As a family lawyer practicing in Kelowna, I strive for best practices for BC family lawyers. I am frequently struck by the lack of civility in family matters (by both the professionals and parties involved). The human condition is complicated and emotions run high when dealing with family issues such as divorce, separation, child custody and spousal support. That being said, the rules that I strive to adhere for in my professional life as a Kelowna family lawyer are the same that I have maintained in my home for my children and for myself in my personal life: honesty, respect and consideration. In my respectful view, these cover all bases and all rules of civility and appropriate social conduct fall under these principles.
EMOTIONS RUN HIGH IN FAMILY MATTERS
Given the emotionality of the issues in family law and the high stakes of these matters, particularly those relating to children and financial futures, it is not always easy to apply or mirror these to others. Parties in family matters must deal with the dispute resolution process such as mediation, arbitration, litigation, along with the relationship with lawyers, information overload on the law and the confusion of re-establishment of relationships with their former spouse and then often new family relationships with current partners, spouses and/or families.
It is difficult to keep the big picture in focus and we become blind to ensuring a viable, economic and pragmatic resolution. During that period of blindness, the basic rules of honesty, respect and consideration are frequently forgotten, adding further conflict not only between the parties but sometimes also between the professionals.
BC family lawyers have a significant role to play and a responsibility to uphold the fabric of our society. The work we do with families through divorce and separation affects various outcomes in children's lives:
- How and when or if children and parents will see each other.
- Where children will live.
- What schools they will go to and in some broader terms what type of education a child will receive.
- If they will be able to participate in extra-curricular programs such as band, sports or field trips
- How and when or if children and parents will see each other.
- What money each parent will have to be able to support their family/children.
- Whether they will have the extra money for things like braces, glasses, special needs care.
- The type of activities, if any, the children will participate in.
- What support if any they will have for post-secondary education.
HIGH CONFLICT MATTERS IN FAMILY SEPARATION AND DIVORCE
Of significantly growing importance as we deal with increasing numbers of high conflict matters, is whether children will have the counselling and support resources they need to help them deal with and transition to the separation and issues which arise from the separation. All of this affects not only the potential of who these children become but how they will contribute to and become part of our neighbourhoods; our communities; our professions and the tapestry of our society as a whole.
My mother always told me whenever I went to stay at a friend's or at a hotel to leave the place better than when I found it. She also taught me the value of seeing people in difficult places in their lives as lost souls and the importance of those moments of being truly present to others and of leaving pre-conceived ideas and notions out of the equation. I have extrapolated her words to me and applied them in my life to mean "leave the person in a better place then when you found them/they found you".
The challenge for family lawyers is to adopt this principle and apply it in every respect to their practice as this relates to their staff, the clients; other counsel, and the Bench.
HELPING DIVORCE CLIENTS RESOLVE DISPUTES
It is helpful to remember when dealing with these matters, that the problems belong to the client. They are not ours. We need to reserve our passion and our devotion to the resolution of the matter and that in our responsibilities as advocates, we ought not adopt the emotionality and ownership of these issues/problems. The Law Society of British Columbia developed and issued the following guidelines as best practices for family lawyers. BC family lawyers involved in a family law dispute should strive to ensure it is conducted in the following manner:
1. Lawyers should be constructive, respectful and seek to
minimize conflict and should encourage clients to do
likewise*.
2. Lawyers should strive to remain objective at all times, and not
to over-identify with clients or be unduly influenced by the
emotions of the moment.
3. Lawyers should avoid using inflammatory language in spoken or
written communications, and should encourage clients to do
likewise.
4. Lawyers should caution clients about the limited relevance of
allegations or evidence of conduct.
5. Lawyers should avoid actions that have the sole or predominant
purpose of hindering, delaying or bullying an opposing party, and
should encourage clients to do likewise.
6. Lawyers cannot participate in, and should caution clients
against, any actions that are dishonest, misleading or undertaken
for an improper purpose.
7. Lawyers should keep clients advised of, and encourage clients to
consider, at all stages of the dispute:
(a) the risks and costs of any proposed actions or
communications;
(b) both short and long term consequences;
(c) the consequences for any children involved; and
(d) the importance of court orders or agreements.
8. Lawyers should advise clients that they are in a position of trust in relation to their children, and that:
(a) it is important for clients to put their children's
interests before their own; and
(b) failing to do so may have a significant impact on both the
children's well-being and the client's case.
9. At all stages of the dispute, lawyers should advise and
encourage their clients to consider all available and suitable
resources for resolving the dispute, in or out of court.
* Lawyers are not obliged to assist persons who are disrespectful
or abusive.
Most of these guidelines save and except #7, can be equally adopted by clients when dealing with separation, divorce and other family matters.
BEST PRACTICES FOR BC FAMILY LAWYERS – CIVILITY IN DIVORCE
Kathie Must of Mosaic Counselling and Family Services, in her article on Civility proposed the following guidelines with respect to civility in the workplace which I would say could and should be adopted by all participants in the resolution of family disputes: parties; lawyers; staff; para-professionals (psychologists; financial planners; counsellors, etc) and even the Bench. These are good best practices for BC family lawyers:
Civility in BC Family Law
- Keep the person in mind. Take time to get to know the people involved (in the case of family matters, be open-minded and take the time and the initiative to get to know the other person in a new way – as a co-parent rather than a partner). Few gifts are greater than feeling known and understood.
- Be respectful, even in disagreement – particularly in disagreement! It's not the amount of conflict or disagreement, but how it is handled.
- Edit yourself – avoid saying every critical thought when talking about sensitive issues.
- Be aware of your own "hot buttons" and defensiveness. Self-awareness allows you to anticipate and manage your reactions.
- Choose your issues wisely. Don't argue simply for the sake of arguing.
- Stepping back and looking at the big picture gives a better perspective of the issues that really matter.
Dr. P.M. Forni, creator of the Johns Hopkins University Civility Project, has found that "Acts of violence are often the result of an exchange of acts of rudeness that spiral out of control. By keeping the levels of incivility down, we keep the levels of violence down."
It's not about avoiding conflict when necessary or about simply "pretending to be nice." The Johns Hopkins Civility Project suggests it's about three things — respect, restraint and consideration. When we treat people with kindness and consideration, we show them that we value them as human beings, not just human doings. It's what builds connection. But good relationships don't just happen overnight. Trust and credibility need to be earned.
Divorce can be done respectfully. Contact the Kelowna family law offices of Audra M. Bayer (affiliated with FH&P Lawyers LLP) at 778-940-1575 or at abayer@fhplawyers.com.
Family law services include:
- Divorce & Separation
- Mediation & Arbitration
- Custody & Parental Arrangements
- BC Child Support & Spousal Support
- Property & Debt Resolution
- Wealth & Asset Protection
* Resources:
Dr. P.M. Forni, a professor at Johns Hopkins University, co-founded
the Johns Hopkins Civility Project in 1997. An aggregation of
academic and community outreach activities, the JHCP aimed at
assessing the significance of civility, manners and politeness in
contemporary society
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.
