JP Boyd on Family Law Editorial Manifesto - Revision history

Jpboyd: /* An editorial manifesto for a new public legal education resource */

2019-05-11T16:04:44Z

An editorial manifesto for a new public legal education resource

Nate Russell at 20:46, 9 May 2019

2019-05-09T20:46:40Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:46, 9 May 2019
Line 12:		Line 12:
	# '''be helpful'''<br/>Above all, the information provided in this resource should be helpful. It should be practical and pragmatic and the wiki should provide other resources, like court forms, charts, checklists and links to external websites, where they serve a practical purpose.		# '''be helpful'''<br/>Above all, the information provided in this resource should be helpful. It should be practical and pragmatic and the wiki should provide other resources, like court forms, charts, checklists and links to external websites, where they serve a practical purpose.

	<nowiki>*</nowiki>The bit about this resource being opinionated, prescriptive and recommendatory needs a bit of an explanation. Writing as an individual I have always felt free to express my views on things through my website, although I took care to ensure that my employers wouldn't be tarred with, or too upset about, my opinions. As a result, rather than trying to provide a legally complete, politically neutered website that in trying to say all things for all people wound up saying nothing, I have felt free to use the forbidden terms “should” and “shouldn’t.” I have said that parenting coordination can be expensive (it can), that grandparents will have a hard time getting parenting time over the objections of a parent (they will) and that the cost of resolving a legal dispute through trial can be prohibitively expensive (it is). There is value, I think, in being able to say “yes you can make an application for an order restraining the children from having their hair cut on Wednesdays, but you shouldn’t because it’s not worth the time, the money, the conflict or the anxiety.” I hope that readers learning what they can do, will also learn what they oughtn't.		<nowiki>*</nowiki>The bit about this resource being opinionated, prescriptive and recommendatory needs a bit of an explanation. Writing as an individual I have always felt free to express my views on things through my website, although I took care to ensure that my employers wouldn't be tarred with, or too upset about, my opinions. As a result, rather than trying to provide a legally complete, politically neutered website that in trying to say all things for all people wound up saying nothing, I have felt free to use the forbidden terms “should” and “shouldn’t.” I have said that parenting coordination can be expensive (it can), that grandparents will have a hard time getting parenting time over the objections of a parent (they will) and that the cost of resolving a legal dispute through trial can be prohibitively expensive (it is). There is value, I think, in being able to say “yes you can make an application for an order restraining the children from having their hair cut on Wednesdays, but you shouldn’t because it’s not worth the time, the money, the conflict or the anxiety.” I hope that readers learning what they can do, will also learn what they oughtn't do.

	Finally, in reading the 2012 report of the [https://perma.cc/MK6U-5KT9 Family Justice Working Group of the Action Committee on Access to Justice in Civil and Family Matters], I gained further insight into the purposes of my website. In a discussion about court-provided information programs, the working group commented that:		Finally, in reading the 2012 report of the [https://perma.cc/MK6U-5KT9 Family Justice Working Group of the Action Committee on Access to Justice in Civil and Family Matters], I accidentally gained further insight into the purposes of my website. In a discussion about court-provided information programs, the working group commented that:
	<blockquote>“Beyond the obvious value of orienting and helping to organize the parties, these programs are premised on two ideas. The first is that information is essential to a fair resolution. The second is that information is a dispute resolution tool, or put in the negative, misinformation can generate and prolong disputes. … Early information has been demonstrated to be sufficiently effective in reducing conflict and expediting resolution that many provinces have elected to make it mandatory.”</blockquote>		<blockquote>“Beyond the obvious value of orienting and helping to organize the parties, these programs are premised on two ideas. The first is that information is essential to a fair resolution. The second is that information is a dispute resolution tool, or put in the negative, misinformation can generate and prolong disputes. … Early information has been demonstrated to be sufficiently effective in reducing conflict and expediting resolution that many provinces have elected to make it mandatory.”</blockquote>
	I took two principles from this. First, that accurate legal information is essential to the fair resolution of family law disputes. Second, that accurate legal information is itself a tool for the resolution of family law disputes. That was kind of what I had always had in mind for my website, and I hope continues to guide the development of this resource in the future.		I took two principles from this. First, that accurate legal information is essential to the fair resolution of family law disputes. Second, that accurate legal information is itself a tool for the resolution of family law disputes. That was kind of what I had always had in mind for my website, and I hope continues to guide the development of this resource in the future.

Nate Russell: /* by John-Paul Boyd, Updated for 2019 */

2019-05-09T20:43:41Z

by John-Paul Boyd, Updated for 2019

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:43, 9 May 2019
Line 2:		Line 2:
	==An editorial manifesto for a new public legal education resource==		==An editorial manifesto for a new public legal education resource==
	===by John-Paul Boyd, Updated for 2019===		===by John-Paul Boyd, Updated for 2019===
	When Courthouse Libraries and I first started talking about this ~~wiki~~ project, there were some core values that I wanted the wiki to maintain. I’d never thought about these things before, but when we started talking about how the wiki would look and operate, I realized that there were certain qualities of my old BC Family Law Resource website that I wanted to preserve. From this came a set of guiding principles for the editorial tone of what is now called ''[[JP Boyd on Family Law]]''. My hope is that this resource will continue to:		When Courthouse Libraries and I first started talking about this project, there were some core values that I wanted the wiki to maintain. I’d never thought about these things before, but when we started talking about how the wiki would look and operate, I realized that there were certain qualities of my old BC Family Law Resource website that I wanted to preserve. From this came a set of guiding principles for the editorial tone of what is now called ''[[JP Boyd on Family Law]]''. My hope is that this resource will continue to:
	# '''be free'''<br/>The information should be available at no charge, without restriction and without expectation of reward.		# '''be free'''<br/>The information should be available at no charge, without restriction and without expectation of reward.
	# '''be written in plain language'''<br/>The information in this resource provides should be as accessible as possible, save that it mustn't ever be inaccurate. It should use colloquial, everyday language. It should avoid lawyer’s jargon. It should use humour to lighten up the subject matter, and metaphor to better explain it.		# '''be written in plain language'''<br/>The information in this resource provides should be as accessible as possible, save that it mustn't ever be inaccurate. It should use colloquial, everyday language. It should avoid lawyer’s jargon. It should use humour to lighten up the subject matter, and metaphor to better explain it.
Line 18:		Line 18:
	I took two principles from this. First, that accurate legal information is essential to the fair resolution of family law disputes. Second, that accurate legal information is itself a tool for the resolution of family law disputes. That was kind of what I had always had in mind for my website, and I hope continues to guide the development of this resource in the future.		I took two principles from this. First, that accurate legal information is essential to the fair resolution of family law disputes. Second, that accurate legal information is itself a tool for the resolution of family law disputes. That was kind of what I had always had in mind for my website, and I hope continues to guide the development of this resource in the future.

