UPDATE: This seminar occurred in the past, and the seminar materials are now available.
• LESA Library subscribers can already access course materials through the LESA Library.
• Alternatively you can purchase course materials a la carte (search criminal advocacy).
• You can also view the list of upcoming seminars to discover live programs that are available now.
If you practice in criminal law – whether for the Crown or for the defense – LESA is offering a seminar just for you. The Criminal Advocacy – Summary Disposition and Sentencing Hearings seminar is running in Edmonton on May 2 and Calgary on May 9.
This program is part of LESA’s Criminal Advocacy Series and features an impressive panel of seminar faculty for you to engage with and glean insights from.
Karen E. Hewitt (Chair)
Alberta Justice and Solicitor General
Hon. Associate Chief Justice J. D. Rooke
Court of Queen’s Bench of Alberta
Hon. Judge J. D. Bascom
Provincial Court of Alberta
Hon. Judge L. K. Stevens
Provincial Court of Alberta
Mona T. Duckett QC
Dawson Duckett Shaigec & Garcia
Paul Moreau
Moreau & Company
Today’s blog features an interview with seminar chair Karen E. Hewitt and will give you a sense of why you’ll benefit from this seminar
Why will the Criminal Advocacy – Summary Disposition and Sentencing Hearings program be valuable to practitioners? What will they gain?
The course is designed to be valuable both to young lawyers and as a refresher for more experienced counsel. Sentencing is one of the most important aspects of criminal law, one which engages different skills than those required to run a trial. Participants will be provided a good overview of the current law of sentencing as well as useful information from senior counsel and perspectives from the Judges on the faculty.
What do you think will be the main takeaways for participants?
Participants will gain a thorough understanding of strategies for preparing for sentencing hearing, including the rules of evidence and procedure involved. This will be applicable for both shorter summary disposition hearings as well as longer contested sentencing hearings.
Can you talk about the format of the presentation with a morning plenary session and an afternoon skills training workshop? What can attendees expect from these two sessions?
Participants will receive written materials, including substantive law procedure along with case file examples. The morning portion of the course will be lecture style presentations from faculty members. This will provide an excellent opportunity for participants to ask questions and gain a better understanding of the subject matter. The afternoon will allow participants to work in groups preparing a file for sentencing, and some of the participants will then conduct a sentencing hearing before members of the Bench. This will then be followed by feedback from faculty members. … This allows some people who may not be comfortable getting up there to observe, while those who really want to get up there and hone their skills can [do so].
Would you encourage people to attend the afternoon session? It sounds like the afternoon offers a good hands-on learning opportunity.
The morning is the informational component; the afternoon is the advocacy component. … [In the afternoon,] the most important part is the feedback from the Bench. I found in the last session that the feedback given during the exercise portion gives the participants really good checklists they can take forward and apply to their practice immediately.
Is there anything else you’d like to add about the program?
The only thing I want to add is that the focus on the program is on planning and approach and becoming a more effective advocate during sentencing hearings. It’s a valuable program for those who are actively engaged in criminal practice, whether you’re Crown or defense. It offers a much needed balanced perspective.
So do you have people on the panel from both sides?
I’m senior Crown counsel; Mona Duckett is senior defense counsel. Then we have judges from both levels of court. And we also have some coaching from the defense counsel.
So there you have it, this is a program with plenty to offer, and you can register now in Edmonton or Calgary by heading to our website.
Perhaps you’ve already registered for the morning plenary session, but now you’re intrigued by the option of participating in the hands-on afternoon skills training workshop. If so, send us an email at [email protected] and we’ll get this set up for you. Note: an additional fee is required.
