Training for professionals
In June 2019, the Government of Canada made changes to federal family laws. Although some of the Divorce Act amendments came into force upon Royal Assent, most of the amendments will come into force on March 1, 2021.
The Department of Justice Canada has been developing a series of online courses about the recent amendments. They have been prepared with legal advisers in mind, but will also be helpful to anyone wanting to understand more about the new legislation. These courses provide a detailed explanation of the new provisions along with links to helpful resources developed by the Department of Justice Canada. Law Society accreditation information will be provided for each course.
This page will be updated with additional courses as soon as they become available.
On this page
- Introduction to Federal Family Law Amendments
- Family violence and family law for legal advisers
- Parenting under the New Divorce Act
- Family dispute resolution and duties for parties to a proceeding and legal advisers under the new Divorce Act
- Relocation under the Divorce Act
- Inter-jurisdictional support proceedings under the Divorce Act
Introduction to Federal Family Law Amendments
The first course in this series is Introduction to Federal Family Law Amendments. While this course focuses primarily on the amendments to the Divorce Act, it also briefly describes amendments made to the Family Orders and Agreements Enforcement Assistance Act and the changes relating to two international Conventions touching on matters of family law.
Duration: 75 minutes
Topics covered:
- Module 1: Introduction to the Legislative Amendments
- Module 2: Division of Federal and Provincial Responsibilities for Family Law
- Module 3: Parenting and the Best Interests of the Child
- Module 4: Addressing Family Violence
- Module 5: Changes to Support Enforcement
- Module 6: Changes to Promote Dispute Resolution and Improve Processes Under the Divorce Act
- Module 7: Duties of Legal Advisers and Parties
Accreditation by Law Societies:
- Barreau du Québec (BQ): This activity may be eligible for up to 1.25 hours of continuing education content
- Law Society of British Columbia (LSBC): This activity counts for up to 1.25 hours; a minimum of 0.5 hours will involve aspects of professional responsibility and ethics, and/or practice management
- Law Society of New Brunswick (LSNB): This activity is accredited for 1.5 MCPD hours
- Law Society of Saskatchewan (LSS): This activity is accredited for 1.5 CPD hours which includes 0.5 Ethics hours
- Law Society of Ontario (LSO): This activity is accredited for 25 minutes of Professionalism Content and may be eligible for up to 50 minutes of Substantive content
- Law Society of Manitoba (LSM): This activity may be eligible for up to 1.25 hours of continuing professional development. Ultimately it is the lawyer’s responsibility to determine if the activity is relevant to their practice and abides by Manitoba’s Mandatory Continuing Professional Development requirements.
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Family violence and family law for legal advisers
This course is aimed at helping legal advisers work effectively with clients who have experienced family violence. It provides information about family violence and family law and explains changes to the Divorce Act relating to family violence.
Duration: 3 hours
Topics covered:
- Module 1: Family Violence and Family Law Overview
- Module 2: The Gendered and Intersectional Nature of Family Violence
- Module 3: The Impact of Family Violence
- Module 4: Disclosure of Family Violence
- Module 5: Parenting Arrangements in Cases of Family Violence
- Module 6: Family Violence, Family Dispute Resolution and Litigation
Accreditation by Law Societies:
- Barreau du Quebec (BQ): This activity may be eligible for up to 3 hours of continuing education content (but ultimately it is the lawyer’s responsibility to determine whether it fits the BQ’s regulation concerning mandatory continuing education activities)
- Law Society of British Columbia (LSBC): The Department of Justice Canada (Legal Practices Policy Division - LPPD) is a pre-approved provider, this activity counts for up to 3 hours
- Law Society of New Brunswick (LSNB): This activity is accredited for 3 MCPD hours
- Law Society of Ontario (LSO): This activity may be eligible for up to 3 hours of Substantive content (but ultimately it is the lawyer’s responsibility to determine whether the activity qualifies under the LSO’s CPD Requirement regarding the Substantive content)
- Law Society of Saskatchewan (LSS): This activity is accredited for 3 CPD hours
- Law Society of Manitoba (LSM): This activity may be eligible for up to 3 hours of continuing professional development. Ultimately it is the lawyer’s responsibility to determine if the activity is relevant to their practice and abides by Manitoba’s Mandatory Continuing Professional Development requirements.
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Parenting under the New Divorce Act
This course provides an overview of the amendments to the Divorce Act related to parenting including the new parenting terminology and best interests of the child criteria. It is intended to help legal advisers understand the child-focused approach of the Divorce Act’s parenting provisions and the impact of family violence on parenting arrangements.
Duration: 3 hours
Topics covered:
- Module 1: Duties of Parties
- Module 2: Jurisdiction
- Module 3: Family Dispute Resolution Process
- Module 4: Changes in Parenting Terminology
- Module 5: Relocation and Changes in Residence
- Module 6: Best Interests of the Child – Determining the Best Parenting Arrangement
- Module 7: Family violence
Accreditation by Law Societies:
- Barreau du Québec (BQ) : This activity may be eligible for up to 3 hours of continuing education content (but ultimately it is the lawyer’s responsibility to determine whether it fits the BQ’s regulation concerning mandatory continuing education activities);
- Law Society of British Columbia (LSBC): The Department of Justice Canada (Legal Practices Policy Division - LPPD) is a pre-approved provider, this activity counts for up to 3 hours;
- Law Society of New Brunswick (LSNB): This activity is accredited for 3 MCPD hours
- Law Society of Saskatchewan (LSS): This activity is accredited for 3 CPD hours.
