Appendix A
Laura Elizabeth Watts
National Director
Canadian Centre for Elder Law Studies
1822 East Mall, Annex 1
University of British Columbia
V6T 1Z1
Direct: 604-822-0633
Mobile: 604-889-2793
Email:
Web:
LEGAL WORK EXPERIENCE
Oct 2004 - presentNational Director[1] and Staff Lawyer
Canadian Centre for Elder Law Studies
National Director for the Canadian non-profit organization dedicated to Elder Law. Duties include legal research and writing, public legal education and information, presentations, providing expert advice or testimony on elder law and elder abuse issues to various governments, organizations and media.
Provided ongoing input, support and organization for the First Federal / Provincial / Territorial National Forum on Elder Abuse, 2006/7. Founder and Editor of the forthcoming national peer-reviewed Canadian Journal of Elder Law. Founded and annually organize the Canadian / International Conference on Elder Law.
Selected current funded project work on issues of Elder Abuse, Advance Care Planning, Capacity and Consent, Assisted Living, Family Caregiving, Powers of Attorney and Inter-jurisdictional Practice Issues for elder law.
Previous report work includes Viatical Settlements, Reverse Mortgages, Enduring Powers of Attorney, Aging in the Criminal Justice System (Offenders and Witnesses), Aging with Physical and Mental Challenges, Aging and Gender / Identity Issues, Aging with Addictions. Co-authored with Madam Justice Marion Allan the Report on Guardianship: BC, ON and NZ. Authored numerous Continuing Legal Education (CLE) materials on elder abuse and elder law issues. Founded and facilitated the World Study Group on Elder Law.
Co-founding and supporting Canada’s second legal aid clinic for seniors in BC, in conjunction with BC Coalition to Eliminate Abuse of Seniors. Upcoming publications include a chapter on Legal Capacity and Decision-making: The Intersection of Law and Personhood, and co-editing / co-authoring the first CLE Practice Manual on Elder Law.
Jan–May 2002Teaching Assistant
Sep 2000-May2001Faculty of Law, University of British Columbia
1822 East Mall
Vancouver, BC
Teaching legal research and writing to first-year law students, grading students’ written work and mentoring. Awarded UBC Teaching Assistant Award, 2000-2001.
May 1999-Aug 2000Associate Lawyer
Dives, Grauer and Harper
1400 – 1030 West Georgia Street
Vancouver, BC
References: John Dives, Chris Grauer, Robin Harper
Private litigation practice. Experience in school-related WCB and sexual abuse cases, as well as health care litigation and other fiduciary-related cases.
Dec 1998Articled Student
Provincial Crown Counsel, Criminal Justice Division
222 Main Street
Vancouver, BC
Reference: Elizabeth Wolfram
JP Crown Counsel in Courtroom 100 criminal matters.
May 1998-May 1999Articled Student
Bull, Housser & Tupper
3000 – 1055 West Georgia Street
Vancouver, BC
Principal: J. Christopher Grauer
Civil litigation (including WCB, school and health cases), corporate and banking practice.
Sep-Dec 1997Law Centre, Articled Student
The Law Centre, Legal Services Society
1288 Broad Street
Victoria, BC
Principal: Glenn Gallins
Legal aid screening, criminal and civil trial practice, wills and trusts, family law, domestic abuse law.