	I hope that ~~you~~ find this resource useful as ~~you~~ navigate the minefield that is family law.		I hope that readers will find this resource useful as they navigate the minefield that is family law, and that the contributing editors will enjoy updating and expanding its contents.
	[[Category:Navigation Page]]		[[Category:Navigation Page]]
	[[Category:Clicklaw Wikibooks Guides]]		[[Category:Clicklaw Wikibooks Guides]]
	[[Category:JP Boyd on Family Law]]		[[Category:JP Boyd on Family Law]]

Nate Russell: /* by John-Paul Boyd, Updated for 2019 */

2019-05-09T20:41:47Z

by John-Paul Boyd, Updated for 2019

Nate Russell at 20:30, 9 May 2019

2019-05-09T20:30:14Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:30, 9 May 2019
Line 6:		Line 6:
	# '''Be written in plain language'''<br/>The information in this resource provides should be as accessible as possible, save that it mustn't ever be inaccurate. It should use colloquial, everyday language. It should avoid lawyer’s jargon. It should use humour to lighten up the subject matter, and metaphor to better explain it.		# '''Be written in plain language'''<br/>The information in this resource provides should be as accessible as possible, save that it mustn't ever be inaccurate. It should use colloquial, everyday language. It should avoid lawyer’s jargon. It should use humour to lighten up the subject matter, and metaphor to better explain it.
	# '''Be up-to-date and accurate'''<br/>The information should be timely and accurate, within reason and practicality.		# '''Be up-to-date and accurate'''<br/>The information should be timely and accurate, within reason and practicality.
	# '''Be opinionated'''<br/>The information shouldn't just describe the law and available legal options to readers, but be prescriptive and recommendatory, when being prescriptive and recommendatory is appropriate. To some extent this will be an expression of policy and preference, but if a particular available ~~court~~ of action is ill-advised, the resource should say so.<nowiki>*</nowiki>		# '''Be opinionated'''<br/>The information shouldn't just describe the law and available legal options to readers, but be prescriptive and recommendatory, when being prescriptive and recommendatory is appropriate. To some extent this will be an expression of policy and preference, but if a particular available course of action is ill-advised, the resource should say so.<nowiki>*</nowiki>
	# '''Promote good behaviour in the justice system'''<br/>The information should promote the overall functioning of the family justice system by promoting behaviours, choices and strategies that are helpful and facilitate the resolution of disputes while discouraging those which do not and, in particular, behaviours that degrade the efficiency of court registry services as well as chambers and trial processes.		# '''Promote good behaviour in the justice system'''<br/>The information should promote the overall functioning of the family justice system by promoting behaviours, choices and strategies that are helpful and facilitate the resolution of disputes while discouraging those which do not and, in particular, behaviours that degrade the efficiency of court registry services as well as chambers and trial processes.
	# '''Be available for saving, sharing, reusing and redistributing'''<br/>The information should be broadly shareable and shared. Sharing and redistribution should be encouraged on the conditions that the source of the information be identified and that any subsequent reuse not be for a commercial purpose. Readers should be easily able to copy, save and store the information in the formats that best meet their needs.		# '''Be available for saving, sharing, reusing and redistributing'''<br/>The information should be broadly shareable and shared. Sharing and redistribution should be encouraged on the conditions that the source of the information be identified and that any subsequent reuse not be for a commercial purpose. Readers should be easily able to copy, save and store the information in the formats that best meet their needs.

Nate Russell at 20:29, 9 May 2019

2019-05-09T20:29:03Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:29, 9 May 2019
Line 4:		Line 4:
	When Courthouse Libraries and I first started talking about this wiki project, there were some core values that I wanted the wiki to maintain. I’d never thought about these things before, but when we started talking about how the wiki would look and operate, I realized that there were certain qualities of my old BC Family Law Resource website that I wanted to preserve. From this came a set of guiding principles for the editorial tone of what is now called ''[[JP Boyd on Family Law]]''. My hope is that this resource will continue to:		When Courthouse Libraries and I first started talking about this wiki project, there were some core values that I wanted the wiki to maintain. I’d never thought about these things before, but when we started talking about how the wiki would look and operate, I realized that there were certain qualities of my old BC Family Law Resource website that I wanted to preserve. From this came a set of guiding principles for the editorial tone of what is now called ''[[JP Boyd on Family Law]]''. My hope is that this resource will continue to:
	# '''Be free'''<br/>The information should be available at no charge, without restriction and without expectation of reward.		# '''Be free'''<br/>The information should be available at no charge, without restriction and without expectation of reward.
	# '''Be written in plain language'''<br/>The information this resource provides should be as accessible as possible, save that it mustn't ever be inaccurate. It should use colloquial, everyday language. It should avoid lawyer’s jargon. It should use humour to lighten up the subject matter, and metaphor to better explain it.		# '''Be written in plain language'''<br/>The information in this resource provides should be as accessible as possible, save that it mustn't ever be inaccurate. It should use colloquial, everyday language. It should avoid lawyer’s jargon. It should use humour to lighten up the subject matter, and metaphor to better explain it.
	# '''Be up-to-date and accurate'''<br/>The information should be timely and accurate, within reason and practicality.		# '''Be up-to-date and accurate'''<br/>The information should be timely and accurate, within reason and practicality.
	# '''Be opinionated'''<br/>The information shouldn't just describe the law and available legal options to readers, but be prescriptive and recommendatory, when being prescriptive and recommendatory is appropriate. To some extent this will be an expression of policy and preference, but if a particular available court of action is ill-advised, the resource should say so.<nowiki>*</nowiki>		# '''Be opinionated'''<br/>The information shouldn't just describe the law and available legal options to readers, but be prescriptive and recommendatory, when being prescriptive and recommendatory is appropriate. To some extent this will be an expression of policy and preference, but if a particular available court of action is ill-advised, the resource should say so.<nowiki>*</nowiki>

