The Law and Mental Disorder Association (LAMDA), an organization I founded in January of 2017 – Wow!! we are SEVEN years old and 250 strong!! – is rolling out an exciting program for our members throughout 2024 to assist new lawyers and those already in the trenches to represent patient applicants at proceedings of the Consent and Capacity Board.

If you are a LAMDA Member, You can still register here:

Register for LAMDA’s CCB CPD Series (2024)

The live sessions will be held on the following days virtually by Zoom. All sessions will be held from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm (EST).

Part I — Winter / Spring Series

Feb 7, 2024 – Part I – Introduction to CCB Practice – Anita Szigeti with Shira Brass (video)

Feb 29 2024  – CAPACITY TO CONSENT TO TREATMENT (Danielle LiChong and Naomi Sayers)

March 14 2024 – INVOLUNTARY ADMISSION (Michael French, Mitchell Rowe, Michael Schloss and Shanil Patel)

April 11 2024 – CTOs (Tayo Dada and Erin Holder)

May 09 2024 – Other Miscellaneous Applications (Form 18, Form 17/51, Form B, C, D, G, PHI) [speakers TBA]

Part II – Fall Series

Dates [TBD] will include:

(1) A session on PRELIMINARY ISSUES / MOTIONS and 

(2) a FULL MOCK HEARING.

PART I – INTRODUCTION TO CCB PRACTICE – A CONVERSATION WITH SHIRA BRASS

We begin this seven part series with a comprehensive introduction to representing our clients at the CCB.

In this interview, Shira Brass (Brass Law Office, Ottawa) and I discuss the procedural challenges in representation at the CCB as well as touch upon some of the substantive concerns our clients may have. We take you through the hearing process from the first call by a Rights Advisor to advising your client about appealing a Decision of the CCB.

The entire CPD series is an initiative proposed by Shira and organized and developed by her – she is amazing! Thank you Shira for your enthusiasm and creativity. We hope you enjoy the series if you’re a LAMDA member and if not, that you join LAMDA now to access the other sessions as well as the materials.

I’ve decided to make this introductory session public, but our other six videos may be available only to LAMDA members. Materials accompanying this interview are only available to LAMDA members, at least for now.

You’ll find more information about LAMDA on our LinkTree.

https://linktr.ee/LAMDA_CANADA

The first link will take you to the membership application form. LAMDA has 250 members who practise mental health law across Canada. We have a busy, collegial listserv and free CPD programming throughout the year. Membership is also free.

You can view the video introduction to CCB practice that Shira and I recorded together on February 7, 2024, here:

LAMDA CCB CPD Series – Part I Introduction to CCB Practice with Anita Szigeti and Shira Brass February 7 2024

The resources mentioned in the video that are publicly available include these textbooks:

Law and Mental Health in Canada: Cases and Materials

and

A Guide to Consent and Capacity Law in Ontario (2024)

Here is a Webinar you might find helpful:

And a Podcast!