If you are an Alberta lawyer practicing in the area of Civil Litigation, or if you are support staff working on civil litigation matters, be sure to check out LESA’s newly available on-demand programs. Plus, mark your calendars with our upcoming programs! We are pleased to offer a wide variety of topics, program formats, and learning levels (with some programs offering content designed for newly called lawyers and some for more senior practitioners) with reduced pricing options for new bar calls (called within five years) and students. To be sure you don’t miss any new program announcements or notable resources, sign up for the LESA E-List and Civil Litigation email list(s) here. For program details and links to register, scroll below!
On-Demand Programs
Running Your First Regulatory Hearing
- Timely and comprehensive preparation is key to running a successful regulatory hearing. This presentation explores key topics for lawyers to consider when engaged in regulatory litigation matters, including the nature and scope of regulatory proceedings, expert witnesses and witness preparation, regulatory proceedings and hearings, and more.
Effective Legal Support: Hot Topics In Civil Litigation
- Due to the dynamic nature of civil litigation matters, the role of legal support staff can be challenging. This on-demand program provides an overview of the King’s Filing Digital Service. It also discusses the new rules relating to the civil streamlined trial process, which came into effect January 1, 2024, examines the purpose of streamlined trials, and provides an overview of the streamlined trial process and procedure.
Practice Foundations: Cross-Examinations
Six titles available!
- Understanding and mastering the art of cross-examination is critical in any trial setting. This on-demand program addresses foundational theory and explore practical applications. Topics include: the theory of cross-examination within the adversarial advocacy system, effective planning and preparation for cross-examination, cross-examination of sexual offence complainants and vulnerable witnesses, and more.
Practice Foundations: Judicial Reviews
Five titles available!
- Focusing on the early years of practice, these on-demand programs explore the law of judicial review. They also delve into mechanics and procedure, including statutory and common law requirements. Topics include, the mechanics of a judicial review application and best practices in conducting a judicial review before the court, statutory appeals vs. judicial reviews, and more.
Upcoming Programs
- Practical Tips for a Successful Civil Litigation Practice (July 24)
- Qualifying Experts in Court and ADR (September 12)
- Civil Litigation Symposium: Practice Essentials for Lawyers in the First 10 Years (September 26)
- Family Maintenance and Support Claims: Testamentary Intentions vs. Moral Obligations (October 1)
- Financial Statements: Learning to Swim (October 4)
- Franchise Terminations & Rescissions: What You Don’t Know Can Hurt You (October 10)
- Common Ethical Issues in Civil Litigation (October 22)
- Mediation of Family and Divorce Conflicts (November 18-22)
- Alberta Litigation Institute (March 6-7, 2025)
View full program details and descriptions below!
Practical Tips for a Successful Civil Litigation Practice
Program Details
Date: July 24 (Webinar)
Time: 12:00pm – 1:30pm
Price: $71.25 – $95.00
Are you an articling student or new to the Alberta bar? Join us to explore practical strategies to navigate the complexities of litigation successfully, with topics including:
- Tips for interviewing clients and client management
- Preparing affidavits
- Effective oral and written advocacy
- File management strategies
Faculty
Presenter
Ifeoma Okoye, Ackroyd LLP
Click here to register for this webinar.
Qualifying Experts in Court and ADR
Program Details
Date: September 12 (Webinar)
Time: 12:00pm – 1:00pm
Price: $71.25 – $95.00
Expert witnesses can make or break a case but effectively qualifying experts–and effectively challenging an expert’s qualifications–is an art that is often overlooked. Properly qualified and reliable experts provide credible, persuasive evidence that can withstand scrutiny. This webinar will explore:
- Considerations for when involvement of an expert in court or ADR proceedings is helpful
- Use of experts for early neutral evaluation in ADR setting
- How to differentiate between genuine expertise and ‘pseudo-experts’
- Strategies for evaluating and challenging an expert’s level of expertise during qualifying processes
Faculty
Presenters
Bradley R. Mustard KC, Moe Hannah LLP
Dr. Terry Singh, Alberta Forensic Psychology
Click here to register for this webinar.
Civil Litigation Symposium: Practice
Essentials for Lawyers in the First 10 Years
Program Details
Date: September 26 (Edmonton and Livestream)
Location: LESA’s Program Space, Suite 1401, 10088-102 Avenue
Time: 9:00am – 4:30pm
Early Bird Price: $356.25 – $475.00
Early bird pricing ends on August 26. Regular price: $393.75 – $525.
During the first ten years of a civil litigation practice, lawyers face unique challenges and opportunities. This full-day program will explore topics to support lawyers to increase their competence and enhance their practice, including:
- Strategies in oppression applications before the Commercial List
- Advocacy before tribunals, hearing officers, and boards
- Effective pre-trial questioning
- Exceptions to the hearsay rule
- Evidence in constitutional cases
Faculty
Chair
Richard Billington KC, Billington Barristers
Additional presenters will be added soon!
Click here to register for this program.
