Jury Trials 2026
Course Date: March 10, 2026
Total: 6h 5min
Total Ethics: 1h
Jury Trials 2026
Course Date: March 10, 2026
Total: 6h 5min
Total Ethics: 1h
Course Introduction and Land Acknowledgement (9:00 – 9:05)
Raymond Lee — Program Lawyer, CLEBC, Vancouver
Robert C. Brun, KC — Harris & Brun Law Corporation, Vancouver
Lisa J. Helps — Helps Law Corporation, Vancouver
Robert C. Brun, KC — Harris & Brun Law Corporation, Vancouver
Lisa J. Helps — Helps Law Corporation, Vancouver
Preparation is More Important than Charisma (9:05 – 9:55)
- organize don't agonize
- how is preparation different than judge alone?
- civil: discovery, agreed statement of facts, and notices to admit
- criminal: the preliminary inquiry
Jennifer J.L. Brun, KC — Harris & Brun Law Corporation, Vancouver
Gloria M. Ng — Platform Litigation, Port Moody
Gloria M. Ng — Platform Litigation, Port Moody
But How Does it Work? (9:55 – 10:35)
- civil jury selection
- criminal jury selection
- common issues for civil and criminal counsel's role in proper preparation
- empanelling the best jury for your side: tips and tricks
Robert C. Brun, KC — Harris & Brun Law Corporation, Vancouver
Chris Johnson, KC — Johnson Doyle Nelson & Anderson, Vancouver
BREAK (10:35 – 10:50)
The Play Before the Game (10:50 – 11:40)
- selecting and preparing expert witnesses
- preparing for cross-examination on transcripts
Krista L. Simon — Hammerco Lawyers LLP, Vancouver
Lisa J. Helps — Helps Law Corporation, Vancouver
Oh, Those Voir Dires! (11:40 – 12:20)
- a crash course in voir dires
- preparation and leveraging your rulings with the jury
Lyle G. Harris, KC — Harris & Brun Law Corporation, Vancouver
Paul S. McMurray — Paul McMurray Law Corporation, Vancouver
Paul S. McMurray — Paul McMurray Law Corporation, Vancouver
LUNCH (12:20 – 1:00)
A Jury Consists of 12 Persons Chosen to Decide Who has the Better Lawyer—Be the Better Lawyer! (1:00 – 2:30)
- opening address
- examination in chief
- cross-examination
- closing arguments
- instructions, warnings, and professional responsibilities
Robert C. Brun, KC — Harris & Brun Law Corporation, Vancouver
Jennifer J.L. Brun, KC — Harris & Brun Law Corporation, Vancouver
Jennifer J.L. Brun, KC — Harris & Brun Law Corporation, Vancouver
B. Keith Boland — Crown Counsel, Ministry of Attorney General, Vancouver
Kevin B. Westell — Pender Litigation, Vancouver
Kevin B. Westell — Pender Litigation, Vancouver
BREAK (2:30 – 2:45)
Disaster Ready is Disaster Steady (2:45 – 3:05)
- managing potential issues with the bench, counsel, and the jury
- when it all goes wrong, how do you right the ship?
- professionalism and ethics
Marco von Antal — Holmes Stewart von Antal, Vancouver, Vancouver
Louise Kenworthy, KC — Crown Counsel, Ministry of Attorney General, New Westminster
Louise Kenworthy, KC — Crown Counsel, Ministry of Attorney General, New Westminster
Get to Bulletproof! Jury Verdicts and Appellate Review (3:05 – 3:35)
- civil and criminal jury verdicts and fact finding
- jury instructions and counsel's role
- can you make a verdict "appeal proof"?
- best practices for counsel in jury trials
Gavin Cameron — Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP, Vancouver
Thomas Arbogast, KC — TA Law, Vancouver
Thomas Arbogast, KC — TA Law, Vancouver
View from the Bench (3:35 – 4:20)
Justice Miriam A. Maisonville — Supreme Court of BC, Vancouver
Robert C. Brun, KC — Harris & Brun Law Corporation, Vancouver
Lisa J. Helps — Helps Law Corporation, Vancouver
Lisa J. Helps — Helps Law Corporation, Vancouver
Closing Remarks (4:20 – 4:30)
Robert C. Brun, KC — Harris & Brun Law Corporation, Vancouver
Lisa J. Helps — Helps Law Corporation, Vancouver
Lisa J. Helps — Helps Law Corporation, Vancouver
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Slides: Preparation is More Important than Charisma
Handout: Handouts — Preparation is More Important than Charisma
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Paper: How Does it Work
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