Deborah I. Conrad

Deborah I. Conrad

E-mail:dconrad@boyneclarke.ca

Phone:902-460-3416

Fax:902-463-7500

Assistant: Kelly Campbell -kcampbell@boyneclarke.ca

Born in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Debi received her Bachelor of Arts from the University of New Brunswick in 1980. She then received her LL.B. from Dalhousie University in 1983. Debi was admitted to the Nova Scotia Bar in 1984.

Debi is a Partner at BOYNECLARKE and practices in the areas of family & divorce law, child protection, adoptions, collaborative family law, mediation and arbitration.

Debi represents parties negotiating settlements in relationship breakdown. She also represents parents adopting a child or children. Debi has represented clients at all levels of the Court in Nova Scotia on matters of adoption, child protection, divorce, custody, support, property and debt division.

Debi is a member of the Canadian Bar Association, the Nova Scotia Barrister’s Society and the Collaborative Family Law Association of Nova Scotia. She served as Chair of the Family Law Section of the Canadian Bar (Nova Scotia Branch).

Debi has been a guest speaker at numerous Continuing Legal Education conferences. She has also been interviewed on the “Costs of Divorce” by Maritimes Today MITV and “Proposed changes to the Divorce Act” by CBC News World.

Debi has presented to the Minister of Community Services and the Advisory Committee on children at risk. Debi was interviewed by Global Television and Our Children Magazine on children at risk and keeping children out of the middle.

Debi has written numerous papers on all aspects of family disputes and has assisted in the drafting of the legislation on adoption.

EDUCATION

  • 1981 – 1983: Bachelor of Laws, Dalhousie Law School, Halifax, Nova Scotia
  • 1980 – 1981: University of New Brunswick Law School
  • 1973 – 1975 & 1977 – 1979: Bachelor of Arts – Sociology (Dean's Honours List), University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, New Brunswick

Continuing education after call to bar, Nova Scotia, 1984:

  • 1984: Third Annual Advocacy Symposium, Canadian Bar Association, Toronto, Ontario
  • 1985: Advocacy, Continuing Legal Education Society of Nova Scotia, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
  • 1986: Advocacy, Continuing Legal Education Society of Nova Scotia, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
  • 1987: Family Law, Continuing Legal Education Society of Nova Scotia, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
  • 1988: Advocacy, Continuing Legal Education Society of Nova Scotia, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
  • 1988: Family Law, Continuing Legal Education Society of Nova Scotia, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
  • 1988: Insurance, Continuing Legal Education Society of Nova Scotia, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
  • 1989: Representing Parents in Child Protection Cases, The Law Society of Upper Canada, Toronto, Ontario.
  • May 1990: Continuing Legal Education Conference, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
  • July 1990: National Family Law Conference, Calgary, Alberta.
  • October 1990: Family Mediation, A Changing Tide in Conflict Resolution - Family Mediation Canada - Halifax, Nova Scotia
  • October 1991: Sexual Abuse of Children: Criminal & Family Law Proceedings, Toronto, Ontario (October 25/26).
  • Summer 1992: The National Family Law Conference, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.
  • October 1993: Family Mediation Canada Conference - Banff, Alberta
  • Summer 1994: The National Family Law Conference, Victoria, British Columbia.
  • January 1996: Appellate Advocacy Seminar - Continuing Legal Education, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
  • August 1996: Canadian Bar Association - Annual Conference.
  • November 1996: Mediation Advocacy Seminar - Canadian Bar Association, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
  • April 1997: Child Support Guidelines - Continuing Legal Education, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
  • October 1997: National Children's Agenda - Key Experts Session (National), Halifax, Nova Scotia.
  • Summer 1998: The National Family Law Conference, Whistler, British Columbia.
  • Sept. 1997-99: Atlantic Provinces Child Support Guidelines, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
  • February 2000: Custody and Access Disputes Involving Family Violence: Critical Issues for Courts, Legal and Social Service Professionals Conference - February 17, 2000, Halifax, Nova Scotia (February 17).
  • July 2000: The National Family Law Conference, St. John’s, Newfoundland.
  • Fall 2000: Canadian Bar Association - Law Reform Commission, Fall Forum.
  • 2000: Family Violence Prevention Seminar.
  • 2000: Canadian Bar Association - Annual Conference.
  • November 2001: Colloborative Family Law Training.
  • January 2002: Mediation Training.
  • February 2002: Interest Based Negotiation Training.
  • July 2002: The National Family Law Conference, Kelowna, British Columbia
  • January 2003: Annual Professional Development Conference
  • March 2003: Canadian Bar Association, Advocacy Conference, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
  • 2003: The Association of Collaborative Family Law Lawyers of Nova Scotia – Training in Negotiation Mediation and Collaborative Family Law
  • July 2004: The National Family Law Conference, LaMalbaie, Quebec
  • April 2005: Canadian Bar Association “Views From the Bench" Conference
  • July 2006: The National Family Law Conference, Kananaskis, Alberta
  • May 2007: Canadian Bar Association “Marital Bliss(ters)” Family Law Conference
  • March 2007: “Beyond Reason – Using Emotions as your Negotiate” Seminar – Dr. Daniel Shapiro (March 15).
  • July 2008: The National Family Law Conference, Deerhurst Ontario
  • Sept. 2009: Training in Arbitration

