About Shawn Erker
Shawn Erker, B.A., J.D., is the Legal Writer and Content Manager in the Claims Prevention & Stakeholder Relations department at LAWPRO. Prior to joining LAWPRO in 2018, Shawn practised as a civil litigator in British Columbia in a full-service national firm after clerking at the British Columbia Court of Appeal. He graduated from UBC Law as the 2014 Law Society Gold Medallist, where he also served as an Editor-in-Chief of the UBC Law Review.
Shawn Erker's Posts
Putting the insurance puzzle together
LAWPRO’s primary Errors & Omissions (E&O) program is a key piece of the insurance puzzle for any lawyer and law firm. But additional insurance coverage is often required to protect against the full constellation of risk faced by a law firm. Remember that all insurance policies are drafted to cover only a specific set of… Read More »
Categories: Law Practice ManagementCommon HST errors in real estate transactions
Determining HST-applicability to real estate transactions can be more complicated than many lawyers assume. What’s more, a lack of clarity and errors can often lead to substantial unforeseen costs for clients. This is a dangerous combination from a claims perspective. This paper discusses the common categories of HST errors and provide tips on how to… Read More »
Categories: Real EstateManaging your mental health through COVID
We are experiencing what our email inboxes repeatedly call “unprecedented times”. Many Canadians are facing lost employment and financial strain; many are taking on a large number of new responsibilities as they act as home-schooling teacher and caretaker for their children; and all Canadians face the new anxieties and fears now associated with shopping for… Read More »
Categories: Wellness and BalanceAvailability of insurance coverage for lawyers acting as executor or trustee
Estate lawyers will sometimes be called upon by a client to act as executor or trustee as part of their Professional Services. Depending on the complexity of the estate or trust, these appointments can last for years and involve a substantial time investment. As with other aspects of a legal practice, alleged errors in the… Read More »
Categories: Wills & Estates, LAWPRO Errors and Omissions CoverageLimitation periods: Not just for litigators
Some nightmares seem universal: teeth suddenly falling out, or an important exam in a class you forgot to attend. But some fears, such as forgetting to diarize a limitation period, come only to lawyers, and usually just litigators. While corporate solicitors may thankfully lose less sleep over limitation periods than their litigator colleagues, they should… Read More »
Categories: Limitations ClaimsResponsible delegation: Annual corporate filings and updates
Responsible and efficient delegation is an important skill for any lawyer. But there are limits as to when and how certain tasks can be delegated to non-lawyers. Recently, LAWPRO has seen situations where corporate filings are handled by administrative staff such as clerks, without specific authorization or review from a supervising lawyer. This sometimes includes… Read More »
Categories: Corporate LawNew amendments to the Ontario Rules of Civil Procedure: What to know
On January 1, 2019, several new amendments to the Ontario Rules of Civil Procedure came into force. The following changes are particularly notable: 1) New deadlines for supplementary expert reports New deadlines are now in effect for the service of supplementary expert reports and responding supplementary expert reports (pursuant to Subrule 53.03 (3), as amended)…. Read More »
Categories: Civil LitigationDivisional Court allows appeal in Milne Estate (Re) decision
We are pleased to report that the Divisional Court has allowed the appeal and set aside the orders of the Application Judge in the Milne Estate (Re) decision. The Divisional Court did not in any way criticize the use of the allocation clause and in fact noted that “the use of allocation clauses is a… Read More »
Categories: Wills & Estates