Carolyn’s interest in Family Law began in 1981, when she began working as a “Family Court Counsellor” for the BC Attorney General.  In 1985 she started law school graduating in May 1988. She articled for one year in Ontario, but soon realized once BC and particularly Kamloops, was in a person’s blood there is no living elsewhere long term.  Carolyn was called to the BC Bar in May 1990. Since 1995 Carolyn has been a partner in a firm or practiced as a sole practioner in Kamloops.  She has served on various community boards, done pro bono work, taught Family Law at TRU Law School and in the Social Work Departments at TRU and the Nicola Valley Institute of Technology, given countless presentations and lectures at seminars, workshops, university classes, high school classes, community groups, professional associations, business luncheons and edited professional resources on Family Law.  She is presently Co-Chair and one of the founding members of the Kamloops Collaborative Family Law Association. At home Carolyn has two adult children who are working toward accreditation in their respective fields. Carolyn loves hiking, travelling, meeting with friends, reading and watching old movies.

Carolyn can be reached at:
carolyn@oienlaw.com

Barb has been a legal assistant for 10 years, with 8 years experience in the area of family law.  She has taken several paralegal courses through Vancouver Community College online education and continues to work towards certification.  She is also a designated Commissioner for Taking Affidavits in British Columbia.Barb is the first point of contact at Oien Mediation + Family Law and works closely with our clients, whether it is to gather information and documents pertinent to their case or to provide an update as to the status of their file.   Prior to moving to Kamloops in 2010, Barb lived in Fort St. John where she worked as a legal assistant in corporate litigation.  She has embraced the benefits of living in a warmer climate and participates in a number of outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, paddle-boarding and is a regular at the dog park with her trusty side-kick, Tuffy.   Our clients are often going through the most difficult time of their life.  They feel vulnerable, angry and afraid, not knowing what the future holds for them or their children.  Barb understands that the breakdown of a relationship can be a highly emotional time. In addition to offering encouragement and compassion, she also understands how important it is to keep our clients informed as to the next steps in the litigation process.  Whether it is a divorce, a custody dispute, or child support matter, her extensive knowledge and experience assures our clients that they are in good hands.

Barb can be reached at
barb@oienlaw.com