addressing employee concerns. This nuts and bolts webinar will cover the basics for lawyers who are conducting workplace investigations for clients, or are counsel to an employer or otherwise assisting an employer with an internal or external investigation. Experienced employment lawyer Naomi Calla will discuss key decision points and considerations in the investigation process, as well as recent developments and advice for conducting investigations remotely as a result of COVID-19. Topics include...Read More
It can be easy in estate planning to overlook important considerations in unfamiliar practice areas, including family law. However, if wills and other estate planning documents aren’t drafted with family law factors in mind, trustees and beneficiaries may find themselves facing additional legal headaches down the road. This program explores six basic family law considerations every lawyer should be aware of when providing estate planning advice to clients who are married or who have children. Experienced estates lawyer Lisa Laredo will offer real-world guidance on best practices to help your clients achieve their estate planning goals and help you avoid malpractice claims. Along the way she’ll dispel some of the myths and misconceptions surrounding death, marriage and inheritance...Read More
Yes, there are evidence “rules” that have real application in family law cases! There are also fundamental purposes that evidence law must serve in family law cases, including the need for accuracy, efficiency and fairness; reducing conflict; maintaining and encouraging family relationships; and, ensuring the best interest of the child. Knowing the rules and the principles they serve can make an important difference in your ability to anticipate the rulings you will require and as a result, the decisions you make about preparing your evidence and your witnesses. In this convenient, highly practical program, noted Law Professor Rollie Thompson, Q.C. breaks down some of the evidentiary issues that most frequently arise in family law cases. Professor Thompson provides a summary of the rule, the relevant legal authorities, and helpful procedural tips. In just 90 minutes you’ll gain fresh insights and new strategies for managing important family law evidentiary issues such as...Read More
Too much to do and not enough time to do it? Good organization and time management skills are crucial elements of a successful and satisfying legal career, and also critical skills required to meet important ethical and professional obligations. If your typical work day consists of jumping from one “almost overdue” project to another, then it’s time to learn some proven time management techniques. Designed to address lawyers’ unique organizational and time challenges, this fun, 90 minute webinar with lawyer and leading legal productivity expert Meg Spencer Dixon will offer dozens of practical tips and techniques to help you...Read More
The coronavirus pandemic has left many businesses and individuals unable to meet their financial obligations. As government support measures start to end and creditors resume collections, many lawyers will find themselves dealing with clients seeking bankruptcy or restructuring advice. Do you have a basic understanding of insolvency laws to answer the questions “what are my options?” and “how will my decision impact me or my business in the future?” This 90 minute primer led by noted bankruptcy and insolvency lawyer Lou Brzezinski and his colleague Natasha Rambaran will address the fundamentals of Canadian insolvency laws as they presently stand, how the relationships between creditors and debtors have changed during the pandemic, and new and different approaches to work out debt issues. By the end of the program you will...Read More
Trusts and estates lawyers face a myriad of legal and ethical issues that can create the potential for conflicts of interest - and professional liability. Such situations are rarely the result of bad lawyers or intentionally bad acts - instead good lawyers don’t always communicate clearly enough or document enough, or don’t see the potential for conflict of interest a situation may present. This new, 90 minute webinar will focus on several key areas where conflicts of interest frequently arise in the trust and estate planning context, including: lawyers representing spouses or multiple generations of the same family, lawyers acting in a fiduciary role for a client, and lawyers acting as a witness to a will or a trust. Experienced trusts and estates practitioner Richard Niedermayer, TEP will use real cases, hypothetical fact scenarios and the Federation of Law Societies of Canada’s Model Code of Professional Conduct to discuss how these scenarios create potential conflicts of interest, and share practical strategies to help protect you and your clients...Read More
Most lawyers will, at some point, be required to represent a client at mediation. Do you have the skills and strategies to optimize the outcome for your client? This convenient, highly practical program will give you essential tools and techniques to competently and effectively represent your client at each stage of the mediation process. You’ll get an inside perspective from Chartered Mediator and experienced litigator Mitchell Rose about how to make the most of every opportunity, including how to write a persuasive brief, how to master “joint” sessions, how to get more value from your mediator, and how to anticipate and respond to ethical dilemmas. By the end of the webinar you’ll have a better understanding of what it takes to achieve a positive resolution at mediation. Topics include...Read More
