A2J Week 2024 - Family Law Services: Pathways to Healthy Separation

Three presenters from the Community Legal Education Association, Family Resolution Services and Legal Aid Manitoba provide an explanation of the different pathways through the separation process and options available to avoid or at least reduce the conflict and stress of a traditional lawyer / court dispute. Learn what is involved in the separation process and what alternatives might suit a particular situation. Manitoba's Access to Justice Week 2024 events were presented by the Law Society of Manitoba, the Manitoba Bar Association and the University of Manitoba's Faculty of Law.
Panelists:
Nina Holatova, Community Legal Education Association
Nina Holatova graduated from law school in 2019 and completed her articling term at Legal Aid in Dauphin, Manitoba, focusing primarily on the area of family law. Following her call to the bar, Nina joined a private firm where she continued to represent clients in a range of family law matters, as well as wills and estates, real estate, and civil litigation. Today, Nina is a lawyer and program coordinator at Community Legal Education Association and delivers webinars across the province on topics such as family law and elder abuse.
Michael Williams, Manitoba Justice, Family Resolution Services
Michael is the Director of Resolution Support Programs with the Family Resolution Service, a branch within the Courts Division of Manitoba Justice.
Michael has an B.A. (Advanced) degree in psychology and graduated with a law degree from the University of Manitoba in 1988. He has practised in the area of family law since 1989 and served on the Executive of the Manitoba Bar Association Family Law Subsection for a decade while in private practice specializing in child protection. He joined Manitoba Justice in 2005 to launch the newly created Child Support Service as the Senior Support Determination Officer. He is currently engaged in several initiatives, including enhancing court navigation for self-represented litigants, and assisting in the delivery of new pilot program focusing on parenting coaching, mediation, comprehensive mediation, and arbitration for Manitobans.
Peter Kingsley, KC, Legal Aid Manitoba
Peter Kingsley received his LLB from Robson Hall in 1994. He articled with Legal Aid Manitoba (LAM) in Winnipeg and after his call to the Bar became a staff attorney in Dauphin. Practicing primarily criminal and youth law Peter has appeared at all levels of court in Manitoba. In 2009 Peter was appointed as the Acting Area Director for the Parkland Region and in 2011 he moved back to Winnipeg as the Senior Area Director for LAM and a member of the Executive Management Committee. In 2021 Peter was appointed as Executive Director.
Peter is a Life Council Member of the Manitoba Bar Association, was the Treasurer of the MBA from 2015 - 2021 and was appointed King’s Council in 2019. Peter is currently the Western Canada Representative to the Association of Legal Aid Plans of Canada Executive and sits on various National and Provincial Committees. Peter is married with two adult children.