Emergency Protection Orders: Advocacy Essentials

Legal Aid Alberta is hosting a two-part webinar series this February to help roster lawyers enhance their knowledge and skills in handling Emergency Protection Orders (EPOs). With demand for EPO services continuing to rise — LAA assisted with approximately 2,900 files in fiscal year 2024-2025 — this webinar series is highly encouraged for all lawyers who accept EPO files.

 

Dates: Friday, Feb. 6 & Friday, Feb. 20
Time: 8:30 a.m. – noon
Format: Microsoft Teams

 

Mark your calendars and register now to stay confident in supporting clients through EPOs.  Agenda and additional details will be shared soon.

Recording

A recording will be available online once all sessions are completed. 

Agenda

Part one - Feb. 6, 2026

Time
Item
Presenter(s)
8:30 a.m
Welcome and land acknowledgement
Meghan Hanson, LAA Legal Services Manager – Family South
8:35 – 9:30 a.m.
EPOs and other protection orders
Carla Hopfner, LAA staff lawyer
Sonja Lusignan, roster lawyer
9:30 – 10:15 a.m.
Life cycle of an EPO: Initial application
Irene Oh, LAA duty counsel
10:15 – 10:30 a.m.
Wellness break
10:30 – 11:30 a.m.
EPO applications at the Court of Justice and Justice of the Peace Hearing Office
Diane Parken, Justice of the Peace
Justice Aran Veylan, Alberta Court of Justice
11:30 a.m. – noon
Questions and answers
All

Part two - Feb. 20, 2026

Time
Item
Presenter(s)
8:30 a.m
Welcome and land acknowledgement
Meghan Hanson, LAA legal services manager – family south
Andrea Doyle, LAA senior advisory counsel
8:35 – 9:30 a.m.
EPO reviews at the Court of King’s Bench
Colleen Christie, LAA staff lawyer
Dustin Tkachuk, roster lawyer
9:30 – 10:30 a.m.
EPO Oral Hearings (EVV)
Stephanie Ma, LAA legal services manager – family north
10:30 – 10:45 a.m.
Wellness break
10:45 – 11:30 a.m.
Views from the Court on EPO reviews
Justice Anna Loparco, Alberta Court of King’s Bench
11:30 a.m. – noon
Questions and answers
All

Related Events

Duty Counsel Day

Canadians benefit from outstanding social services. We’re all familiar with our public health care, but few know about our legal services. We made a day to change that.

View Event Details