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; and conflicts arising from past retainers, joint retainers, and closely-held corporations. These on-demand programs were originally presented on September 26, 2024. The total running time for each presentation ranges between 30 minutes to 1 hour, 6 minutes.

Explore pre-trial questioning, explores strategic goals of pre-trial questioning, and examines key aspects of effective pre-trial questioning.   This on-demand program was originally presented as an in-person program titled Civil Litigation: Practice Essentials for Lawyers in the First 10 Years on September 26, 2024.  Total running time is 1 hour, 6 minutes.

This on-demand program canvasses five exceptions to the hearsay rule, namely past recollection recorded exception, business records exception, hearsay in context of administrative hearings, hearsay in Alberta Court of Justice proceedings, and evidence of co-conspirators. This on-demand program was originally presented as an in-person program titled Civil Litigation: Practice Essentials for Lawyers in the First 10 Years on September 26, 2024.  Total running time is 30 minutes.

Knowing how to navigate commercial disputes requires that you consider more than just the legal issues in a case. Track the lifecycle of a commercial dispute to explore key considerations and develop strategies to guide your commercial litigation practice. This on-demand program was originally broadcast as a webinar on February 8, 2022. Total running time for each presentation ranges between 1 hour to 1 hour, 30 minutes. Each presentation in this program is available for individual purchase.

Pre-trial discovery and questioning are essential tools in advancing clients’ interests. A well prepared, focused and strategic questioning will reveal the strengths and weaknesses of both parties’ cases allowing for well-informed settlement discussion or the clarification of issues for determination by the Court. While there is no singular method to plan for and execute questioning, this paper explores useful questions that lawyers should consider in every case. This paper is part of a collection presented at LESA’s Civil Litigation: Practice Essentials for Lawyers in the First 10 Years program in Edmonton on September 26, 2024.

The author of this paper looks at legal issues faced by lawyers and support staff who work with indigenous clients. She defines key terms such as treaties, Metis, and “duty to consult” and examines some of the primary legal authorities in Alberta including the Indian Act, Metis Settlements Act, and R. v. Prowley. She concludes the paper by making some practical suggestions for how to deal effectively with the government departments and agencies in this area. This paper was drawn from materials presented at the Civil Litigation for LSS seminar held in May 2012.