Nate Russell at 20:02, 14 January 2019

2019-01-14T20:02:51Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:02, 14 January 2019
Line 6:		Line 6:
	# '''Be written in plain language'''<br/>The information this resource provides should be as accessible as possible, save that it mustn't ever be inaccurate. It should use colloquial, everyday language. It should avoid lawyer’s jargon. It should use humour to lighten up the subject matter, and metaphor to better explain it.		# '''Be written in plain language'''<br/>The information this resource provides should be as accessible as possible, save that it mustn't ever be inaccurate. It should use colloquial, everyday language. It should avoid lawyer’s jargon. It should use humour to lighten up the subject matter, and metaphor to better explain it.
	# '''Be up-to-date and accurate'''<br/>The information should be timely and accurate, within reason and practicality.		# '''Be up-to-date and accurate'''<br/>The information should be timely and accurate, within reason and practicality.
	# '''Be opinionated'''<br/>The information shouldn't just describe the law and available legal options to readers, but be prescriptive and recommendatory, when being prescriptive and recommendatory is appropriate. To some extent this will be an expression of policy and preference, but if a particular available court of action is ill-advised, the resource should say so.		# '''Be opinionated'''<br/>The information shouldn't just describe the law and available legal options to readers, but be prescriptive and recommendatory, when being prescriptive and recommendatory is appropriate. To some extent this will be an expression of policy and preference, but if a particular available court of action is ill-advised, the resource should say so.<nowiki>*</nowiki>
	# '''Promote good behaviour in the justice system'''<br/>The information should promote the overall functioning of the family justice system by promoting behaviours, choices and strategies that are helpful and facilitate the resolution of disputes while discouraging those which do not and, in particular, behaviours that degrade the efficiency of court registry services as well as chambers and trial processes.		# '''Promote good behaviour in the justice system'''<br/>The information should promote the overall functioning of the family justice system by promoting behaviours, choices and strategies that are helpful and facilitate the resolution of disputes while discouraging those which do not and, in particular, behaviours that degrade the efficiency of court registry services as well as chambers and trial processes.
	# '''Be available for saving, sharing, reusing and redistributing'''<br/>The information should be broadly shareable and shared. Sharing and redistribution should be encouraged on the conditions that the source of the information be identified and that any subsequent reuse not be for a commercial purpose. Readers should be easily able to copy, save and store the information in the formats that best meet their needs.		# '''Be available for saving, sharing, reusing and redistributing'''<br/>The information should be broadly shareable and shared. Sharing and redistribution should be encouraged on the conditions that the source of the information be identified and that any subsequent reuse not be for a commercial purpose. Readers should be easily able to copy, save and store the information in the formats that best meet their needs.
	# '''Be helpful'''<br/>Above all, the information should be helpful. It should be practical and pragmatic and the wiki should provide other resources, like court forms, charts, checklists and links to external websites, where they serve a practical purpose.		# '''Be helpful'''<br/>Above all, the information should be helpful. It should be practical and pragmatic and the wiki should provide other resources, like court forms, charts, checklists and links to external websites, where they serve a practical purpose.

	(The bit about this resource being opinionated, prescriptive and recommendatory needs a bit of an explanation. Writing as an individual I have always felt free to express my views on things through my website, although I took care to ensure that my employers wouldn't be tarred with, or too upset about, my opinions. As a result, rather than trying to provide a legally complete, politically neutered website that in trying to say all things for all people wound up saying nothing, I have felt free to use the forbidden terms “should” and “shouldn’t.” I have said that parenting coordination can be expensive (it can), that grandparents will have a hard time getting parenting time over the objections of a parent (they will) and that the cost of resolving a legal dispute through trial can be prohibitively expensive (it is). There is value, I think, in being able to say “yes you can make an application for an order restraining the children from having their hair cut on Wednesdays, but you shouldn’t because it’s not worth the time, the money, the conflict or the anxiety.” I hope that in learning what you can do, you'll also learn what you oughtn't.		<nowiki>*</nowiki>The bit about this resource being opinionated, prescriptive and recommendatory needs a bit of an explanation. Writing as an individual I have always felt free to express my views on things through my website, although I took care to ensure that my employers wouldn't be tarred with, or too upset about, my opinions. As a result, rather than trying to provide a legally complete, politically neutered website that in trying to say all things for all people wound up saying nothing, I have felt free to use the forbidden terms “should” and “shouldn’t.” I have said that parenting coordination can be expensive (it can), that grandparents will have a hard time getting parenting time over the objections of a parent (they will) and that the cost of resolving a legal dispute through trial can be prohibitively expensive (it is). There is value, I think, in being able to say “yes you can make an application for an order restraining the children from having their hair cut on Wednesdays, but you shouldn’t because it’s not worth the time, the money, the conflict or the anxiety.” I hope that in learning what you can do, you'll also learn what you oughtn't.

	Finally, in reading the 2012 report of the [https://perma.cc/MK6U-5KT9 Family Justice Working Group of the Action Committee on Access to Justice in Civil and Family Matters], I gained further insight into the purposes behind my website. In a discussion about court-provided information programs, the working group commented that:		Finally, in reading the 2012 report of the [https://perma.cc/MK6U-5KT9 Family Justice Working Group of the Action Committee on Access to Justice in Civil and Family Matters], I gained further insight into the purposes behind my website. In a discussion about court-provided information programs, the working group commented that:

Nate Russell at 23:44, 25 August 2017

2017-08-25T23:44:37Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:44, 25 August 2017
Line 1:		Line 1:
	{{JP Boyd on Family Law TOC}}		{{JP Boyd on Family Law TOC}}
	==An editorial manifesto for a new public legal education resource==		==An editorial manifesto for a new public legal education resource==
	===by John-Paul Boyd, ~~May 2013~~===		===by John-Paul Boyd, Updated for 2017===
	When Courthouse Libraries and I first started talking about this wiki project, there were some core values that I wanted the wiki to maintain. I’d never thought about these things before, but when we started talking about how the wiki would look and operate, I realized that there were certain qualities of my old BC Family Law Resource website that I wanted to preserve. From this came a set of guiding principles for the editorial tone of what is now called ''[[JP Boyd on Family Law]]''. My hope is that this resource will continue to:		When Courthouse Libraries and I first started talking about this wiki project, there were some core values that I wanted the wiki to maintain. I’d never thought about these things before, but when we started talking about how the wiki would look and operate, I realized that there were certain qualities of my old BC Family Law Resource website that I wanted to preserve. From this came a set of guiding principles for the editorial tone of what is now called ''[[JP Boyd on Family Law]]''. My hope is that this resource will continue to:
	# '''Be free'''<br/>The information should be available at no charge, without restriction and without expectation of reward.		# '''Be free'''<br/>The information should be available at no charge, without restriction and without expectation of reward.
Line 11:		Line 11:
	# '''Be helpful'''<br/>Above all, the information should be helpful. It should be practical and pragmatic and the wiki should provide other resources, like court forms, charts, checklists and links to external websites, where they serve a practical purpose.		# '''Be helpful'''<br/>Above all, the information should be helpful. It should be practical and pragmatic and the wiki should provide other resources, like court forms, charts, checklists and links to external websites, where they serve a practical purpose.

