What We Do

The Family Lawyer’s Association has been busy working on a number of matters important to you over this past year. Below are some of the highlights:

TAKING A POLITICAL POSITION

The Family Lawyers Association is often called upon to make submissions on various issues that affect our members. In 2010 and 2011 we took a political position on the following:

  • Bill 179 – an Act to amend the Child and Family Services Act respecting adoption and the provision of care and maintenance;
  • Law Society’s proposed amendments to the Rules of Professional Conduct regarding “Unbundling of Legal Services” – otherwise known as limited legal services or limited legal representation
  • Submissions to the Attorney General for Ontario on the matter of Issues to be considered at any roundtable discussion on process reforms affecting child protection cases.

ADVOCATING FOR OUR MEMBERS

The Family Lawyers Association, through Board Directive, heard its members concerns regarding the lack of parity between the Office of the Children’s Lawyer (OCL) remuneration rates and the LAO rates presently paid to panel members. In an effort to seek parity, the Family Lawyer’s Association presented a strong case to the Minister of the Attorney General through correspondence, telephone and personal meetings with representatives of that office. As a result of our efforts, a job action was avoided, and an agreement was reached, with the support of the OCL, which will see an increase in rates paid to OCL panel members effective July 1, 2011. We will continue to monitor the situation and work toward continued parity between the two tariffs. The FLA wishes to thank the collaborative work of the MAG and the OCL, and look forward to continued cooperation between all of the interested parties. We would like to thank Board Member Gary Gotlieb for his excellent representation on this matter.

COMMUNITY REPRESENTATION

Our Board members work hard to ensure that the voices of our members are heard by other organizations in the family law community. In 2010 and 2011 our members sat on various committees including:

  • Alliance for Sustainable Legal Aid (ASLA)
    Representatives: Jean Hyndman and Victoria Starr
  • Auditor General
    Representative: Mary Reilly, Sara Wunch, and Renuka Satchithananthan
  • Legal Aid Ontario (LAO) Advisory Committees
    Representatives: Mary Reilly and Victoria Starr
  • Law Society of Upper Canada Treasurer’s Liaison Group
    Representative: Victoria Starr
  • The Chief Justice’s Committee on Professionalism
    Representative: Cynthia Mancia
  • Governance Committee
    Representatives: Renuka Satchithananthan, Robert Shawyer, Victoria Starr
  • Fundraising Committee – Access to Justice Grant
    Representative: Ghina Al-Suwaidi and Renuka Satchithananthan
  • Paralegal Committee
    Representatives: Victoria Starr and Cynthia Mancia

CONTINUING EDUCATION

Members of our Board sit on the planning committee for both the 311 Open Bar Series (Mary Reilly, Victoria Starr, Sara Wunch, Paula McGirr) and the North York Education Series (Paula McGirr, Lauren Isreal). This is a way for our members to have input on the type of programs offered in the two series. The 2011 – 2012 season is chalked full of great programs that we know will interest you. We will continue to send you notice of each program as we have done over the past year.

Our Board is working with both the Law Society and the 311 Open Bar Series program committee to design the programs offered in the series in such a way that it will qualify for the Continuing Education Credit. It is our hope that the time you spend learning at each session next year will count towards your CLE practice requirements.

SOCIAL / NETWORKING

One of our objectives has been to expand the role of the FLA to include social and networking opportunities. We hope that these opportunities will help family lawyers to meet regularly to discuss relevant issues, and also to have fun! Our first event was our Fall Social held on September 28, 2010 at Alice Fazooli’s. Our second event was our amazing and successful Boat Cruise held on June 23, 2011. Many thanks to Paula Mcgirr for her hard work in making this event possible.

Our first event of the 2011 – 2012 season will be our Annual General Meeting and Fall Social. This event will be held on October 27, 2011 at Alice Fazooli’s. In this upcoming season we hope to set up regular pub nights and to hold another event like our Boat Cruise at the end of the season.

This year we set up an official Google Chat Group. Participation is restricted to our members and offers them a great way to communicate and share ideas with one another.

INFORMATION DISTRIBUTION TO MEMBERS

One of the main goals of the FLA is to keep its membership appraised of developments and events relevant to family law. This year we worked hard to make sure that members were provided with information quickly via e-mail.

WEBSITE DEVELOPMENT

A great deal of effort goes into updating and enhancing our website to make it more effective. Why not take a look? Please visit us at: www.flao.org. We continue to work on this initiative, so look for great things to come in the next year.

MEMBERSHIP DISCOUNTS
Our Board has been successful in negotiating a discount of $5 per session for all FLA members attending the 311 Jarvis Open Bar Series. Starting in the fall of 2010, all FLA members will pay $20 instead of $25 for admission to each program.

TELL US WHAT YOU WANT US TO WORK ON

One of our objectives is to seek input from our members. We would really like to hear your ideas about how we can improve and enhance your membership by providing you with what you want. To do this we need you to tell us what you want us to work on. In the next month or two you will see a place on our website where you can share your ideas and suggestions. As soon as this is set up we will notify you by e-mail. In the meantime, if you have any comments or suggestions, please e-mail them to: victoriastarr@starrfamilylaw.com.

How to Contact our Board Members