Do you understand the fundamentals and scope of Executor responsibility? Are you aware of the most common pitfalls practitioners face when advising an estate Executor or Trustee? This highly practical presentation with experienced estates and trusts lawyer Lynne Butler will review the responsibilities, powers, and liabilities of Executors, and the rights of beneficiaries, with a focus on how counsel for the Executor can help avoid conflict and litigation! Among the subjects Lynne will address are...Read More
It’s 2021 and the world and the practice of family law is changing. Are you up to date on two of the biggest developments family law practitioners have seen in years? Bill C-78 amended three federal family laws: the Divorce Act, the Family Orders and Agreements Enforcement Assistance Act and the Garnishment, Attachment and Pension Diversion Act. The coming into force of most of the amendments to the Divorce Act (originally scheduled to take place July 1, 2020) has now been deferred until March 1, 2021. In addition, Michel v. Graydon (2020) was a rare consideration of family law issues by the Supreme Court of Canada, and is the new authority on retroactive and historical child support orders. Join us for this essential 90 minute update with experienced family law practitioners Alex Boland and Leisha Murphy and learn how these changes will affect you and your clients, and what to look out for in the year ahead. Topics include...Read More
As Canadians increasingly turn to assisted human reproduction (AHR) procedures to help build their families, more lawyers need to ensure they have a basic understanding of this growing area of client need. Once the niche of only a handful of fertility law specialists, today lawyers in every practice area, including family law, estate planning, employment law and contract drafting, are encountering clients with reproductive technology-related legal issues. This webinar will create the necessary awareness for practitioners in every field to inquire about and better address matters relating to collaborative reproduction they may come across in their practice. Family health law™ lawyer Lisa Feldstein will provide an overview of common assisted reproductive technologies (ART) and terms, discuss who uses ART and the multiple participants that may be included in a child’s birth, and explain the regulation of ART and surrogacy in Canada, and what courts have done when faced with difficult questions of ART. In addition, she’ll offer practical advice for anyone considering building a fertility law practice or adding fertility law to their existing practice. Topics include...Read More
Multiple wills are an established and increasingly popular estate planning strategy. Useful for a number of objectives, they often appeal to business owners, owners of foreign real estate, and individuals seeking additional privacy. While having multiple wills may seem like a simple solution to some testamentary issues, lawyers who prepare these documents must carefully draft them, with adequate consideration of relevant local laws, in order to avoid unintended and serious consequences. This program is designed to give you the knowledge and skills you need to decide when to recommend multiple wills to a client, and educate you about important drafting considerations to avoid duplicate bequests, revoking other wills, rendering all wills invalid, and other negative results. Leading estates practitioner Jordan Atin will address...Read More
As we head into 2021, employers and employees are reflecting on one of the most tumultuous years they have ever faced. From COVID-19 to dramatic shifts in social and cultural paradigms, workplaces and employment law are forever altered. This new, 90 minute webinar will explore how the unique events of 2020 have changed our ideas and understanding about the workplace and the employer/employee relationship, and will preview additional issues and challenges employers and employees should expect in 2021. Experienced employment law lawyer Ryan Watkins will focus on three developing areas: legal and practical issues arising from COVID-19, challenges of the remote workplace, changing approaches to diversity, harassment and discrimination. Ryan will address...Read More
At some point or another, even non-criminal lawyers are likely to receive a phone call from a client (or friend or relative) who has been arrested, or who has a family member who has been arrested. “What should I do?” they will ask. What you say, and what happens in the next few minutes and hours - whether dealing with a minor or serious matter - can have a profound impact on your client’s future. This popular 90 minute webinar, refreshed for 2021, will arm you with sufficient knowledge to answer that question intelligently and competently. The course is designed for non-criminal law practitioners and new lawyers considering a criminal defence practice. Although you may ultimately refer the client to another lawyer, what you learn in this program will enable you to collect essential information, and provide important advice about do’s and don’ts during detention, arrest and custody...Read More
No time for a full day estate planning institute? No problem! Stay on top of current developments in estates, trusts, and capacity law with this convenient, 90 minute practice-oriented update! Experienced trusts and estates practitioners Gillian Fournie and Joanna Lindenberg will address key legal decisions from the past year, preview cases to watch in 2021, and discuss how COVID-19 and other developments will continue to shape your practice in the future. You will: get the latest updates on legal issues involved in your cases, receive insights on significant court decisions and legislative changes, better understand trends and developments impacting your practice, learn helpful strategies for advising clients in a time of unprecedented uncertainty...Read More