	(The bit about this resource being opinionated, prescriptive and recommendatory needs a bit of an explanation. Writing as an individual I have always felt free to express my views on things through my website, although I took care to ensure that my employers wouldn't be tarred with, or too upset about, my opinions. As a result, rather than trying to provide a legally complete, politically neutered website that in trying to say all things for all people wound up saying nothing, I have felt free to use the forbidden terms “should” and “shouldn’t.” I have said that parenting coordination can be expensive (it can), that grandparents will have a hard time getting parenting time over the objections of a parent (they will) and that the cost of resolving a legal dispute through trial can be prohibitively expensive (it is). There is value, I think, in being able to say “yes you can make an application for an order restraining the children from having their hair cut on Wednesdays, but you shouldn’t because it’s not worth the time, the money, the conflict or the anxiety.” I hope that in learning what you can do, you'll also learn what you oughtn't.)		(The bit about this resource being opinionated, prescriptive and recommendatory needs a bit of an explanation. Writing as an individual I have always felt free to express my views on things through my website, although I took care to ensure that my employers wouldn't be tarred with, or too upset about, my opinions. As a result, rather than trying to provide a legally complete, politically neutered website that in trying to say all things for all people wound up saying nothing, I have felt free to use the forbidden terms “should” and “shouldn’t.” I have said that parenting coordination can be expensive (it can), that grandparents will have a hard time getting parenting time over the objections of a parent (they will) and that the cost of resolving a legal dispute through trial can be prohibitively expensive (it is). There is value, I think, in being able to say “yes you can make an application for an order restraining the children from having their hair cut on Wednesdays, but you shouldn’t because it’s not worth the time, the money, the conflict or the anxiety.” I hope that in learning what you can do, you'll also learn what you oughtn't.

	Finally, in reading the 2012 report of the [~~http~~://~~www~~.~~cfcj~~-~~fcjc.org/sites/default/files/docs/Report%20of%20the%20Family%20Law%20WG%20Meaningful%20Change%20April%202013.pdf~~ Family Justice Working Group of the Action Committee on Access to Justice in Civil and Family Matters], I gained further insight into the purposes behind my website. In a discussion about court-provided information programs, the working group commented that:		Finally, in reading the 2012 report of the [https://perma.cc/MK6U-5KT9 Family Justice Working Group of the Action Committee on Access to Justice in Civil and Family Matters], I gained further insight into the purposes behind my website. In a discussion about court-provided information programs, the working group commented that:
	<blockquote>“Beyond the obvious value of orienting and helping to organize the parties, these programs are premised on two ideas. The first is that information is essential to a fair resolution. The second is that information is a dispute resolution tool, or put in the negative, misinformation can generate and prolong disputes. … Early information has been demonstrated to be sufficiently effective in reducing conflict and expediting resolution that many provinces have elected to make it mandatory.”</blockquote>		<blockquote>“Beyond the obvious value of orienting and helping to organize the parties, these programs are premised on two ideas. The first is that information is essential to a fair resolution. The second is that information is a dispute resolution tool, or put in the negative, misinformation can generate and prolong disputes. … Early information has been demonstrated to be sufficiently effective in reducing conflict and expediting resolution that many provinces have elected to make it mandatory.”</blockquote>
	I took two principles from this. First, that accurate legal information is essential to the fair resolution of family law disputes. Second, that accurate legal information is itself a tool for the resolution of family law disputes. That was kind of what I had always had in mind for my website.		I took two principles from this. First, that accurate legal information is essential to the fair resolution of family law disputes. Second, that accurate legal information is itself a tool for the resolution of family law disputes. That was kind of what I had always had in mind for my website.

Jpboyd at 20:03, 18 August 2017

2017-08-18T20:03:48Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:03, 18 August 2017
Line 8:		Line 8:
	# '''Be opinionated'''<br/>The information shouldn't just describe the law and available legal options to readers, but be prescriptive and recommendatory, when being prescriptive and recommendatory is appropriate. To some extent this will be an expression of policy and preference, but if a particular available court of action is ill-advised, the resource should say so.		# '''Be opinionated'''<br/>The information shouldn't just describe the law and available legal options to readers, but be prescriptive and recommendatory, when being prescriptive and recommendatory is appropriate. To some extent this will be an expression of policy and preference, but if a particular available court of action is ill-advised, the resource should say so.
	# '''Promote good behaviour in the justice system'''<br/>The information should promote the overall functioning of the family justice system by promoting behaviours, choices and strategies that are helpful and facilitate the resolution of disputes while discouraging those which do not and, in particular, behaviours that degrade the efficiency of court registry services as well as chambers and trial processes.		# '''Promote good behaviour in the justice system'''<br/>The information should promote the overall functioning of the family justice system by promoting behaviours, choices and strategies that are helpful and facilitate the resolution of disputes while discouraging those which do not and, in particular, behaviours that degrade the efficiency of court registry services as well as chambers and trial processes.
	# '''Be available for saving, sharing, reusing and redistributing'''<br/>The information should be broadly shareable and shared. Sharing and redistribution should be encouraged on the conditions that the source of the information be identified and that any subsequent reuse not be for a commercial purpose. Readers should be easily able to copy, save and store the information in the formats that best ~~suit~~ their needs.		# '''Be available for saving, sharing, reusing and redistributing'''<br/>The information should be broadly shareable and shared. Sharing and redistribution should be encouraged on the conditions that the source of the information be identified and that any subsequent reuse not be for a commercial purpose. Readers should be easily able to copy, save and store the information in the formats that best meet their needs.
	# '''Be helpful'''<br/>Above all, the information should be helpful. It should be practical and pragmatic and the wiki should provide other resources, like court forms, charts, checklists and links to external websites, where they serve a practical purpose.		# '''Be helpful'''<br/>Above all, the information should be helpful. It should be practical and pragmatic and the wiki should provide other resources, like court forms, charts, checklists and links to external websites, where they serve a practical purpose.

	(The bit about this resource being prescriptive and recommendatory needs a bit of an explanation. Writing as an individual I have always felt free to express my views on things through my website, although I took care to ensure that my employers wouldn't be tarred with, or too upset about, my opinions. As a result, rather than trying to provide a legally complete, politically neutered website that in trying to say all things for all people wound up saying nothing, I have felt free to use the forbidden terms “should” and ~~“shouldn’t”;~~ I have said that parenting coordination can be expensive (it can), that grandparents will have a hard time getting parenting time over the objections of a parent (they will) and that the cost of resolving a legal dispute through trial can be prohibitively expensive (it is). There is value, I think, in being able to say “yes you can make an application for an order restraining the children from having their hair cut on Wednesdays, but you shouldn’t because it’s not worth the time, the money, the conflict or the anxiety.” I hope that in learning what you can do, you'll also learn what you ~~shouldn~~'t do.)		(The bit about this resource being opinionated, prescriptive and recommendatory needs a bit of an explanation. Writing as an individual I have always felt free to express my views on things through my website, although I took care to ensure that my employers wouldn't be tarred with, or too upset about, my opinions. As a result, rather than trying to provide a legally complete, politically neutered website that in trying to say all things for all people wound up saying nothing, I have felt free to use the forbidden terms “should” and “shouldn’t.” I have said that parenting coordination can be expensive (it can), that grandparents will have a hard time getting parenting time over the objections of a parent (they will) and that the cost of resolving a legal dispute through trial can be prohibitively expensive (it is). There is value, I think, in being able to say “yes you can make an application for an order restraining the children from having their hair cut on Wednesdays, but you shouldn’t because it’s not worth the time, the money, the conflict or the anxiety.” I hope that in learning what you can do, you'll also learn what you oughtn't.)

