1993

I have been mediating since 1993. I have accreditation through the BC Law Society as a family law mediator, family law arbitrator, and parenting coordinator. I have been on the BC Supreme Court Mediator Roster (Civil) since 1999 and the BC Supreme Court Mediator Roster (Family) since 2003. In addition to my experience mediating family and civil matters, I also have experience mediating multi-party disputes and matters involving estate litigation. I am comfortable using technology and I have conducted on-line mediations.

I received my LLM (Dispute Resolution) from Osgoode Hall Law School in June 2017. My major research paper (Canine Assisted Mediation) was published in the April 2018 publication of the Harvard Negotiation Law Review.

Locally, I have facilities available for mediations. The facilities are available at no extra charge. I am prepared to travel.

I was born and raised in Kamloops. After graduating from the University of Victoria Law School in 1986, I returned to Kamloops where I began my legal career. Since then, I have practiced in every level of court in the province and my main practice areas have included criminal law, personal injury law, and family law. I have my own firm, Paul & Company.

Mediation has been a large part of my practice since first qualifying as a mediator in 1993. Since then, I have successfully conducted in excess of 300 mediations in the areas of family law, personal injury, and wills and estates. In January 2014, I was accredited by the BC Law Society as a Family Law Mediator and Family Law Arbitrator. In January of 2015, the BC Law Society accredited me as a Parenting Coordinator. In 2017, I graduated from the LL.M. program at Osgoode Hall Law School.

I am actively involved in the legal profession. I am a past president of the Kamloops Bar Association (1990-1991). Subsequently, I served two terms as an elected Yale County representative on the provincial Council of the Canadian Bar Association. In June 2001, I was elected as vice president of the BC branch of the Canadian Bar Association and between 2002 and 2003, I served as branch president. Between 2010 and 2012, I served as chair of two national conferences of the Canadian Bar Association, the General Practice, Solo and Small Firm Conference, and the Legal Profession Assistance Conference. Currently, I serve as President for the BC Lawyers Assistance Program.

I have written articles for publication by the BC Law Society on the topic of Law Office Technology. Between 2011 and 2015, I wrote a bi-monthly column for Canadian Lawyer Magazine (online edition) titled "David Paul's Field Notes". I have also been a guest blogger on the Courthouse Libraries BC blog titled "The Stream". Additionally, since 2009, I have been a regular presenter for the BC courthouse lunch and learn sessions. In 2014, I was one of five lawyers in the province to receive the BC courthouse library society award in recognition of my contributions and dedication to the societies lunch and learn sessions.

Between 2009 and 2015, I was a sessional instructor in the police and justice studies diploma program offered at Thompson Rivers University. I instructed a course titled "Introduction to Criminal Justice Services in Canada". Between 2015 and I was a sessional instructor at the Thompson Rivers University Law School. I instructed Fundamental Legal Skills, Family Law, and Dispute Resolution II.

I served two terms as chair for the Thompson Rivers University Foundation Board. In 2017, I was selected as a recipient for the Thompson Rivers Distinguished Alumni Award.

Outside of my profession, I have also devoted significant time and energy to learning about two other subjects that I'm passionate about, viticulture and winemaking. In 2012, I was accepted into the University of California, UC Davis internationally acclaimed Winemaking Certificate Program. I graduated from the program in March 2014.