EMPLOYMENT

  • 1992 – Present: Partner, BOYNECLARKE LLP, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
  • 1987 – 1992: Associate Lawyer, BOYNECLARKE LLP, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
  • 1984 – 1986: Staff Lawyer, Nova Scotia Legal Aid, Halifax, Nova Scotia
  • 1983 – 1984: Articled Clerk, Davis, Clark & Associates, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
  • 1983: Criminal Clinic Clerk, Nova Scotia Legal Aid, Halifax, Nova Scotia

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS & ACTIVITIES

  • Chairperson - Canadian Bar Association, Family Law Subsection, 1993-1994 and 1994-1995.
  • Vice-Chairperson - Canadian Bar Association, Family Law Subsection, 1991-1992 and 1992-1993.
  • Secretary - Canadian Bar Association, Family Law Subsection, 1990-1991 and 1991-1992.
  • Member – Nova Scotia Barristers' Society.
  • Member – Canadian Bar Association - Mediation Sub-Committee.
  • Member – Canadian Bar Association - Family Law Subsection.
  • Member – Family Mediation, Nova Scotia.
  • Past Member – Administration of Justice Committee.
  • Past Member of the Family Bench Bar Liaison Subcommittee of the Nova Scotia Barristers' Society's
  • Past Member– Administration of Justice Sub Committee, Family Court Liaison

COMMUNITY AND CIVIC ACTIVITIES

  • Member – St. Andrews United Church.
  • Speaker of Public Legal Education Speaker's Bureau.
  • Past Member of the Implementation Committee of the Children and Family Services Act.
  • Past Member of the Training Sub-Committee of the Implementation Committee of the Children and Family Services Act.
  • Past Member of the Mediation Training and Development Committee, set up by Minister of Community Services, Nova Scotia.
  • Past Member of the Policy Committee for Child Protection mediation set up by the Minister of Community Services, Nova Scotia.
  • Past Member of the Family Violence Action Committee set up by the Minister of Justice and Attorney General.
  • Past Member of the Child Abuse Prevention Conference Planning Committee set up by the Nova Scotia Family & Child Welfare Association.
  • Past Member of the Secure Treatment Committee set up by the Department of Community Services.
  • Past Member of the Provincial Committee of the Child and Youth Community Placement Review Project.
  • Past Member of the Code of Conduct Committee, Cornwallis Junior High School.
  • Past Member of the Mediation Project Committee, set up by the Minister of Community Services, Nova Scotia.
  • Past Member of the Access Review Committee, set up by the Minister of Community Services, Nova Scotia.
  • Past Board Member - Dartmouth Daycare.
  • Past Member — Public Education Committee, (Nova Scotia Council for the Family).