	Finally, ~~I was~~ reading the 2012 report of the [http://www.cfcj-fcjc.org/sites/default/files/docs/Report%20of%20the%20Family%20Law%20WG%20Meaningful%20Change%20April%202013.pdf Family Justice Working Group of the Action Committee on Access to Justice in Civil and Family Matters], ~~and~~ gained further insight into the purposes behind my website. In discussion about court-provided information programs, the working group commented that:		Finally, in reading the 2012 report of the [http://www.cfcj-fcjc.org/sites/default/files/docs/Report%20of%20the%20Family%20Law%20WG%20Meaningful%20Change%20April%202013.pdf Family Justice Working Group of the Action Committee on Access to Justice in Civil and Family Matters], I gained further insight into the purposes behind my website. In a discussion about court-provided information programs, the working group commented that:
	<blockquote>“Beyond the obvious value of orienting and helping to organize the parties, these programs are premised on two ideas. The first is that information is essential to a fair resolution. The second is that information is a dispute resolution tool, or put in the negative, misinformation can generate and prolong disputes. … Early information has been demonstrated to be sufficiently effective in reducing conflict and expediting resolution that many provinces have elected to make it mandatory.”</blockquote>		<blockquote>“Beyond the obvious value of orienting and helping to organize the parties, these programs are premised on two ideas. The first is that information is essential to a fair resolution. The second is that information is a dispute resolution tool, or put in the negative, misinformation can generate and prolong disputes. … Early information has been demonstrated to be sufficiently effective in reducing conflict and expediting resolution that many provinces have elected to make it mandatory.”</blockquote>
	I took two principles from this. First, that accurate legal information is essential to the fair resolution of family law disputes. Second, that accurate legal information is itself a tool for the resolution of family law disputes. That was kind of what I had always had in mind for my website.		I took two principles from this. First, that accurate legal information is essential to the fair resolution of family law disputes. Second, that accurate legal information is itself a tool for the resolution of family law disputes. That was kind of what I had always had in mind for my website.

			I hope that you find this resource useful as you navigate the family law minefield.
	[[Category:Navigation Page]]		[[Category:Navigation Page]]
	[[Category:Clicklaw Wikibooks Guides]]		[[Category:Clicklaw Wikibooks Guides]]
	[[Category:JP Boyd on Family Law]]		[[Category:JP Boyd on Family Law]]

Jpboyd at 19:59, 18 August 2017

2017-08-18T19:59:49Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:59, 18 August 2017
Line 3:		Line 3:
	===by John-Paul Boyd, May 2013===		===by John-Paul Boyd, May 2013===
	When Courthouse Libraries and I first started talking about this wiki project, there were some core values that I wanted the wiki to maintain. I’d never thought about these things before, but when we started talking about how the wiki would look and operate, I realized that there were certain qualities of my old BC Family Law Resource website that I wanted to preserve. From this came a set of guiding principles for the editorial tone of what is now called ''[[JP Boyd on Family Law]]''. My hope is that this resource will continue to:		When Courthouse Libraries and I first started talking about this wiki project, there were some core values that I wanted the wiki to maintain. I’d never thought about these things before, but when we started talking about how the wiki would look and operate, I realized that there were certain qualities of my old BC Family Law Resource website that I wanted to preserve. From this came a set of guiding principles for the editorial tone of what is now called ''[[JP Boyd on Family Law]]''. My hope is that this resource will continue to:
	# '''Be free'''<br/>''The information should be available ~~to anyone~~ at no charge, without restriction and without expectation of reward.''		# '''Be free'''<br/>The information should be available at no charge, without restriction and without expectation of reward.
	# '''Be written in plain language'''<br/>''The information this resource provides should be as accessible as possible, save that it mustn't ever be inaccurate. It should use colloquial, everyday language. It should avoid lawyer’s jargon. It should use humour to lighten up the subject matter, and metaphor to better explain it.''		# '''Be written in plain language'''<br/>The information this resource provides should be as accessible as possible, save that it mustn't ever be inaccurate. It should use colloquial, everyday language. It should avoid lawyer’s jargon. It should use humour to lighten up the subject matter, and metaphor to better explain it.
	# '''Be up-to-date and accurate'''<br/>''The information should be timely and accurate, within reason and practicality.''		# '''Be up-to-date and accurate'''<br/>The information should be timely and accurate, within reason and practicality.
	# '''Be opinionated'''<br/>''The information shouldn't just describe the law and available legal options to readers, but be prescriptive and recommendatory, when being prescriptive and recommendatory is appropriate. To some extent this will be an expression of policy and preference, but if a particular available court of action is ill-advised, the resource should say so.''		# '''Be opinionated'''<br/>The information shouldn't just describe the law and available legal options to readers, but be prescriptive and recommendatory, when being prescriptive and recommendatory is appropriate. To some extent this will be an expression of policy and preference, but if a particular available court of action is ill-advised, the resource should say so.
	# '''Promote good behaviour in the justice system'''<br/>''The information should promote the overall functioning of the family justice system by promoting behaviours, choices and strategies that are helpful and facilitate the resolution of disputes while discouraging those which do not and, in particular, behaviours that degrade the efficiency of court registry services as well as chambers and trial processes.''		# '''Promote good behaviour in the justice system'''<br/>The information should promote the overall functioning of the family justice system by promoting behaviours, choices and strategies that are helpful and facilitate the resolution of disputes while discouraging those which do not and, in particular, behaviours that degrade the efficiency of court registry services as well as chambers and trial processes.
	# '''Be available for saving, sharing, reusing and redistributing'''<br/>''The information should be broadly shareable and shared. Sharing and redistribution should be encouraged on the conditions that the source of the information be identified and that any subsequent reuse not be for a commercial purpose. Readers should be easily able to copy, save and store the information in the formats that best suit their needs.''		# '''Be available for saving, sharing, reusing and redistributing'''<br/>The information should be broadly shareable and shared. Sharing and redistribution should be encouraged on the conditions that the source of the information be identified and that any subsequent reuse not be for a commercial purpose. Readers should be easily able to copy, save and store the information in the formats that best suit their needs.
	# '''Be helpful'''<br/>Above all, the information should be helpful. It should be practical and pragmatic and the wiki should provide other resources, like court forms, charts and ~~checklists~~, where they serve a practical purpose.		# '''Be helpful'''<br/>Above all, the information should be helpful. It should be practical and pragmatic and the wiki should provide other resources, like court forms, charts, checklists and links to external websites, where they serve a practical purpose.