- Law Society of Ontario (LSO): This activity may be eligible for up to 3 hours of Substantive content (but ultimately it is the lawyer’s responsibility to determine whether the activity qualifies under the LSO’s CPD;
- Law Society of Manitoba (LSM): This activity may be eligible for up to 2 hours of continuing professional development. Ultimately it is the lawyer’s responsibility to determine if the activity is relevant to their practice and abides by Manitoba’s Mandatory Continuing Professional Development requirements.
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Family dispute resolution and duties for parties to a proceeding and legal advisers under the new Divorce Act
This online course focuses on family dispute resolution and the new duties for parties and legal advisers under the Divorce Act. This course will also address the amendments to the Divorce Act that encourage parties to use family resolution processes and family justice services.
Duration: 3 hours
Topics covered:
This course is designed to increase your understanding about:
- Module 1: Family Dispute Resolution Processes
- Module 2: Family Justice Services
- Module 3: Duties for Parties to a Divorce Act Proceeding
- Module 4: Duties for Legal Advisers
- There is a final quiz.
Accreditation by Law Societies:
- Barreau du Québec (BQ): This activity may be eligible for up to 3 hours of continuing education content (but ultimately it is the lawyer’s responsibility to determine whether it fits the BQ’s regulation concerning mandatory continuing education activities);
- Law Society of British Columbia (LSBC): The Department of Justice Canada (Legal Practices Policy Division - LPPD) is a pre-approved provider, this activity counts for up to 3 hours;
- Law Society of New Brunswick (LSNB): This activity is accredited for 3 MCPD hours
- Law Society of Saskatchewan (LSS): This activity is accredited for 3 CPD hours
- Law Society of Ontario (LSO): This activity is accredited for 1 hour and 10 minutes of Professionalism Content and may be eligible for up to 1 hour and 50 minutes of Substantive content (but ultimately it is the lawyer's responsibility to determine whether the activity qualifies under the LSO's CPD Requirement regarding the Substantive content)
- Law Society of Manitoba (LSM): This activity may be eligible for up to 3 hours of continuing professional development. Ultimately it is the lawyer’s responsibility to determine if the activity is relevant to their practice and abides by Manitoba’s Mandatory Continuing Professional Development requirements.
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Are you having technical issues with the Family dispute resolution and duties for parties to a proceeding and legal advisers under the new Divorce Act course? Click on the email icon below to let us know.
Relocation under the Divorce Act
This course is designed to increase legal advisers’ knowledge and understanding of the new change of residence and relocation framework in the Divorce Act. It focuses on the procedures people must follow in relation to moves and the principles a court will apply in making a decision about a child’s relocation.
Duration: 2 hours
Topics covered
- Module 1: Relocation framework - Overview
- Module 2: What is a relocation?
- Module 3: Notice
- Module 4: Once notice has been given
- Module 5: How the court will determine whether to permit the relocation
- Module 6: Parenting time expenses
- Module 7: Contact orders and changes of residence
Accreditation by Law Societies
- Barreau du Quebec (BQ): This activity may be eligible for up to 2 hours of continuing education content (but ultimately it is the lawyer’s responsibility to determine whether it fits the BQ’s regulation concerning mandatory continuing education activities)
- Law Society of British Columbia (LSBC): The Department of Justice Canada (Legal Practices Policy Division - LPPD) is a pre-approved provider, this activity counts for up to 2 hours
- Law Society of New Brunswick (LSNB): This activity is accredited for 2 MCPD hours
- Law Society of Ontario (LSO): This activity may be eligible for up to 2 hours of Substantive content (but ultimately it is the lawyer’s responsibility to determine whether the activity qualifies under the LSO’s CPD Requirement regarding the Substantive content)
- Law Society of Saskatchewan (LSS): This activity is accredited for 2 CPD hours
- Law Society of Manitoba (LSM): This activity may be eligible for up to 2 hours of continuing professional development. Ultimately it is the lawyer’s responsibility to determine if the activity is relevant to their practice and abides by Manitoba’s Mandatory Continuing Professional Development requirements.
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Are you having technical issues with the course Relocation under the Divorce Act? Click on the email icon below to let us know.
Inter-jurisdictional support proceedings under the Divorce Act
This course focuses on the amendments related to the Inter-jurisdictional support proceedings under the Divorce Act. It provides practical tips for lawyers to identify whether a support application should be made under the Divorce Act or under provincial or territorial Interjurisdictional Support Order Act. It also provides information on the new inter-jurisdictional support process under the Divorce Act, on the Conversion of applications and on the recognition of decisions of a designated jurisdiction that have the effect of varying a Divorce Act order.
Duration: 1 hour
Topics covered
- Module 1: Context of Inter-jurisdictional Proceedings
- Module 2: Does the New Inter-jurisdictional Process Under the Divorce Act Apply to my client?
- Module 3: The new inter-jurisdictional support process under the Divorce Act
- Module 4 : Conversion of applications
- Module 5: Recognition of decisions of a designated jurisdiction that have the effect of varying a Divorce Act order
Accreditation by Law Societies:
- Barreau du Quebec (BQ): This activity is eligible for up to 1 hour of continuing education content (but ultimately it is the lawyer’s responsibility to determine whether it fits the BQ’s regulation concerning mandatory continuing education activities)
- Law Society of British Columbia (LSBC): The Department of Justice Canada (Legal Practices Policy Division - LPPD) is a pre-approved provider; this activity counts for up to 1 hour
- Law Society of New Brunswick (LSNB): application in process
- Law Society of Ontario (LSO): This activity may be eligible for up to 1 hour of Substantive content (but ultimately it is the lawyer’s responsibility to determine whether the activity qualifies under the LSO’s CPD Requirement regarding the Substantive content)
- Law Society of Saskatchewan (LSS): This activity is accredited for 1 CPD hour
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Are you having technical issues with the course Inter-jurisdictional support proceedings under the Divorce Act? Click on the email icon below to let us know.
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