LGAP 1201: Family Litigation Procedures
Effective date
September 2016
Department
BC Campus - Office & Legal Adm
School
Hospitality, Food Studies and Applied Business
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-nuptual and separation agreements, undefended and defended divorce actions, chambers applications, annulment, and applications to Provincial Court. This is a "hands-on" course in which the students integrate keyboard, computer, and document formatting, with a knowledge of family law.
Year of study
1st Year Post-secondary
Course Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
- Read and understand the relevant statutory materials, the Supreme Court Family Rules, the Divorce Act, and the Family Law Act
- Identify the distinct applications of the Divorce Act and the Family Law Act
- Recognize the primary relief available under the Divorce Act and the Family Law Act
- Identify the rules on financial disclosure
- Calculate basic child support under the Federal Child Support Guidelines
- Accurately prepare the course documents required in a joint divorce proceeding
- Accurately prepare the court documents required in an uncontested divorce proceeding
- Accurately prepare the court documents required to defend a contested divorce proceeding
- Transcribe accurately family law correspondence and documents, including marriage and separation agreements, using appropriate and relevant legal terminology
- Observe ethical standards with respect to client confidentiality in the completion of all work
Prior Learning Assessment & Recognition (PLAR)
None
Hours
Lecture, Online, Seminar, Tutorial: 0
Practicum, Self-Paced, Individual Learning: 60
Total Hours: 60
Instructional Strategies
Assigned readings, research and reinforcement activities assigned by your instructor are your principal learning activities. It is expected that you will communicate online regularly with your instructor and classmates using the course email, discussion, and chat utilities.
Grading System
Letter Grade (A-F)
Evaluation Plan
Type
|
Percentage
|
Assessment activity
|
Assignments
|
40
|
as determined by Articulation Committee
|
Quizzes/Tests
|
30
|
3 quizzes each worth 10%
|
Final Exam
|
30
|
Final Exam
|
Course topics
- Historical Overview: historical developments in family law
- Overview: why the family law client is unique
- Opening the family law file: sample lawyer's initial interview notes
- The Divorce Act: grounds for divorce, bars to divorce, forms of divorce (undefended, joint, defended), jurisdiction
- The Family Law Act: relief available, importance of provisions concerning division of family property, jurisdiction
- Application of the Supreme Court Family Rules
- Financial disclosure: Forms F8 and F9
- Child support: preparation of the Child Support Affidavit and application of the Child Support Guidelines
- Simple calculations of child support amounts
- Preparation of the Notice of Joint Family Claim in support of a joint divorce
- Preparation of the Notice of Family Claim and related documents in support of an undefended divorce
- Preparation of the Response to Family Claim and related documents in support of a defended divorce
- The divorce order: preparation, approval by counsel
Notes:
- Course contents and descriptions, offerings and schedules are subject to change without notice.
- Students are required to follow all College policies including ones that govern their educational experience at VCC. Policies are available on the VCC website at:
https://www.vcc.ca/about/governance--policies/policies/.
- To find out if there are existing transfer agreements for this course, visit the BC Transfer Guide at https://www.bctransferguide.ca.