	The bit about this resource being prescriptive and recommendatory needs a bit of an explanation. Writing as an individual I have always felt free to express my views on things through my website, although I took care to ensure that my employers wouldn't be tarred with my opinions. As a result, rather than trying to provide a legally complete, politically neutered website that in trying to say all things for all people wound up saying nothing, I have felt free to use the forbidden terms “should” and ~~“shouldn’t~~;” I have said that parenting coordination can be expensive (it can), that grandparents will have a hard time getting parenting time over the objections of a parent (they will) and that the cost of resolving a legal dispute through trial can be prohibitively expensive (it is). There is value, I think, in being able to say “yes you can make an application for an order restraining the children from having their hair cut on Wednesdays, but you shouldn’t because it’s not worth the time, the money, the conflict or the anxiety.”		(The bit about this resource being prescriptive and recommendatory needs a bit of an explanation. Writing as an individual I have always felt free to express my views on things through my website, although I took care to ensure that my employers wouldn't be tarred with, or too upset about, my opinions. As a result, rather than trying to provide a legally complete, politically neutered website that in trying to say all things for all people wound up saying nothing, I have felt free to use the forbidden terms “should” and “shouldn’t”; I have said that parenting coordination can be expensive (it can), that grandparents will have a hard time getting parenting time over the objections of a parent (they will) and that the cost of resolving a legal dispute through trial can be prohibitively expensive (it is). There is value, I think, in being able to say “yes you can make an application for an order restraining the children from having their hair cut on Wednesdays, but you shouldn’t because it’s not worth the time, the money, the conflict or the anxiety.” I hope that in learning what you can do, you'll also learn what you shouldn't do.)

	Finally, I was reading the 2012 report of the [http://www.cfcj-fcjc.org/sites/default/files/docs/Report%20of%20the%20Family%20Law%20WG%20Meaningful%20Change%20April%202013.pdf Family Justice Working Group of the Action Committee on Access to Justice in Civil and Family Matters], and gained further insight into the purposes behind my website. In discussion about court-provided information programs, the working group commented that:		Finally, I was reading the 2012 report of the [http://www.cfcj-fcjc.org/sites/default/files/docs/Report%20of%20the%20Family%20Law%20WG%20Meaningful%20Change%20April%202013.pdf Family Justice Working Group of the Action Committee on Access to Justice in Civil and Family Matters], and gained further insight into the purposes behind my website. In discussion about court-provided information programs, the working group commented that:

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:04, 11 May 2019
Line 2:		Line 2:
	==An editorial manifesto for a new public legal education resource==		==An editorial manifesto for a new public legal education resource==
	===by John-Paul Boyd, Updated for 2019===		===by John-Paul Boyd, Updated for 2019===
	When Courthouse Libraries and I first started talking about this project, there were some core values that I wanted the wiki to maintain. I’d never thought about these things before, but when we started talking about how the wiki would look and operate, I realized that there were certain qualities of my old BC Family Law Resource website that ~~I wanted to preserve~~. From ~~this~~ came a set of guiding principles for the editorial tone of what is now called ''[[JP Boyd on Family Law]]''. My hope is that this resource will continue to:		When Courthouse Libraries and I first started talking about this project, there were some core values that I wanted the wiki to maintain. I’d never thought about these things before, but when we started talking about how the wiki would look and operate, I realized that there were certain qualities of my old BC Family Law Resource website that should be preserved. From these came a set of guiding principles for the editorial tone of what is now called ''[[JP Boyd on Family Law]]''. My hope is that this resource will continue to:
	# '''be free'''<br/>The information should be available at no charge, without restriction and without expectation of reward.		# '''be free'''<br/>The information should be available at no charge, without restriction and without expectation of reward.
	# '''be written in plain language'''<br/>The information in this resource provides should be as accessible as possible, save that it mustn't ever be inaccurate. It should use colloquial, everyday language. It should avoid lawyer’s jargon. It should use humour to lighten up the subject matter, and metaphor to better explain it.		# '''be written in plain language'''<br/>The information in this resource provides should be as accessible as possible, save that it mustn't ever be inaccurate. It should use colloquial, everyday language. It should avoid lawyer’s jargon. It should use humour to lighten up the subject matter, and metaphor to better explain it.
	# '''be up-to-date and accurate'''<br/>The information should be timely and accurate, within reason and practicality.		# '''be up-to-date and accurate'''<br/>The information should be timely and accurate, within the limits of reason and practicality.
	# '''be opinionated'''<br/>The information shouldn't just describe the law and available legal options ~~to readers~~, but be prescriptive and recommendatory, when being prescriptive and recommendatory is appropriate. To some extent this will be an expression of policy and preference, but if a particular course of action is ill-advised although available, the resource should say so.<nowiki>*</nowiki>		# '''be opinionated'''<br/>The information shouldn't just describe the law and the available legal options, but be prescriptive and recommendatory, when being prescriptive and recommendatory is appropriate. To some extent this will be an expression of policy and preference, but if a particular course of action is ill-advised although available, the resource should say so.<nowiki>*</nowiki>
	# '''promote good behaviour in justice processes'''<br/>The information should promote the overall functioning of the family justice system by promoting behaviours, choices and strategies that are helpful and facilitate the resolution of disputes while discouraging those which do not ~~and~~, in particular, behaviours that degrade the efficiency of court registry services, chambers and trial processes, as well as mediation, arbitration and parenting coordination processes.		# '''promote good behaviour in justice processes'''<br/>The information should promote the overall functioning of the family justice system by promoting behaviours, choices and strategies that are helpful and facilitate the resolution of disputes while discouraging those which do not, in particular, behaviours that degrade the efficiency of court registry services, chambers and trial processes, as well as mediation, arbitration and parenting coordination processes.
	# '''promote alternatives to litigation'''<br/>The resource should not focus on litigation as the sole or presumptive means by which family law disputes are resolved. It should discuss out-of-court dispute resolution options with the same degree of emphasis as in-court dispute resolution.		# '''promote alternatives to litigation'''<br/>The resource should not focus on litigation as the sole or presumptive means by which family law disputes are resolved. It should discuss out-of-court dispute resolution options with the same degree of emphasis as in-court dispute resolution.
	# '''be available for saving, sharing, reusing and redistributing'''<br/>The information should be shareable and be shared. Copying and redistribution should be encouraged on the conditions that the source of the information be identified and that any subsequent reuse not be for a commercial purpose. Readers should be easily able to access, copy, save and store the information in the formats that best meet their needs.		# '''be available for saving, sharing, reusing and redistributing'''<br/>The information should be shareable and be shared. Copying and redistribution should be encouraged on the conditions that the source of the information be identified and that any subsequent reuse not be for a commercial purpose. Readers should be easily able to access, copy, save and store the information in the formats that best meet their needs.
	# '''be helpful'''<br/>Above all, the information provided in this resource should be helpful. It should be practical and pragmatic ~~and the wiki~~ should provide other resources, like court forms, charts, ~~checklists and~~ links to ~~external~~ websites, where ~~they serve~~ a ~~practical purpose~~.		# '''be helpful'''<br/>Above all, the information provided in this resource should be ''helpful''. It should be practical and pragmatic. It should provide other resources, like court forms, charts and checklists, where they would be useful to readers. It should provide links to other websites, where those websites are reputable and offer a benefit to readers.

