Day 1: Monday, November 19, 2012—Analyzing the Case and Developing the File

Welcome and Introduction

The Honourable Madam Justice Carol-Jean M. Ross — Supreme Court of BC, Vancouver
G. Ross Switzer — Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, Vancouver

Dealing With Your Client

• matter selection and rejection—the most important step in any file
• cementing the relationship and creating achievable expectations
• fee arrangements that work for you and the client

Jack M. Webster, QC — Webster Hudson & Coombe LLP, Vancouver

Creating and Managing a Litigation File

• preliminary review and opinion
• accepting instructions and educating the client
• preparing effective and useful chronology
• smoking out your opponent’s case
• crafting winning theory of the case and brief of law
• assembling an efficient and winning team—everyone has a place in the sun
• managing good and bad news

Jack M. Webster, QC — Webster Hudson & Coombe LLP, Vancouver

Drafting Pleadings and Affidavits

A. Pleadings

• overview
• the do’s and don’ts of pleadings
• matters which must be specifically plead

Paul M.J. Arvisais — Webster Hudson & Coombe LLP, Vancouver

B. Affidavits

• when to use an affidavit
• basic substantive and procedural requirements

Elizabeth J. Rowbotham — Legal Services, Ministry of Justice, Vancouver

Networking Break

Chambers Applications

• materials
• presentations
• authorities
• short form and special leave applications
• dos and don’ts

Master Shelagh Scarth — Supreme Court of BC, Vancouver

Discovery

A. Discovery and E-Discovery

• discovery of documents
• document production and scope of Rule 7-1
• practical steps and procedures for preparing lists and organizing documents
• e-discovery issues and practice

Graham J. Underwood — Legal Services, Ministry of Justice, Victoria

B. Examination For Discovery

• preparing your client for discovery
• preparing to examine your opponent
• effective techniques on examination for discovery
• objections on discovery
• concluding and adjourning the discovery

Neil R. MacLean — Guild Yule LLP, Vancouver

Lunch (on your own)

Settlement Conferences

• know what motivates the other side
• strategies for success
• the dangers and downside of failure

Irene G. Peters — Irene Peters Law Corporation, Prince George

Privilege

• how to recognize and protect documents protected by solicitor-client privilege and solicitor-brief privilege
• how to make or defend an application for disclosure of documents over which privilege has been claimed

T. Mark Pontin — Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP, Vancouver

Networking Break  

Professionalism and Practice Management

A. Dealing with Self Represented Litigants

• Issues unique to SRL
• Practical practice tips

Casey L. Leggett — Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, Vancouver

B. Lawyers Insurance Fund (LIF)

• what is LIF?
• reporting requirements and duties of insureds
• how to inform client of possible claim
• early reporting—proactive management of claims
• claim avoidance tips

Coran Cooper-Stephenson — Lawyers Insurance Fund, Law Society of BC, Vancouver

C. Code of Professional Conduct effective January 1, 2013

• duties to your client
  • duty of confidence
  • duty of loyalty
• duties to state and court
  • not to mislead (evidence and authorities)
  • preparation of affidavits
  • experts’ reports
• duties to other lawyers  
  • default proceedings
  • adjournment requests
  • communicating with the court
  • undertakings
• dealing with self-represented litigants 
  • issues  unique to SRL
  • practical practice tips

Melanie C. Samuels — Singleton Urquhart LLP, Vancouver
G. Ross Switzer — Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, Vancouver

Organizing Your Evidence (Including Documents)

• know your case, investigative fact finding, chronology, theory of the case
• relevance
• admissibility
• persuasiveness
• order of witnesses
• discovery evidence
• books of documents
• document agreements

Thora A. Sigurdson — Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP, Vancouver

Preparing Direct and Cross-Examination of Witnesses

A. Direct Examination

• preparation; what evidence can that person give that will help my case
• documentary review
• interview
• minutes of evidence
• preparing the witness to give evidence: process documents, exhibits, cues
• conducting direct examination, keep it simple
• checklists

B. Cross-Examination

• is cross-examination necessary?
• what evidence can you get from the witness that will help prove your case?
• what evidence has the witness given that you want or need to challenge?
• exposing liars versus blunting the sword
• courtesy
• the rule in Brown v. Dunn

Thora A. Sigurdson — Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP, Vancouver

Opening and Argument

• define the issues
• summarize the evidence
• apply the law
• demonstrate the results you want

Irene G. Peters — Irene Peters Law Corporation, Prince George

Networking Break

Obtaining and Using Admissions (Including Using Examination For Discovery Evidence)

• the notice to admit
• reading in discovery evidence
• documentary proof—the Evidence Act
• using discovery evidence in cross-examination

Thomas R. Buri, QC — Buri, Overstall, Smithers 

Finding and Instructing Expert Witnesses

• how to find an expert witness
• ethical issues concerning preparation of reports and production of an expert’s file
• maximizing use of your experts
• cross-examination of experts

Howard A. Mickelson, QC — Gudmundseth Mickelson LLP, Vancouver

View From the Bench

The Honourable Madam Justice Carol-Jean M. Ross — Supreme Court of BC, Vancouver

Networking Lunch

Trial and Case Management: New Rules and Strategies

• what is trial and case management?
• the role of the Judge
• the role of Counsel
• making trial and case management work for you

David A. Crerar — Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, Vancouver

Summary Trials

• what type of case is appropriate for a summary trial
• organizing the evidence
• tactical considerations

Thomas R. Buri, QC — Buri, Overstall, Smithers

Networking Break

Wrapping It Up

• preparing orders, judgments, and costs
• releases and covenants not to sue
• releasing only some of a group of defendants
• settlement documentation and procedure
• revisiting matters with the trial judge
• enforcement of judgments
• conducting an examination in aid of execution

Kathryn I. Denhoff — Davis LLP, Vancouver

Advocacy Practice Panel

The Honourable Madam Justice Carol-Jean M. Ross — Supreme Court of BC, Vancouver
Kathryn I. Denhoff — Davis LLP, Vancouver
Howard A. Mickelson, QC — Gudmundseth Mickelson LLP, Vancouver
G. Ross Switzer — Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, Vancouver

Closing Remarks