Legal Office Procedures - Family Law

Curriculum guideline

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Course
OADM 1327
Discontinued
No
Course code
OADM 1327
Descriptive
Legal Office Procedures - Family Law
Department
Office Administration
Faculty
Commerce & Business Administration
Credits
3.00
Start date
End term
201520
PLAR
Yes
Semester length
15 weeks x 4 hours per week = 60 hours
Max class size
30
Contact hours
Lecture: 2 hours per week Seminar: 2 hours per week
Method(s) of instruction
Lecture
Seminar
Learning activities

A combination of lectures, guided practices, assignments, case studies and research assignments will be used.  Active learning is an integral part of this course, and emphasis will be placed on a “hands-on” environment to allow students to 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 course introduces the student to the role and responsibilities of a Legal Administrative Assistant employed in the field of family law in British Columbia. Students will gain knowledge and practical experience in topics such as statutes and rules, divorce and family courts, marriage in B.C., pre-nuptial and separation agreements, undefended and defended divorce actions, chambers applications, annulment, change of name, adoption and applications to Provincial Court. This is a “hands-on” course in which the students integrate keyboard, computer, document formatting and transcription skills, with a knowledge of family law.
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 Law 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 Law Act;
  2. Identify the distinct applications of the Divorce Act and the Family Law 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; and
  11. keyboard with speed and accuracy   from five-minute timed writings; and
  12. demonstrate the ability to meet deadlines in a manner required to meet legal industry standards.
Means of assessment
Assignments   5% - 10%
Simulations 30% - 40%
Midterm and/or Test(s) 25% - 30%
Final Exam 20% - 25%
Keyboard Speed
Average of best three 5-minute timings      		            5%
Totla         100%

A maximum of two evaluations worth up to 20% may be assigned and due in the last 14 days of class.  Some class time is provided to work on any evaluation due in the last 14 days of class

 

Textbook materials

Textbooks and Materials to be Purchased by Students:

Family Law Manual, Latest Ed., Douglas College or other family law textbook as approved by the department.

A department approved keyboarding timed writing textbook (used in OADM 1303).

Course packs as determined by the instructor.

Prerequisites

OADM 1218 AND OADM 1256 AND (45 NWPM OR OADM   1103 with a grade of A- or better OR OADM 1303 with a grade of C+ or better)

Corequisites

NONE

Which prerequisite

OADM 1401