	<nowiki>*</nowiki>The bit about this resource being opinionated, prescriptive and recommendatory needs a bit of an explanation. Writing as an individual I have always felt free to express my views on things through my website, although I took care to ensure that my employers wouldn't be tarred with, or too upset about, my opinions. As a result, rather than trying to provide a legally complete, politically neutered website that in trying to say all things for all people wound up saying nothing, I have felt free to use the forbidden terms “should” and “shouldn’t.” I have said that parenting coordination can be expensive (it can), that grandparents will have a hard time getting parenting time over the objections of a parent (they will) and that the cost of resolving a legal dispute through trial can be prohibitively expensive (it is). There is value, I think, in being able to say “yes you can make an application for an order restraining the children from having their hair cut on Wednesdays, but you shouldn’t because it’s not worth the time, the money, the conflict or the anxiety.” I hope that readers learning what they can do, will also learn what they oughtn't do.		<nowiki>*</nowiki>The bit about this resource being opinionated, prescriptive and recommendatory needs a bit of an explanation. Writing as an individual I have always felt free to express my views on things through my website, although I took care to ensure that my employers wouldn't be tarred with, or too upset about, my opinions. As a result, rather than trying to provide a legally complete, politically neutered website that in trying to say all things for all people wound up saying nothing, I have felt free to use the forbidden terms “should” and “shouldn’t.” I have said that parenting coordination can be expensive (it can), that grandparents will have a hard time getting parenting time over the objections of a parent (they will) and that the cost of resolving a legal dispute through trial can be prohibitively expensive (it is). There is value, I think, in being able to say “yes you can make an application for an order restraining the children from having their hair cut on Wednesdays, but you shouldn’t because it’s not worth the time, the money, the conflict or the anxiety.” I hope that readers learning what they can do, will also learn what they oughtn't do.
Line 16:		Line 16:
	Finally, in reading the 2012 report of the [https://perma.cc/MK6U-5KT9 Family Justice Working Group of the Action Committee on Access to Justice in Civil and Family Matters], I accidentally gained further insight into the purposes of my website. In a discussion about court-provided information programs, the working group commented that:		Finally, in reading the 2012 report of the [https://perma.cc/MK6U-5KT9 Family Justice Working Group of the Action Committee on Access to Justice in Civil and Family Matters], I accidentally gained further insight into the purposes of my website. In a discussion about court-provided information programs, the working group commented that:
	<blockquote>“Beyond the obvious value of orienting and helping to organize the parties, these programs are premised on two ideas. The first is that information is essential to a fair resolution. The second is that information is a dispute resolution tool, or put in the negative, misinformation can generate and prolong disputes. … Early information has been demonstrated to be sufficiently effective in reducing conflict and expediting resolution that many provinces have elected to make it mandatory.”</blockquote>		<blockquote>“Beyond the obvious value of orienting and helping to organize the parties, these programs are premised on two ideas. The first is that information is essential to a fair resolution. The second is that information is a dispute resolution tool, or put in the negative, misinformation can generate and prolong disputes. … Early information has been demonstrated to be sufficiently effective in reducing conflict and expediting resolution that many provinces have elected to make it mandatory.”</blockquote>
	I took two principles from this. First, that accurate legal information is essential to the fair resolution of family law disputes. Second, that accurate legal information is itself a tool ~~for~~ the resolution of family law disputes. That was kind of what I had always had in mind for my website, and I hope continues to guide the development of this resource in the future.		I took two principles from this. First, that access to accurate legal information is essential to the fair resolution of family law disputes. Second, that accurate legal information is itself a tool to promote the resolution of family law disputes. That was kind of what I had always had in mind for my website, and I hope continues to guide the development of this resource in the future.