PAPERS & PUBLICATIONS

  • Assessments in Child Protection Proceedings.
  • The new Children and Family Services Act - Bar Admission Course.
  • The Children and Family Services Act - Trainer's Manual.
  • Preparation for Court - A Guide for Child Protection Workers.
  • Basic Legal Services in Child Protection Cases.
  • How Workers can Reduce Legal Costs to the Agency.
  • The Radiologist's Role in Diagnosing and Reporting Non-Accidental Pediatric Trauma.
  • Why Sue? Liability in the field of Child Protection.
  • Review of the case law regarding the Children and Family Services Act since 1991.
  • Preparing You as the Social Worker for Court.
  • Rules of Evidence and Testifying in Court.
  • Annotations to the Children and Family Services Act, September 1991 - January 1998.
  • Access Revisited - Paper presented to the Access Review Committee set up by the Minister of Community Services.
  • Report on Termination of Permanent Care and Custody - When is it Appropriate?
  • Own Your Present by Owning Your Future: Strategies for Succeeding in a Male Dominated Work Place
  • Legal Costs: Does the Loser Pay Any, Some, or All of the Winners Costs?

DRAFTING LEGISLATION

  • An ACT to provide for Adoption Information

PRESENTATIONS

  • Legal-Ease guest speaker, Spring 1987; Seminar, April 29, 1987, Dartmouth Regional Library, Main Branch, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.
  • Family Law Subsection guest speaker, Seminar, June 1989, Citadel Inn, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
  • Presenter - Core Training for Social Workers - Presentation of the Children and Family Services Act - Bi-yearly presentations, 1991-2002.
  • Workshop Leader - Bar Admission Course - Advocacy, 1991.
  • Presenter - Training for Family Court personnel -Presentation on the Children and Family Services Act, September, 1991.
  • Presenter - Trust Training for Foster Parents, guest speaker, November, 1992.
  • Presenter - Assessment Workshop, February 14 and February 15, 1996, Truro, Nova Scotia.
  • Presenter - Complete Review of the Children and Family Services Act, May 17, 1996, Bridgewater, Nova Scotia.
  • Guest Speaker - "Costs of Divorce" - Maritimes Today, MITV, June, 1996, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.
  • Presenter - Non-Accidental Pediatric Trauma - Annual Scientific Meeting, Atlantic Provinces Radiologists, October 19, 1996.
  • Presenter - Training for Social Workers, December, 1996, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.
  • Presenter - Training for Social Workers, April 24, 1997, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.
  • Presenter - Review of the Children and Family Services Act, presented to the Advisory Committee, Minister of Community Services, September 9, 1997.
  • Presenter - Review of the Children and Family Services Act, presented to the Minister of Community Services, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Briefing Session, February 3, 1998.
  • Presenter - Overview of the Children and Family Services Act, Trial Preparation and Liability Issues in Child Protection, presented to Children in Care Workers, Truro, Nova Scotia, February 25, 1998.
  • Presenter - Child Welfare Practice and Procedures in Family Court, presented to the Department of Community Services, June 1998.
  • Interviewed for Global Television re the New Brunswick cases of John Ryan Turner and Jacqueline Brewer, August 6, 1998.
  • Presenter - Annotations to the Children and Family Services Act, presented to the Director of Children and Family Services.
  • Interviewed on CBC Newsworld – "Proposed Changes to the Divorce Act", December 3, 1998.
  • Presenter - Documentation and Court Preparation, Case aides, Department of Community Services, November 4, 1999.
  • Presenter - Documentation and Court Preparation, Foster Parents Association, 
  • Department of Community Services, November 25, 1999.
  • Presenter - Access Revisited - presented to Director of Children and Family Services and Staff, November 22, 1999 and January 6, 2000.
  • Presenter - Access Revisited - presented to Supreme Court (Family Division) Justices, Fall, 2000.
  • Presenter – Annual Development Conference, January 2009
  • Presenter – FCI-CWI Women in Law Conference, November 2009

AREAS OF PRACTICE

  • Family Law:
    • - Divorce Law
    - Child Protection Services
    - Collaborative Family Law
    - Adoptions
  • Litigation
  • Mediation & Arbitration