Strengthening Legal Responses to Intimate Partner Violence: New Emergency Motions Module Added to Effective Lawyering Course
Lawyers representing survivors of intimate partner violence often face situations where time is critical. When safety is at risk, waiting weeks or months for a regular court date is simply not an option.
That’s why Luke’s Place has added a new module on emergency motions to our Effective lawyering with clients leaving abusive relationships course.
Emergency motions are one of the most powerful, but also most complex tools available in family law. When used appropriately, they allow lawyers to ask the court for urgent orders without notice or with shortened timelines to address immediate risks.
However, many lawyers receive little practical training on when and how emergency motions should be used, particularly in cases involving intimate partner violence.
Why Emergency Motions Matter in IPV Cases
Survivors navigating the family law system may face urgent situations such as:
- Immediate safety risks to themselves or their children
- Unsafe parenting time arrangements
- Financial control or sudden loss of access to funds
- Escalating harassment or intimidation after separation
In these circumstances, an emergency motion may be necessary to obtain urgent court intervention.
Practical Guidance for Lawyers
The new module provides lawyers with practical, trauma-informed guidance on:
- Identifying when a situation meets the threshold for an emergency motion
- Framing urgency in ways that courts understand
- Preparing evidence quickly and effectively
- Avoiding common pitfalls that can result in motions being rejected or delayed
- Supporting clients through what can be a stressful and high-stakes legal process
The module builds on Luke’s Place’s Emergency Motions Toolkit, which was developed to support lawyers and advocates working with survivors in urgent family law situations.
Supporting Better Outcomes for Survivors
At Luke’s Place, we know that legal strategy and survivor safety are deeply connected. When lawyers understand how to effectively use tools like emergency motions, it can make a significant difference in protecting women and children experiencing violence.
By incorporating this new module into the Effective Lawyering course, we aim to ensure that lawyers across Ontario have the knowledge, practical skills, and IPV-informed approach needed to respond quickly and effectively when safety is at risk.
If you previously purchased and completed the course, you do not need to re-register. The new module will simply appear in your course portal once it is available, and you can log in to complete it at any time.
The Effective Lawyering course takes 4-5 hours to complete. It consists of narrated slide presentations accompanied by downloadable resource lists. Transcripts for narration are provided.
Once you purchase this course, processing will take 1 – 2 weeks, and you will then receive an email with access information.
Fee: $125.
This course is available free of charge to law students.
If you belong to one of these organizations, please contact training@lukesplace.ca using your workplace email address.