Family Maintenance and Support Claims:
Testamentary Intentions vs. Moral Obligations
Program Details
Date: October 1 (Webinar)
Time: 12:00pm – 1:00pm
Price: $71.25 – $95.00
It is important for lawyers to understand the nuances of family maintenance and support (FMS) claims to effectively advise their clients on how to structure their affairs, and to ensure they are providing comprehensive and accurate advice to protect the interests of their clients. This webinar will explore some of the complexities of FMS claims, with topics including:
- Considerations of new partners/spouses and blended families
- Adult Interdependent Partners
- Step-Children not accounted for in Last Will and Testament
- An update on caselaw
Faculty
Presenters
Marty Birky, Hayher Lee LLP
Eleanor Carlson, Carbert Waite LLP
Click here to register for this webinar.
Financial Statements: Learning to Swim
Program Details
Date: October 4 (Webinar)
Time: 12:00pm – 1:00pm
Price: $71.25 – $95.00
Put on your water wings and finally learn to read financial statements! Explore concepts and terminology foundational to understanding a business’s financial reports. No prior experience necessary.
Faculty
Presenter
Kristin Gray CIRP, LIT, CPA, CA, MNP LLP
Click here to register for this webinar.
Franchise Terminations & Rescissions: What You Don’t Know Can Hurt You
Program Details
Date: October 10 (Webinar)
Time: 12:00pm – 3:30pm
Early Bird Price: $213.75 – $285.00
Early bird pricing ends on September 10, 2024. Regular price: $236.25-$315.00.
Lawyers representing franchisors or franchisees throughout the franchise lifecycle face potential risks of errors and omissions if they fail to advise their clients about their legal rights and responsibilities under the Franchises Act. In this webinar, solicitors and litigators will deepen their understanding of key statutory requirements and common contractual terms relating to:
- An overview of disclosure obligations under the Franchises Act
- Key requirements of the franchise disclosure document
- Franchise renewals
- Franchise rescission rights, remedies, and damages
- Franchise terminations
Faculty
Presenter
Ben Hanuka, Law Works Lawyers
Click here to register for this webinar.
Common Ethical Issues in Civil Litigation
Program Details
Date: October 22 (Webinar)
Time: 12:00pm – 1:00pm
Price: $71.25 – $95.00
Civil litigators deal with a multitude of ethical dilemmas in their day to day practice. This webinar will explore common ethical issues litigators may face, with topics including:
- Dealing with experts
- Dealing with difficult counsel
- Dealing with difficult clients
- “Fair dealing” with self-represented litigants
Faculty
Presenter
Maureen McCartney-Cameron, JSS Barristers
Click here to register for this webinar.
Mediation of Family and Divorce Conflicts
Program Details
Date: November 18-22 (Calgary)
Location: Best Western Village Park Inn, 1804 Crowchild Trl NW
Early Bird Price: $2,295.00
Early bird pricing ends on October 7. Regular price: $2,445.00
Mediation is increasingly important in the practice of family law. Receive 40 hours of intensive, hands-on skills training in this in-depth, 5-day program. Develop the skills, knowledge, and understanding to build a competent and professional mediation practice.
Topics include:
- 5-stage mediation model
- Techniques of developing relationships in mediation
- Positional negotiation vs. interest based negotiation
- 5 basic negotiating principles
- Screening
- Intake interviews
- Mediation/arbitration agreements
- Calculating child support
- Spousal support – advisory guidelines
Faculty
Instructors
Rhoda Dobler KC, WK Family Lawyers LLP
Dr. Larry Fong, Fong & Associates Ltd.
Click here to register for this program.
Alberta Litigation Institute
March 6-7, 2025
$1,045 (General)
$940.50 (New Lawyers) | $783.75 (Students)
Early bird pricing ends on January 13, 2025
Regular price: $858.75 – $1,145.00
Whether you work on civil, commercial, criminal, family, or estate litigation matters, all litigators have common skills they need to develop throughout their careers. Join us at the BMO Centre at Stampede Park in Calgary for a two-day learning and networking event focused on these essential skills.
Topics include:
- Chambers practice/advocacy
- Streamlined trials
- Advocacy in administrative law
- Written advocacy
- Evidence
- ADR advocacy
- Direct and cross-examinations
- Appellate advocacy
- Criminal pre-trial and voir dire advocacy
- Views from the Bench
Faculty
Chairs
Andy Hayher KC, Hayher Lee LLP
Keith Marlowe KC, Blake, Cassels, & Graydon LLP
Presenters
Justice Jolaine Antonio, Court of Appeal of Alberta
Shamsher Kothari KC, Shamsher Kothari Professional Corporation
Krysta H. Ostwald KC, Jones Divorce Law LLP
Daniel J. Song KC, Pringle Law
Additional presenters will be added soon!
Click here to register for this program.
Note: Reduced pricing is available for newly called lawyers (called within five
years) as well as students for select programs. Click the link above and
select the appropriate ticket to register with reduced pricing.