	I hope that readers will find this resource useful as they navigate the minefield that is family law, and that the contributing editors will enjoy updating and expanding its contents.		I hope that readers will find this resource useful as they navigate the minefield that is family law, and that the contributing editors will enjoy updating and expanding its contents, and contributing to the legal capacity of all British Columbians.
	[[Category:Navigation Page]]		[[Category:Navigation Page]]
	[[Category:Clicklaw Wikibooks Guides]]		[[Category:Clicklaw Wikibooks Guides]]
	[[Category:JP Boyd on Family Law]]		[[Category:JP Boyd on Family Law]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:41, 9 May 2019
Line 1:		Line 1:
	{{JP Boyd on Family Law TOC}}		{{JP Boyd on Family Law TOC}}
	==An editorial manifesto for a new public legal education resource==		==An editorial manifesto for a new public legal education resource==
	===by John-Paul Boyd, Updated for ~~2017~~===		===by John-Paul Boyd, Updated for 2019===
	When Courthouse Libraries and I first started talking about this wiki project, there were some core values that I wanted the wiki to maintain. I’d never thought about these things before, but when we started talking about how the wiki would look and operate, I realized that there were certain qualities of my old BC Family Law Resource website that I wanted to preserve. From this came a set of guiding principles for the editorial tone of what is now called ''[[JP Boyd on Family Law]]''. My hope is that this resource will continue to:		When Courthouse Libraries and I first started talking about this wiki project, there were some core values that I wanted the wiki to maintain. I’d never thought about these things before, but when we started talking about how the wiki would look and operate, I realized that there were certain qualities of my old BC Family Law Resource website that I wanted to preserve. From this came a set of guiding principles for the editorial tone of what is now called ''[[JP Boyd on Family Law]]''. My hope is that this resource will continue to:
	# '''Be free'''<br/>The information should be available at no charge, without restriction and without expectation of reward.		# '''be free'''<br/>The information should be available at no charge, without restriction and without expectation of reward.
	# '''Be written in plain language'''<br/>The information in this resource provides should be as accessible as possible, save that it mustn't ever be inaccurate. It should use colloquial, everyday language. It should avoid lawyer’s jargon. It should use humour to lighten up the subject matter, and metaphor to better explain it.		# '''be written in plain language'''<br/>The information in this resource provides should be as accessible as possible, save that it mustn't ever be inaccurate. It should use colloquial, everyday language. It should avoid lawyer’s jargon. It should use humour to lighten up the subject matter, and metaphor to better explain it.
	# '''Be up-to-date and accurate'''<br/>The information should be timely and accurate, within reason and practicality.		# '''be up-to-date and accurate'''<br/>The information should be timely and accurate, within reason and practicality.
	# '''Be opinionated'''<br/>The information shouldn't just describe the law and available legal options to readers, but be prescriptive and recommendatory, when being prescriptive and recommendatory is appropriate. To some extent this will be an expression of policy and preference, but if a particular ~~available~~ course of action is ill-advised, the resource should say so.<nowiki>*</nowiki>		# '''be opinionated'''<br/>The information shouldn't just describe the law and available legal options to readers, but be prescriptive and recommendatory, when being prescriptive and recommendatory is appropriate. To some extent this will be an expression of policy and preference, but if a particular course of action is ill-advised although available, the resource should say so.<nowiki>*</nowiki>
	# '''~~Promote~~ good behaviour in ~~the~~ justice ~~system~~'''<br/>The information should promote the overall functioning of the family justice system by promoting behaviours, choices and strategies that are helpful and facilitate the resolution of disputes while discouraging those which do not and, in particular, behaviours that degrade the efficiency of court registry services as well as ~~chambers~~ and ~~trial~~ processes.		# '''promote good behaviour in justice processes'''<br/>The information should promote the overall functioning of the family justice system by promoting behaviours, choices and strategies that are helpful and facilitate the resolution of disputes while discouraging those which do not and, in particular, behaviours that degrade the efficiency of court registry services, chambers and trial processes, as well as mediation, arbitration and parenting coordination processes.
	# '''Be available for saving, sharing, reusing and redistributing'''<br/>The information should be ~~broadly~~ shareable and shared. ~~Sharing~~ and redistribution should be encouraged on the conditions that the source of the information be identified and that any subsequent reuse not be for a commercial purpose. Readers should be easily able to copy, save and store the information in the formats that best meet their needs.		# '''promote alternatives to litigation'''<br/>The resource should not focus on litigation as the sole or presumptive means by which family law disputes are resolved. It should discuss out-of-court dispute resolution options with the same degree of emphasis as in-court dispute resolution.
	# '''Be helpful'''<br/>Above all, the information should be helpful. It should be practical and pragmatic and the wiki should provide other resources, like court forms, charts, checklists and links to external websites, where they serve a practical purpose.		# '''be available for saving, sharing, reusing and redistributing'''<br/>The information should be shareable and be shared. Copying and redistribution should be encouraged on the conditions that the source of the information be identified and that any subsequent reuse not be for a commercial purpose. Readers should be easily able to access, copy, save and store the information in the formats that best meet their needs.
			# '''be helpful'''<br/>Above all, the information provided in this resource should be helpful. It should be practical and pragmatic and the wiki should provide other resources, like court forms, charts, checklists and links to external websites, where they serve a practical purpose.

	<nowiki>*</nowiki>The bit about this resource being opinionated, prescriptive and recommendatory needs a bit of an explanation. Writing as an individual I have always felt free to express my views on things through my website, although I took care to ensure that my employers wouldn't be tarred with, or too upset about, my opinions. As a result, rather than trying to provide a legally complete, politically neutered website that in trying to say all things for all people wound up saying nothing, I have felt free to use the forbidden terms “should” and “shouldn’t.” I have said that parenting coordination can be expensive (it can), that grandparents will have a hard time getting parenting time over the objections of a parent (they will) and that the cost of resolving a legal dispute through trial can be prohibitively expensive (it is). There is value, I think, in being able to say “yes you can make an application for an order restraining the children from having their hair cut on Wednesdays, but you shouldn’t because it’s not worth the time, the money, the conflict or the anxiety.” I hope that in learning what ~~you~~ can do, ~~you'll~~ also learn what ~~you~~ oughtn't.		<nowiki>*</nowiki>The bit about this resource being opinionated, prescriptive and recommendatory needs a bit of an explanation. Writing as an individual I have always felt free to express my views on things through my website, although I took care to ensure that my employers wouldn't be tarred with, or too upset about, my opinions. As a result, rather than trying to provide a legally complete, politically neutered website that in trying to say all things for all people wound up saying nothing, I have felt free to use the forbidden terms “should” and “shouldn’t.” I have said that parenting coordination can be expensive (it can), that grandparents will have a hard time getting parenting time over the objections of a parent (they will) and that the cost of resolving a legal dispute through trial can be prohibitively expensive (it is). There is value, I think, in being able to say “yes you can make an application for an order restraining the children from having their hair cut on Wednesdays, but you shouldn’t because it’s not worth the time, the money, the conflict or the anxiety.” I hope that readers learning what they can do, will also learn what they oughtn't.

	Finally, in reading the 2012 report of the [https://perma.cc/MK6U-5KT9 Family Justice Working Group of the Action Committee on Access to Justice in Civil and Family Matters], I gained further insight into the purposes ~~behind~~ my website. In a discussion about court-provided information programs, the working group commented that:		Finally, in reading the 2012 report of the [https://perma.cc/MK6U-5KT9 Family Justice Working Group of the Action Committee on Access to Justice in Civil and Family Matters], I gained further insight into the purposes of my website. In a discussion about court-provided information programs, the working group commented that:
	<blockquote>“Beyond the obvious value of orienting and helping to organize the parties, these programs are premised on two ideas. The first is that information is essential to a fair resolution. The second is that information is a dispute resolution tool, or put in the negative, misinformation can generate and prolong disputes. … Early information has been demonstrated to be sufficiently effective in reducing conflict and expediting resolution that many provinces have elected to make it mandatory.”</blockquote>		<blockquote>“Beyond the obvious value of orienting and helping to organize the parties, these programs are premised on two ideas. The first is that information is essential to a fair resolution. The second is that information is a dispute resolution tool, or put in the negative, misinformation can generate and prolong disputes. … Early information has been demonstrated to be sufficiently effective in reducing conflict and expediting resolution that many provinces have elected to make it mandatory.”</blockquote>
	I took two principles from this. First, that accurate legal information is essential to the fair resolution of family law disputes. Second, that accurate legal information is itself a tool for the resolution of family law disputes. That was kind of what I had always had in mind for my website.		I took two principles from this. First, that accurate legal information is essential to the fair resolution of family law disputes. Second, that accurate legal information is itself a tool for the resolution of family law disputes. That was kind of what I had always had in mind for my website, and I hope continues to guide the development of this resource in the future.

	I hope that you find this resource useful as you navigate the family law ~~minefield~~.		I hope that you find this resource useful as you navigate the minefield that is family law.
	[[Category:Navigation Page]]		[[Category:Navigation Page]]
	[[Category:Clicklaw Wikibooks Guides]]		[[Category:Clicklaw Wikibooks Guides]]
	[[Category:JP Boyd on Family Law]]		[[Category:JP Boyd on Family Law]]