Management Consultant

Shelina Neallani works with a wide range of clients as a Management Consultant. She specializes in projects relating to family mediation, law and research. Recent consultancy examples include projects on justice transformation initiatives where Shelina developed, implemented and/or managed pilot projects related to cutting edge online dispute resolution platforms. Clients include:

BC Provincial Government (Child Support Eligibility Mediation Project, BC Civil Resolution Tribunal)
Mediate BC (Child Protection Practicum Program and Child Protection Mediation Scheduling Services)
Legal Service Society of BC (Mylawbc)

Writing

Shelina Neallani has been a contributing editor of web content for Legal Services Society as well to the British Columbia Family Practice Manual, as well a contributing author to the Canadian Journal of Woman and the Law, and to “Bar Talk” (the publication of the Canadian Bar Association of British Columbia). Select examples of her writing include:

Coping with Separation Handbook-Family Law (Dec 2015) Coping with Separation Handbook: Family Law in BC,  Legal Services Society,
BC Violence Against Women Mediation Project Jan 2017 BC Law Foundation,
Acting Against Racism: Talk Leads to Change Sept 2017 North Shore News,
Mediating Family Law Cases, Bar Talk, August 2011
Women of Colour in the Legal Profession, Facing the Familiar Barriers of Race and Sex, Canadian Journal of Women and the Law. (1992) 5:1 page 148; [Reprinted in Women, Law and Social Change, 3rd Edition. (1998). Course Reader: Carlton University; and Gender in the Courts and Legal Profession. (2002). Course Reader: Simon Fraser University.]

Training

Shelina has extensive public speaking experience, having presented for and to diverse organizations over the past 34 years, including Continuing Legal Education Society of BC, Canadian Bar Association, Mediate BC, the Trial Lawyers Association, Peoples Law School, the ADR Institute of Canada, and the Law Courts Education Society. Her experience includes presentation in person, small and larger audiences, as well as using web-based video conference platforms (e.g. Zoom.

In addition, Shelina has taught at an academic level at UBC Law School, University of the Fraser Valley and Thompson Rivers University.

Shelina has provided specialized training for employees/managers/individuals on topics such as communication skills. These sessions included content to assist participants in listening empathetically, understand the power of acknowledgment and stress responses in conflict resolution, how to have difficult conversations, team building/improving the workplace environment and understanding/demonstrating respectful workplace culture. Some of these sessions have included discussions regarding the role of culture and race in relationships.

Her most recent presentations include:

Panel presenter at People Law School webinar “Getting Along with your Ex” Jan 2023
Presenter various online webinars on topics such as “Lawyering, Parenting and Wellbeing”, “Boundaries”, “Managing Vicarious Trauma”, “Self Care and Resiliency”, and “Life’s Transitions” May-Nov 2022
Co-Presenter at CLEBC The Inaugural Northwest Collaborative Futures Conference “Borders, Barriers and Blinders—Stop Boxing It Up!” Oct 2021
Presenter at the Chartered Professionals in Human Resources Alberta Law Conference Feb 2020
Panel presenter of “ODR [Online Dispute Resolution] is it Mainstream yet?” and “Intercultural Competency, Road to Reconciliation,” Alternative Dispute Resolution Institute of Canada 2019
Panel presenter of “A2J: Legal Aid’s Digital Shift & Online Mediation,” Continuing Legal Education Society of BC’s Annual Conflict Resolution Conference Oct 2019
Panel presenter of “Online International Innovation and Collaboration in New Zealand and British Columbia,” Association of Family and Conciliation Courts, The Future of Family Justice: International Innovations 2019
Presenter BC Arbitration and Mediation Symposium (ADRBC) – “Mental Health and ADR” Oct 2020
Presenter at Kay Meek Theatre “Acting Against Racism” Sept 2017
Presenter BC Arbitration and Mediation Symposium (ADRBC) ) on panel  “Diversity, Pluralism and ADR” and Family Violence in Mediation Project   June 2017
Presenter CoRe (non profit conflict resolution group) “Islamaphobia” March 2017.
Presenter Peoples Law School “Holiday Blues-Having Difficult Conversations and Resolving Conflict with Family Members” Jan 2017
Presenter CLEBC  on panel Webinar “Cultural and the Client Voice” May 2017
Presenter Mediate BC  Webinar “Challenges Facing Mediators under the new Family Law Act Feb 2016
Presenter BC Arbitrators Association “Dispute Resolution, Culture and Credibility” May 2016
Developed and facilitated 6 part series webinar on Mediating under the FLA Mediate BC Jan-March 2013
Presenter Mediate BC Webinar Agreement Writing Dec 2014
Presenter 2 part series webinar Mediate BC Mental Health and Addictions for Child Protection Mediators April 2014
Panel Presenter at ADR Institute of Canada, “Mediation and Culture” Oct 2011
Co-Presenter International Conference Recovery of Maintenance in the EU and Worldwide, Heidleberg, Germany, March 5-8 2013 “Family Mediation, Distance Mediation, Intercultural Mediation – What does any of this have to do with Maintenance Enforcement?”
Presenter Honouring Culture in Mediation-Experiences from the Shia Muslim Ismaili Conciliation and Arbitration Board
Co-organizer and Presenter: Child Protection Mediation Conference: Moving toward Meaningful Engagement, Feb 6 and 7, 2012: “Cultural Shifts in Child Protection”

Academia

Shelina has taught academic courses at the University College of the Fraser Valley, in 2011 was appointed as an Adjunct Professor at the Faculty of Law, University of British Columbia and taught a one day workshop at Thompson Rivers University.

Mediation and Mediation Practicum (Law 479 and Law 480) – Companion courses designed to provide 2nd and 3rd year law students with the knowledge and skills to conduct mentored mediations in the Small Claims Court and the opportunity to act as a co-mediator in four actual Small Claims mediations – delivered at UBC Law 480 (3 credits) reflected the practical skills elements of the training, while Law 479 (3 credits) provided an opportunity for reflection on practice and on such important themes such as the role of the lawyer/mediator in court-based mediations, mediator ethics, the debate surrounding mediator neutrality, power imbalances, and the role of culture in mediation.

Law and Social Services – An introduction to law and a critical analysis of social service-related legislation – delivered at the University College of the Fraser Valley

This skills-based course focused on both the development and the demonstration of skills that are part of statutory social service functions in child welfare, probation and youth work, parole, family court counselling, and mental health. Students learned and demonstrated skills related to the various mandates governing their work as professionals in the social services. The course involved experiential learning related to dispute resolution, advocacy, and legal skills such as investigation, evidence giving, and report writing. Fundamental to practising these skills is an understanding of empowerment, partnership, working across differences, and individual and systemic change. The course utilized a critical perspective and promoted an understanding of the strengths and limitations of these skills in social service fields.

Legal Skills for Social Service Professionals – A skills-based course focusing on the development of skills such as investigating, report writing, evidence giving, and advocacy for social service professionals – delivered at the University College of the Fraser Valley

This course utilized a critical analysis to introduce students to law and related social policies relevant to child and youth care and social work practitioners. Students examined law as an expression of social policy in areas such as child welfare, domestic violence, mental health, family law, young offenders, social assistance, and human rights, particularly as they affect vulnerable and marginalized populations. The course addressed statutory frameworks, with an emphasis on the role of law, the structure of courts, professional codes of ethics, legal accountability and liability.

Understanding Mediation and the Dynamics of Conflict May 2016 Thompson Rivers University School of Social Work-one day mini workshop introducing mediation to Social Workers. The workshop provided participants with a deeper understanding of the mediation process and the dynamics of conflict. It provided opportunities to interact and practice the skills used in dispute resolution to add to their professional and personal tool kits.