Stephanie L. Dobson
Understanding that strong emotions are involved, Stephanie Dobson helps clients view separation and divorce in perspective to move through the process more smoothly. Stephanie believes that framing divorce as a transition and not an end in itself enables clients to take an active role in making important decisions. By shifting emphasis to the future, she assists clients in defusing conflict, working through issues in a less volatile way, and achieving resolution sooner.
Stephanie uses her caring, results-focused approach to help growth-minded, coachable parents navigate a family separation while they connect with and support their children. Using an extensive knowledge of matrimonial law, exclusive parent-learning resources, and an expert family support network, in the end, she empowers clients to make a plan to “write a new family story” based on developing lifelong, peaceful, positive, and thriving relationships.
She is adept at handling complex cases that involve child custody, child support, division of property, and spousal support claims, utilizing her skills as a Family Mediator and Collaborative Divorce Lawyer to expand the range of creative solutions, and keep families out of the court system. Stephanie’s clients appreciate her high level of communication and responsiveness, and her adoption of cutting-edge technology. With every divorce, Stephanie’s goal is to minimize the emotional and financial costs by focusing on the future, staying out of court, and bringing about an efficient resolution.
As an educator, Stephanie is the founder of Up A Notch Learning Inc., an e-learning platform to empower separating and divorcing families with a collection of free resources and affordable course content to help families make informed decisions so they can thrive.
In addition to her practice, Stephanie also enjoys being Chair of the Board of Directors of the Alberta Law Foundation and Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors of the Legal Education Society of Alberta. Stephanie is proud to be a co-founder and active volunteer with the Lloydminster Community Legal Clinic which offers FREE legal advice to the Lloydminster and surrounding area.
Stephanie enjoys staying active and spending quality time with her husband and three young children.
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Education
- University of British Columbia, Faculty of Laws (J.D.) – May 2005
- University of Victoria, Faculty of Arts, Pacific & Asian Studies (B.A. Dean’s List) – November 2001
- Doshisha University, Kyoto Japan, Japanese Language Centre – April 1999 – August 2001
- Hugh McRoberts High School, Dogwood Diploma (French Immersion)
Speaking Engagements
Using Technology in Mediation & Collaborative Divorce – Seminar to lawyers & mediators
- Collaborative Lawyers of Saskatchewan – AGM and Educational Seminar – March 2012
- International Academy of Collaborative Professionals – Annual Networking & Educational Forum – October 2012
- Legal Education Society of Alberta – Family Law Refresher Course – April 2013
- Alberta Family Mediation Society – AGM and Educational Seminar – May 2013
- Alberta Justice Dispute Resolution Network – Skills and Thrills Forum – September 2013
- Gordon Zwaenepoel Law Firm – Tutorial Seminar – November 2013
- Ontario Collaborative Law Federation – Annual Networking & Educational Forum – May 2014
- Tampa Bay’s Next Generation Divorce – Keynote Speaker at Annual Meeting – April 2021
Increasing Your Collaborative Practice
– seminar to Collaborative Lawyers
- International Academy of Collaborative Professionals – Annual Networking & Educational Forum – October 2020
- International Academy of Collaborative Professionals – Annual Networking & Educational Forum – October 2013
- Ontario Collaborative Law Federation – Annual Networking & Educational Forum – May 2014
- Calgary Association of Collaborative Professionals – Seminar
Awards
- Paul Harris Fellow (Rotary International) – double recipient
- Golden Key Honours Society
- University of Victoria – Dean’s List
Memberships / Associations
- Active Member – Law Society of Alberta
- Active Member – Law Society of Saskatchewan
- Member – Battlefords Bar Association
- Member – ADR Institute of Alberta (ADRIA)
- Member – ADR Institute of Canada (ADRIC)
- Member – Collaborative Divorce Alberta Association
- Member – Association of Collaborative Professionals – Edmonton
- Member – Association of Collaborative Lawyers of Alberta – Northeast Area
- Member – International Academy of Collaborative Professionals (IACP)
- Member – Family Mediation Canada
- Member – Alberta Family Mediation Society (AFMS)
- Member – Lloydminster Chamber of Commerce
- Member – Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC)
- Member – Canadian Bar Association
- Former Member – Rotary Club of Lloydminster
Community Engagement
- Co-Founder & Volunteer – Community Legal Clinic of Lloydminster
- Vice-Chair – Legal Education Society of Alberta
- Chair – Alberta Law Foundation
- President – Battleford Bar Association
- Former President – Collaborative Divorce Alberta Association
- Former Vice-Chair – Lloydminster Interval Home Society
- Former Director – Lloydminster Chamber of Commerce
Career History
- Henka Divorce Law & Mediation – Proprietor, May 2020 – present
- Meridian Law Group – Partner, January 2015 – April 2020
- Kindrachuk Dobson – Proprietor, Sept 2006 – Dec 2014
- Government Northwest Territories – Contract Mediator, May 2013 – present
- Government of Saskatchewan – Contract Mediator, Nov 2009 – April 2012
- Government of Alberta – Contract Mediator, June 2009 – March 2016
- Government of Alberta – Instructor, Parenting After Separation | Jan 2009 – June 2016