EDUCATION
CurrentMaster of Laws (LL.M. cand.)– Fiduciary Law / Elder Law
Faculty of Law, University of British Columbia
Vancouver, BC
Supervisor: W. Wesley Pue
Status: Academic Leave
Feb – May 1999Professional Legal Training Course
Law Society of BC
Vancouver, BC
1995 - 1998Bachelor of Laws (LL.B)
Faculty of Law, University of Victoria
Victoria, BC
1990 - 1995Bachelor of Arts (Hons)
Queen’s University
Kingston, ON
May – Sep 1991Certificate of Bilingualism
Université Canadienne en France
Villefranche-sur-Mer, France
INVITED GOVERNMENT CONSULTATION / EXPERT TESTIMONY
Feb 24-29, 2008US Dept of Justice
(upcoming)Elder Mistreatment
Washing, DC, USA
Jan 28, 2008Testimony to the Canadian Senate Committee on Aging
(upcoming)Elder Abuse, Elder Rights
Ottawa, ON
Various 2005-2008Providing invited input to BC government legislation on issues of abuse, neglect, restraints, guardianship, powers of attorney and representation agreements
DISTINGUISHED LECTURES & KEYNOTE ADDRESSES
Feb 22, 2008UVIC Centre on Aging Community Forum
(upcoming)University of Victoria
Closing Keynote Address – Community Forum on Aging
Nov 8, 2007First National F/P/T Forum on Elder Abuse
Closing Keynote Address
Oct 13, 2007National Aging and the Law Conference
International Plenary Panellist
Washington, DC
Mar 6, 2006The Ann F. Baum Memorial Distinguished Lecture in Elder Law
University of Illinois College of Law
Champlain, Illinois
Oct. 1, 2005Annual Public Forum: Division of Palliative Care
Keynote Address: Advance Care Planning
Vancouver, BC
ACADEMIC OR PROFESSIONAL PRESENTATIONS
Upcoming 2008 Presentations
May 18, 2008National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys 20th Annual Conference
Presenter – Inter-jurisdictional Personal Planning Issues
Maui, Hawaii
Selected 2007 Presentations
Nov 21, 2007BC Non-Profit Housing Association
Presenter – Housing Stability for Older Adults
Richmond, BC
Nov 9-10, 2007Canadian Conference on Elder Law
Conference Host and Presenter
Vancouver, BC
Nov 1-3, 2007Canadian Association of Gerontology
Co-Presenter with Judith Wahl
Advance Care Planning, Capacity and Abuse re: End of Life
Calgary, AB
Oct 21 – 25, 20078th Pan-Oceanic International Conference on Gerontology / Geriatrics
Invited Symposium Panel on End of Life Issues
Beijing, China
Sept 12, 2007International Guardianship Network Conference
Invited presenter on guardianship and abuse issues
Bergen, Netherlands
Aug 12, 2007National Canadian Bar Association Annual Conference
Co-Presenter with Judith Wahl
First Available Bed Policies, Consent and Abuse Issues in Canada
June 17, 2007Festival of International Conferences on Caregiving, Aging, Disability and Technology (FICCDAT)
Presenter – Aging with Challenges
Toronto, ON
June 15-16, 2007National Elder Law CLE (Canadian Bar Association)
Presenter – Elder Abuse and various topics
Fredericton, NB
May 12 – 15, 2007International (Invited) Colloquium on Decision-making, Personhood and Dementia
Presenter – the intersection of elder abuse legislation, personhood and decision-making
UBC Vancouver, BC
May 10, 2007Alberta Canadian Bar Association
Presenter – various elder abuse and elder law topics
Calgary and Edmonton (via videolink from Vancouver)
April 25-27, 2006National Initiative For Care of the Elderly
Presenter / Facilitator – End of Life Theme Team
Toronto, ON
March 20, 2007William Mitchell College of Law
Elder abuse legislation in Canadian and US – A comparison
Via Videolink
Selected 2006 Presentations
Oct 27, 2006Canadian Association of Gerontology Conference
Presenter – Aging with Challenges
Presenter – End of Life Issues
Quebec City, PQ
Oct 13-15, 2006Canadian Conference on Elder Law
Presenter – Aging with Challenges
Vancouver, BC
June 2, 2006Congress for the Humanities and Social Sciences
Presenter – Aging with Challenges
Toronto, ON
Mar 24-25, 2006National Elder Law CLE (Canadian Bar Association)
Presenter – Property Issues for Older Adults
Co-Presenter – Assessing the Assessors – Capacity Assessments
(with Judith Wahl and the Hon. Madam Justice Allan)
Ottawa, ON
Feb 23, 2006University of Victoria Centre on Aging Symposium
Presenter – Consent and Capacity
Victoria, BC
Feb 9, 2006UBC Faculty Association
Presenter – Enduring Powers of Attorney v Rep Agreements
UBC, Vancouver
Jan 23-30, 2006BC and Alberta Trial Lawyers’ Association
Presenter – Advance Care Planning in BC
Varadero, Cuba
Jan 20-22, 2006Canadian Law and Society Association
Presenter – Capacity and Capability Law in Canada
Toronto, ON
Selected 2005 Presentations
Nov 6, 2005National Judicial Institute – Elder Law
Facilitator and Researcher
Vancouver, BC
Oct 20-22, 2005Canadian Association of Gerontology
Co-Presenter - Assisted Living in Canada
(with Judith Wahl, Ex. Dir. ACE, Charmaine Spencer, SFU)
Halifax, NS
Oct 29-30, 2005Canadian Conference on Elder Law
Organizer, Host and Presenter – Aging with Challenges; Enduring Powers of Attorney
Vancouver, BC
Jun 25-30, 2005Canadian Law and Society Conference
Presenter – Aging with Challenges
Harrison Hot Springs, BC
May 14, 2005Continuing Legal Education – Elder Law
Presenter – Continuum of Care; Private Care Agreements
National Elder Law Section
Toronto, ON
Selected 2004 Presentations
Apr 29-30, 2004Conference Organizing Chair and Presenter
UBC Legal Interdisciplinary Studies Graduate Conference
Vancouver, BC
May 30, 2004Canadian Association of Law Teachers 2004 Conference
Presenter – Fiduciary Duties and Historical Evolution
Congress for the Humanities and Social Sciences
Winnipeg, MB
Jun 4, 2004Canadian Law and Society Association 2004 Conference
Presenter – Fiduciary Duties and Childhood Sexual Abuse
Congress for the Humanities and Social Sciences
Winnipeg, MB
COMMUNITY OR MEDICAL / LEGAL SEMINARS
Information on Community Talks, Seminars, Elder Law Course Teaching and Elder Law. Consulting to health organization information available upon request and are numerous in nature.
SELECTED AWARDS
2000 - 2001UBC Graduate Teaching Award (T.A.)
Office of the Vice-President Academic & Provost
University of British Columbia
Vancouver, BC
2000 - 2001UBC Faculty of Law Teaching Award (T.A.)
Faculty of Law, University of British Columbia
Vancouver, BC
August 2000Law Foundation of BC Fellowship
Graduate Law Program, University of British Columbia
Vancouver, BC
1997 - 1998Summer Student Scholarship Award
Bull, Housser & Tupper
Vancouver, BC
SELECTED MEMBERSHIPS AND RELATED ACTIVITIES
- Secretary, National Elder Law Section, Canadian Bar Association
- Past-President, BC Coalition to Eliminate Abuse of Seniors (BCCEAS)
- Secretary, BC Senior Services Society (BCSSS)
- Editorial Board Member, Australian Elder Law Journal
- Visiting Scholar, Stetson University College of Law (Elder Law)
- Elder Justice and Policy Centre, Advisory Board (William Mitchell College of Law)
- Founder and Facilitator– World Study Group on Elder Law
- Co-Editor – (upcoming) Canadian Journal on Elder Law
- Canadian Law and Society Association Board Member 2004 – 2006
- Canadian Bar Association BC Branch – Elder Law, Health, Wills & Estates Sections
- National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) National
- International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse Member
- Canadian Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse Member
- Member, BC Prevention of Adult Abuse and Neglect Collaborative (Facilitated by the Offices of the Public Guardian and Trustee)
- City of Richmond Senior’s Advisory Council, 2006-2007
- Canadian Task Force on World Elder Abuse Awareness Day
REFERENCES
Available upon request
Laura Elizabeth Watts1
[1] Prior to 2006, the title was “Program Director”